Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is farmer friendly and agriculture and farmers welfare is his top priority. Modi government has taken some big decisions in the interest of farmers. Shri 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%. Union Minister said that with 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, sowing of oilseeds will increase in Rabi and mustard crop will also get good prices. Shri Chouhan said that 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.

Shri 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.

Shri Chouhan said that farmers will be able to get better prices for these crops and, with the increase in refineries in small and rural areas and employment opportunities will also increase. The Modi government is committed to the progress of farmers and decision is also taken to reduce the export duty on onion from 40% to 20%. He said that with the reduction in export duty, onion producing farmers will get good prices for onions and onion exports will also increase. This decision of the government will directly benefit farmers as well as other sectors related to onion.

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SS