Asian farmers express concern to WTO Director General

New Delhi, Jul 23 (UNI) A delegation of 'Asian Farmers Group' delegation called on World Trade Organisation(WTO) Director General Pascal Lamy in Geneva voicing their concern over lack of transparency on the part of developed countries in the ongoing negotiations.

The negotiations which are on the agricultural front would render farming an unviable option in India and other developing countries besides jeopardising their food security.

The delegation comprising Mr G H Amin, President of National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) told Mr Lamy that the rich countries had diverted huge subsidies to their agriculture sector from "Blue Box" to 'Green Box' under the pretext of maintaining environmental equilibrium in their countries. The subsidies under the 'Green Box' are not negotiable at the WTO.

The Group which conveyed its joint declaration to the WTO said the developing countries should be allowed to impose tariff increases on farm imports as a deterrent against the dumping of cheap imports to prevent lowering of prices of crops to an unnumerative level in these countries.

Besides that, the delegation said the developing countries' right to self-designate their special products based on food and livelihood security should be recognised. Also, their domestic policies and local circumstances must be respected.

UNI JSS PDT BD1833