KASHIRAM RANA URGED UNITED NATIONS
TO TAKE PRO-ACTIVE ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL PRICE MANAGEMENT
MORE
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL & TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR FOOD PROCESSING
INDUSTRY
HIGH
LEVEL MINISTERIAL TALKS IN GENEVA
Shri Kashiram
Rana, Union Minister of Rural Development urged upon United Nations
to play pro-active role in International Price Management to protect
interest of developing countries. Participating in the ministerial
level meetings on ‘Market Access For Rural Development’ and ‘Agro
Industries in Rural Areas’ in Geneva today, the Minister raised
the concern of rural producers. Shri Rana said on the one hand
the developing countries are obliged to allow imports of commodities
which offer stiff competition to locally produced items, items
whose production must be made keeping sustainability parameters
in mind, on the other products from them find it difficult to
reach global markets, particularly markets in the developed countries.
Non tariff barriers offer a strong blockade to the entry of these
products in these markets. He underlined the need for transfer
of technologies to developing countries for producing high level
products and the need for training and capacity building of the
developing countries in systems and standards.
Referring to the
agenda the Minister told that Rural industries play an important
role in the Indian economy, as they are labour intensive and create
job opportunities. India, as a developing country, has abundant
resources and cheap skilled labour in rural areas. India produces
46.60 million tonnes of fruits, 96.54 million tonnes of vegetables,
84.6 million tonnes of milk, 5 million tonnes of meat and 6 million
tonnes of fish. Currently, hardly 1 per cent of over 140 million
tonnes of fruits and vegetables produced in the country goes through
the processing route. Shri Rana expressed the hope that collaborations
in the field of agro industries, transfer of technologies and
access to markets would be mutually beneficial to developing and
developed countries both.
Presently, Shri Rana
is on three-days tour to address the Substantive Session of the
United Nations Economic and Social Council in Geneva.
