The government has said all-India prices of plantation crops such natural rubber, tea, coffee and cardamom (small) were higher during April-December 2024-25 than the corresponding period of 2023-24.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, said the average price of natural rubber (RSS 4 grade) in Kerala’s Kottayam was ₹202.04 a kg during April-December 2024-25 against ₹151.88 a kg in the same period of 2023-24, an increase of 33.03 per cent.
He said the prices of plantation crops such as tea, coffee and cardamom (small) were also higher in Kerala during April-December 2024-25 compared to the corresponding period of 2023-24.
No change in import policy
During April-December 2024-25, the average auction price of tea in Kochi increased by 18.17 per cent and cardamom (small) by 49.44 per cent. The average farmgate prices of Arabica uncured dry processed cherry coffee in Kerala was increased by 32.54 per cent, and Robusta uncured dry processed cherry coffee by 55.99 per cent, he said.
Considering the production, import and price trends of these commodities, currently no change in the import policy is under consideration, he added.
When asked if the government proposes to impose anti-dumping duty on natural rubber imported, he said the government considers anti-dumping measures on the basis of application filed by domestic industry. “Currently, there is no ongoing investigation or pending application requesting for trade remedial measures on natural rubber with Directorate General of Trade Remedies,” he said.
Turmeric exports
To a separate question on the turmeric trade, Prasada said India is the leading producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric in the world. India exported 1.62 lakh tonnes (lt) of turmeric valued at $226.58 million during 2023-24, contributing to around 65 per cent of global export of turmeric.
In 2023-24, more than 99.95 per cent of turmeric consignments exported from India were accepted in the export markets and rejection rate was less than 0.05 per cent.
Production of turmeric in India was 10.63 lt from an area of 2.93 lakh hectares in 2023-24. The domestic price of turmeric in the major markets of Erode and Nizamabad was ₹136.19 a kg and ₹121.34 a kg, respectively, during April-December 2024-25 as against ₹83.60 a kg and ₹88.44 a kg during the corresponding period of the previous year, registering an increase of 62.9 per cent in the Erode market and 37.2 per cent in the Nizamabad market.
Compensation for onion growers
To a question on the number of application received from onion farmers under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the claims paid, Ramnath Thakur, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, said 23.41 lakh applications were received and claims to the tune of ₹756.10 crore were paid from 2019-20 to 2023-24.
Of this, a maximum of 16.41 lakh applications were received in Maharashtra, and claims to the tune of ₹374.39 crore were paid during the period.
With a view to provide financial support to the farmers in the event of loss to crop due to non-preventable natural calamities, PMFBY and Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance (RWBCIS) have been introduced from Kharif 2016 season.
He said PMFBY provides for comprehensive risk insurance against crop damage to food crops (cereals, millets and pulses), oilseeds and annual commercial horticultural crops notified by the State government concerned from pre-sowing to post-harvest stages of the crops at very minimum premium for farmers.
He said Maharashtra government has notified onion crop under the scheme.
In addition to Maharashtra, governments of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Telangana and West Bengal have also notified onion crop in one or more seasons in their states, he said.
Seaweed cultivation
To a question on seaweed cultivation, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, said Tamil Nadu is leading seaweed producer in the country at present. Around 5,048 hectares of potential areas have been identified for seaweed cultivation in Tamil Nadu, and given the strong demand for seaweed in various industries, Department of Fisheries of Government of India, has approved the project for establishment of a multi-purpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu at a total cost of ₹127.71 crore with Central financial assistance of ₹75.16 crore under the Centrally-sponsored component and Central sector scheme component of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
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