‘Farmers Welfare Is Top Priority of PM Modi’: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan

New Delhi: Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is farmer-friendly and agriculture and farmers welfare is his top priority. 

Union Minister Chouhan said that farmer-friendly Modi government has taken a decision to increase the import duty on edible oils from 0% to 20% and on adding other components, the total effective duty will be 27.5%. 

“This step, all oilseed farmers, especially soybean and green gram farmers, will get good prices whose crops are about to come in the market. Along with this, the sowing of oilseeds will increase in Rabi and mustard crop will also get good prices. With this decision, the production of soya khali will also increase and it will be exported and along with this, other sectors/areas related to soya will also get benefits. Union Minister thanks to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for this important decision in the interest of farmers,” Union Minister said. 

Chouhan said that the Modi government is sensitive towards the welfare of farmers and decision is also taken to remove the minimum export duty on Basmati rice.

Union Minister informed that with the removal of export duty, Basmati producing farmers will get a fair price for their produce and the step taken will resulted in increase in demand for Basmati rice and exports will also increase. Union Minister further added that the Modi government is committed to the development of farmers and it is also decided to increase the basic duty on refined oil to 32.5%. 

“This decision will increase the demand for mustard, sunflower and groundnut crops for refined oil,” he said. 

The Union Government has lifted the minimum export price (MEP) threshold for basmati rice, according to a statement from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry released on Saturday. This move is intended to enhance farmers' earnings by facilitating the export of basmati rice, a premium GI-tagged variety from India. The statement noted that the decision was made due to sufficient domestic rice supplies and current trade issues. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) will oversee export contracts to avoid unrealistic pricing and ensure transparency in export activities.