NEW DELHI, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- The Indian Government may hike the importduty on refined palm oil in the coming National Budget, the AgricultureMinister, Rajnath Singh said in Delhi on Thursday.

"In the interest of farmers, Agriculture Ministry favours higherdifferential between customs duty on refined and crude palm oils than thepresent 10 per cent. The issue may be decided in the upcoming Budget,"Rajnath Singh said, according to PTI, India's premier news agency.

Following a bumper `Kharif' (winter) oilseeds crop, the minister, had in aletter to the Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh, last month sought for theraise of the duty on refined palm oil to its earlier level.

The Finance Ministry officials are later reported to have said that therewould be no change in duty.

Favouring a higher duty on refined palm oils than the present 75 percentagainst 65 percent on crude palm oil, Rajnath Singh said the matter hadbeen taken up with the Finance Ministry and even a reminder had been sent.

"We have given our suggestion, similarly views of the consumer and Fooddepartments would have been solicited and final decision may be taken atthe time of the Budget," he said.

He added that the matter was still under consideration.

-- BERNAMA