Question : SUPPORT PRICE FOR ARECANUT IN KARNATAKA

(a) whether the Government of Karnataka has made any request to the Union Government to extend Minimum Support Price to Arecanut growers under Market Intervention Scheme;

(b) if so, whether the Government have considered the request favourably;

(c) the quantity proposed to be purchased in Karnataka by extending the support price;

(d) the loss likely to be caused due to support price;

(e) the amount to be borne by the Government while giving support price to farmers in Karnataka; and

(f) details of other relief measures to be provided by the Government to the arecanut grower?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b)to(e): The proposal of Government of Karnataka for procurement of arecanut under Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) during 2002-03 was considered in the meeting of the Committee constituted for the purpose. The Committee has recommended to procure 10,000 MTs of arecanut at the Market Intervention Price of Rs.60 per kg. The approximate loss in the implementation of the scheme will be Rs.12.00 crore, which will be shared equally between the Central Government and the State Government. As per the scheme of MIS, the Committee`s recommendations have to be approved by the competent authority. As such the recommendations have already been forwarded to the competent authority.

(f): The implementation of the MIS will provide reasonable prices to the arecanut growers.