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Policy to promote agri exports in global markets soon: Prabhu
New Delhi, Sep 5 (IANS) The government will shortly bring in a policy designed to facilitate access to global markets for Indian agricultural produce, new Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Tuesday.
“If farmers produce something, they should get access to global markets and get better prices for that, and for that we will put in place a good policy framework very soon,” Prabhu, who took charge of the Commerce and Industry portfolio on Monday, said while addressing an agriculture summit here.
He said the Commerce Ministry will work on developing a global supply chain for the agriculture sector.
“As a minister it’s my job to ensure that we develop this global supply chain and ensure farmers get better prices,” Prabhu said.
“We will start working on that. This is on our agenda. My ministry will make sure that we will achieve this goal to ensure that India’s agriculture is also able to feed the global economy,” he added.
He also said that multilaterally there is also the need to work on removing trade barriers in order to boost Indian agricultural exports.
“We have right to have access to global markets for our farm produce by removing all trade restrictive practices,” he said.
The Minister also said the government will work on developing agriculture parks in India.
India and China have, in a joint proposal to the WTO, called for eliminating trade-distorting agricultural subsidies given by developed countries, the Indian Commerce Ministry said last week.
“India and China jointly submitted a proposal to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) calling for the elimination — by developed countries — of the most trade-distorting form of farm subsidies known as Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS), or ‘Amber Box’ support, as a prerequisite for consideration of other reforms in domestic support negotiations,” an official statement here said.
“The joint paper reveals that developed countries, including the US, the EU and Canada, have been consistently providing trade-distorting subsidies to their farmers at levels much higher than the ceiling applicable to developing countries,” it said.
“It counters the efforts by some countries to target the subsidies of the developing countries while letting the developed countries retain their huge farm subsidies,” the statement added.
The subsidies by the developed countries amount to around $160 billion. On the other hand, countries like India provide a subsistence amount of about $260 per farmer annually, the ministry said.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.