12/08/04 INDIA (Oilmandi) - Government on Wednesday said there was no moveto cut import duties on edible oils and asserted that the prices of allessential food items were by and large stable in the country.

"There is no proposal to cut import duties on edible oils. I am monitoringthe prices of food items on a daily basis and no significant increase inrates has been reported", Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar saidhere.

He said far from cut in duties, in the recent Annual Budget the importduty on refined palm oils had been hiked to 75 per cent from 70 per centto protect domestic farmers.

The prospects of sunflower and soyabean, specially in Madhya Pradesh,Maharashtra, Karnataka, Saurashtra and Gujarat is quite encouraging.

Overall the sowing of oilseeds in the country is progressing well and sofar 154 lakh hectares have been sown against 138 lakh hectares last year.