Tuesday, February 21 2006 14:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government today (Feb 21, 2006) said in Lok Sabha that the recent WTO ministerial at Hong Kong has not put any restriction on developing nations like India to reduce or eliminate any financial assistance to the farming community.

Replying to a question, Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said, "There is no question of compromising farmers' interest and all necessary steps will be taken to protect their interests."

"There is no restriction on us. Although we wish that economic condition of our farmers improves but that can be done within available financial means and whatever decision is taken by Agriculture and Finance ministries jointly shall be implemented," the Minister said.

He informed the House that developed countries would eliminate export related subsidies of 10 billion dollars in their countries by 2013 with the process beginning this year itself.

On the issue of reduction of tariffs, Nath assured the House that products sensitive to India and Indian farmers have been included in the special list of products and the WTO has not compelled India to reduce tariffs on these products.

Replying to another query with regard to farmers facing problem of seeds, their availability and financing, Nath said the Agriculture Ministry was addressing the issue in consultation with experts, scientists and others and hoped the issue would be resolved soon.

He assured the members that Indian farmers would continue to receive help either by way of Minimum Support Price (MSP) or by other means.