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Needed, immediate action

A. Jacob Sahayam, Karigiri

It is welcome news that, triggered by a circular from the Commerce Ministry, ``the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) has started the process to prepare a medium-term export strategy for leather and leather products'' (Business Line, October 10). At the s ame time, there is an urgent need to combat the pollution caused by tanneries, modernise slaughterhouses to combat the propaganda by PETA and improving quality are to be urgently attended to if we are to have sustained growth of exports.

Similarly, a strategy for rice export has to be worked out. It may be true that because of the high prices, ``rice export chances are dim, despite demand'' (Business Line, October 12). The Government has to address this issue seriously and immediately so that farmers, exporters, and the country are benefited.

Quick and aggressive action is required to pursue counter-trade possibilities. Steps could also be taken to work out some sort of subsidy to reduce the input cost of production or export subsidy. The Commerce Ministry has to take more interest in promoti ng export of agricultural commodities as in the case of industrial products.