The Economic Times | Global News Wire | September 30, 2001 | BY: OUR BUREAU
AGRICULTURE minister Ajit Singh on Saturday said that Indias WTO obligations do not entail any change in the existing policies on agricultural subsidy. He also stated that the countrys foodgrains production is likely to go up by seven per cent this year.
Several problems have arisen in the implementation of the World Trade Organisation agreements and the concerns of developing countries have not been given due attentionon account of the status quo approach of the develped countries, according to agriculture minister Ajit Singh. "It is presently, difficult to say how far WTO will succeed in ushering in an era of efficient production and thereby, lay the foundation for sustainable development", he said.
The minister was speaking at a seminar on WTO and Sustainable Development", in the capital on Saturday. He also allayed apprehensions that the suppport programmes for farmers in the country would get affected due to the agreement on agriculture.
He said that India does not give any direct export subsidy. All that it gives is in the WTO compatible form of income tax exemption of export profit and subsidies on cost of freight on export on export shipment of products such as vegetables, fruits, and horticultural products.
He said Our food security programmes are not affected because expenditure on these is not subject to any reduction commitment. So is the case with the financial assistance to small and marginal farmers and public distribution system. So far as product specific AMS is conerned, it has to be calculated with respect to the base period of 1986-88. Our only product specific support measure is the market price support scheme."
He further said that it is not required to reduce the support given to the on-going programmes and the country is free to pursue its own agricultural policy objectives and various domestic support programmes for the farmers.
Asked about the shortfall in achieving Kharif foodgrain production target of 110 million tonnes this year, he said that the current kharif production estimates were the highest ever having crossed the previous high of 104.8 MT in 1999-2000 season.
The current estimated production being below target should not be a matter of concern since the estimates are initial and very conservative, he said. He said that the actual Kharif production would be known later once all data come in.
He further added that together with rabi production there would be seven per cent growth in foodgrains production this fiscal.
Copyright 2001 The Economic Times of India, Coleman Co LtdThe Economic Times:
