Implement MSP for rubber, DGR writes to Union agri min

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada district minister Dinesh Gundu Rao wrote to Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, seeking minimum support price (MSP) for rubber.In a letter to the Union minister, Rao stated that MSP for rubber should be given due gravity, and it should be recognised that farmers are toiling in difficult conditions to grow the crop. Farmers from Dakshina Kannada are engaged in rubber cultivation, and due to instability in the market, they are on the verge of penury, he stated.
"As such, natural rubber has been kept out of the list of agricultural crops for which the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommends the MSP. Hence, there is no MSP for rubber in India, even though commercial crops like jute and copra are included," Rao stated.He pointed out that the National Rubber Policy, in effect since March 2019, also did not yield results, and did not support growers due to shortcomings in marketing, external trade, cheaper imports and lack of research. As the provisions of the Rubber Act 1947 mandate the Rubber Board of India to operate under the absolute administrative control of the ministry of commerce and industry, only the Union govt could address the issue of MSP and not the state, Rao explained.Natural rubber not in list: GoyalIn a letter to minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal clarified that natural rubber is not included in the 22 mandated agricultural crops for MSP."The matter was examined in consultation with the Rubber Board. I would like to inform you that, presently, the govt of India fixes MSP for 22 mandated agricultural crops on the basis of the recommendations of the CACP after considering the views of state govts and central ministries and departments concerned," Goyal stated in his reply to Rao.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Valentine's day wishes, messages and quotes !