Pawar for hiking import duty on butter oil, skimmed milk powder .

New Delhi, Feb 24 The Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar, has favoured an increase in import duties on butter oil and skimmed milk powder (SMP).

“I have written to the Commerce and Finance Ministers recommending higher duties. A quick decision is required because we cannot allow the dumping of highly subsidised products by certain countries, which will harm our farmers”, he told presspersons here on Tuesday.

Butter oil imports currently attract 30 per cent basic Customs duty, with this being five per cent in the case of SMP imports of up to 10,000 tonnes.