The central government has taken three major decisions in the interest of farmers, which will directly benefit them. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said on Saturday that the decision to remove the minimum export price (MEP) from Basmati rice will prove to be very beneficial for the farmers. Along with this, the government has also taken important decisions on edible oil and onion.
1. MEP removed from Basmati rice
The central government has decided to remove the minimum export price (MEP) on the export of Basmati rice. This decision will boost the export of Basmati rice, which will help farmers get a better price for their crop. This decision will prove to be an important step towards increasing the income of farmers.
2. Import duty on edible oil increased
The government has increased the import duty on edible oils from 0% to 20% to provide better prices to oilseed farmers. After adding other duties, this effective duty will be 27.5%. This will especially benefit the farmers of oilseeds like soybean and groundnut.
Union Minister Chauhan said that a decision has also been taken to increase the basic duty for refined oil by 32.5%, so that the oilseed farmers of the country will get a fair price for their hard work.
3. Reduction in onion export duty
The export duty on onion has been reduced from 40% to 20%. This decision has brought relief to onion farmers, which will enable them to get better prices for their produce and will also increase exports.
Reaction of Prime Minister and Home Minister
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “The government is taking every possible step to increase the income of farmers and ensure a fair price for their crops. Whether it is reducing the export duty on onions or increasing the import duty on edible oils, these decisions will directly benefit the farmers.”
Home Minister Amit Shah also said, “The government is increasing exports so that farmers can get higher prices for their crops. These decisions will strengthen the economic condition of farmers.”
