Increase import duty on pepper: Raitha Sangha

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene Chikkamagaluru district unit President D R Duggappa has urged the elected representatives of the district to exert pressure on the Union government to increase import duty on pepper, so as to check the import of low-quality pepper from foreign countries.

Addressing media persons here on Thursday, he said that the import of pepper has been detrimental to local agriculturists who are cultivating quality pepper from ages. The market rate of pepper has fallen from Rs 600 to Rs 250, due to the weak policies of the Union government, he charged.

Duggappa said pepper, imported in large quantities from Sri Lanka and Nepal, has been the reason for the poor plight of agriculturists. "Big companies have been purchasing imported pepper of low quality and selling it in India at a considerable lower rate. The Central government has cleared the ban on import of pepper and has imposed more duties on the pepper to be exported from India. It is an unscientific move," he said and accused the government of appeasing capitalists.

He said that the Central government should take measures to provide compensation to farmers who have lost coffee, pepper, areca and coconut crops due to heavy rain.

He also urged the government to implement the M S Swaminathan Commission report.

The Raitha Sangha will organise a farmers' convention in Haveri on July 21, he added.

Raitha Sangha Mattu Hasiru Sene District Working President B C Dayakar and General Secretary K Nagaraju were present in the press meet.