Enhance agriculture subsidy to 10 pc: AIKS

Vijayawada, Jul 24 (UNI) The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) today demanded that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre enhance agriculture subsidies to ten per cent in the country.

Addressing a press conference here, AIKS Vice-President Kolli Nageswara Rao said as per the terms of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), agriculture subsidies of ten per cent could be given in developed countries like India.

However, he said agriculture subsidies, which were three to seven per cent here, were reduced by the Centre, bowing to World Bank pressure.

The AIKS leader said even though agriculture subsidies in the US and other rich nations should be reduced to 75 to 85 per cent, those countries were converting the subsidies to 'Green Box' and 'Blue Box', thereby extricating from the upper limit danger.

Mr Rao said in China, agriculture subsidies were not reduced like in India and there was no agriculture crisis and suicides by farmers.

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