NEW DELHI: A day after the Centre removed the minimum export price of onion and Basmati rice , and increased import duty on edible oils , Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home and cooperation minister Amit Shah and agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday emphasised how these decisions would not only boost export but also ensure that the farmers get better price of their crops. "We are leaving no stone unturned for the benefit of our farmer brothers and sisters who have been working round the clock to ensure the country's food security..
. such decisions (on onion, Basmati rice and edible oils) are going to greatly benefit our food producers. While these decisions will enhance their income, employment opportunities will also be increased in rural areas," Modi said in his remarks, responding to Chouhan's multiple posts on X about benefits of the "farmers' friendly" decisions.
The government on Friday decided to remove the minimum export price (MEP) on onions and reduce the export duty on it from 40% to 20%, remove the MEP on Basmati rice, and increase the duty on the import of crude palm, soyabean, and sunflower oils from 12.5% to 32.5% and on their refined oils from 13.
75% to 35.75%. Referring to the three decisions, Shah in his post on X said the government is boosting exports to ensure that farmers receive a fair price for their crops, allowing them to earn maximum value for their produce.
He stated that the move on onion will result in a rise in income for onion-.
