(a) whether the Government have taken steps to protect the products like natural rubber, coconut and other cash crops keeping in view the new Export - Import Policy , 2000-2001;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government have taken steps to avoid dumping of foreign agro products ; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( SHRI OMAR ABDULLAH )
(a) to (d) : In the changes to the Exim Policy, announced on 31.3.2000, no changes were effected in respect of import policy of agricultural products like rubber, coconut oil, cereals, pulses, tea and coffee. Import of rubber is restricted and allowed against surrender of Special Import Licence(SIL) since 1996. Import of coconut other than desiccated coconut is restricted from countries other than SAARC. Import of copra and coconut oil is canalized through State Trading Corporation of India Limited and Hindustan Vegetable Oil Corporation Limited.
Government is absolutely determined to ensure through appropriate use of tariff mechanism that imports do not cause any detriment or injury to domestic farmers. Towards that end, Government has increased duties on a number of agricultural items where an increase in imports was noticed or apprehended. For example, the duty on arecanut has been raised from 35% to 100%, on poultry products from 35% to 100%, on wheat from 0% to 50%, on skimmed milk powder from 0% to 60%, on apple from 35% to 50%, and on rice from 0% to 80%. -To regulate import of edible oils, the Customs duties on these have been revised upwards on 21st of November, 2000. This should provide adequate protection to domestic oilseed producers. India`s tariff bindings at W.T.O. for most of the agricultural items are fairly high and effective rates of customs duties can be raised to those levels, in case there is any evidence of substantial increase in imports.