Karnataka cautions UPA against excessive import of Agri goods

Bangalore, July 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 depend 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 Kashempur told the Karnataka Legislative Council.

Replying to Congress member D M Puttegowda during the Question Hour, the Minister said, 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 the House that during 2005-06, the state had recorded an agriculture goods export of Rs 3,568.74 crore as against Rs 2,838.62 crore in the previous year. During 2005-06, the export of coffee products stood at Rs 1,103.94 crore, silk Rs 1,050.68 crore, cashew nut and cashew kernels Rs 521.81 crore and gherkin and flowers Rs 213.96 crore and Rs 50 crore respectively, he aded.

The total exports from the state, including software, automobiles and Pharmaceuticals, for the year 2005-06 stood at Rs 82,279.60 crore, the minister said.

UNI