Karnataka cautions Center on excessive import of Agri goods
Bangalore, Jul 17 (UNI) The Karnataka government today cautioned the UPA government against excessive import of agriculture commodities, mainly cash crops, which will in turn badly affect the farmers of the country.
"The prices of Commercial crops depends entirely on the Import and Export policies of the Centre. Higher imports of Arecanut, Coconut, Oilseeds, Onion, Sugar and other products will badly affect the state farmers, Agriculture Minister Bandeppa Kashampur said today.
Replying to Congress member D M Puttegowda during question hour in the Karnataka Legislative Council, the state government had limited control over stabilising the prices of cash crops as it largely depended on the export and import policy of the Union government.
The minister also informed to the house that during 2005-06 the state has recorded an agriculture goods export of Rs 3568.74 crore as against 2838.62 crore in the previous year. During 2005-06 the export of Coffee products stood at Rs 1103.94 crore, Silk Rs 1050.68 crore, cashew nut and cashew kernels Rs 521.81 crore and Gherkin and Flowers Rs 213.96 and Rs 50 crores, respectively.
The total exports from the state including software, industries, automobiles and Pharmaceuticals for the year 2005-06 was stood at Rs 82279.60 crores the minister said.
UNI