Agriculture Commission welcomes exit from RECP

Vijayawada: AP Agriculture Commission vice-chairman M V S Nagi Reddy welcomed India's exit from Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Speaking to media persons here on Tuesday, Nagi Reddy said that agriculture was a state subject while agriculture-related policies come under the Centre's jurisdiction.

He said the minimum support price for agricultural produce, agriculture loans, imports and exports and other important issues fall under the jurisdiction of the Centre. Subabul farmers and others cultivating pulses were facing a crisis due to bulk imports.

Groundnut crop is the largest cultivated crop in the state after paddy. So there is a crisis in the oilseeds sector also due to imports, he said. Nagi Reddy said the RCEP was formed in 2012 in which India was a member.

They met 30 times so far. The final meeting was held on November 4, in which our country exited from the trade forum without entering into an agreement taking the stand that indigenous farmers should not face a crisis due to imports.

"We congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government for the move," he said. Indian agriculture sector would face a severe crisis if the country allows imports of processed foods, pulses and other agricultural products from countries like China.

The aim of the free trade agreement is that there would be no tax on any exports or imports between the countries. Hence it was right on the part of the Centre to step out of the agreement, he said and added that the Centre should take cognizance of the views of the states when such major decisions are taken regarding agriculture and trade.