Efforts on to resolve EU ban on import of Indian mangoes: Government

NEW DELHI: Efforts are on to resolve the issue of temporary ban on import of Indian mangoes by the European Union and positive results could be seen in the next two to three months, government informed the Lok Sabha today.

Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said efforts are on to resolve the issue and some "positive outcome" is likely in the next two to three months.

He was responding to a series of supplementaries on export of mango from India and EU's temporary ban on the import of the fruit over the issue of insecticides.

Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Balyan said there is no proposal to provide for compensation to those affected by the import ban.

Responding to another question, Balyan said there is no proposal now to hike the import duty on apples from the present 35 per cent.

A BJP member had suggested hiking the import duty to 100 per cent to protect the interests of Indian growers.

The government also assured members to look into the issue of Bangladesh imposing import duty on Darjeeling oranges, while exempting it for the fruit imported from Bhutan.

Singh said several measures have been taken to improve marketing of fruits and vegetables including issuing advisories to states to deregulate fruits and vegetables from the purview of Agriculture Produce Market Committee.

A 'kisan mandi' will be set up in Delhi to help farmers get access to the huge consumer market available here.