BJP State general secretary K.P. Sreesan has welcomed the Central government decision to raise the rubber import duty from 20 to 25 per cent.
Mr.Sreesan said in a statement here on Saturday that the duty was enhanced for the first time after 2004.
When the UPA was at the saddle in Delhi, with the UDF governing the State, it never considered the long-pending demand to increase the duty, he said.
The decision that would impact 10 lakh rubber growers was taken by the NDA government.
Against the backdrop of the existing international agreements, this was the highest permissible limit for raising the duty.
The decision to continue the interest subsidy for short-term agriculture loans would give a major fillip to farmers in the country, the BJP leader said.
Rubber import duty hiked from 20 to 25 per cent.
