Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday directed machine manufacturers’ associations in India to pass on directly all revised-GST related benefits to farmers with full transparency.
Chouhan chaired an important meeting in the national capital with representatives from the Tractor and Mechanization Association (TMA), Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Association (AMMA), All India Combine Manufacturers Association (AICMA), and Power Tiller Association of India (PTAI), among others, to discuss the latest GST reforms for agricultural machinery.
According to a press release, the minister, interacting with mediapersons after the meeting, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the GST rate cuts and said GST on agricultural machinery, earlier at 12 and 18 per cent, has now been reduced to 5 per cent, effective from September 22.
This reduction, he asserted, will directly benefit farmers.
He also stressed that the Central government has pledged to ensure an increase in farmers’ incomes, which requires both raising productivity and reducing costs, and mechanisation is vital to achieving both.
Chouhan said that the reduction in GST rates is a big step, which will have a widespread impact.
The Union Minister also announced that the government will widely disseminate information on these benefits through multiple communication channels to raise awareness among farmers.
He emphasised that custom hiring centres, which will now get machines at lower prices, must reduce rental rates to ensure affordability for farmers.
Information about the GST rate reduction will be communicated to farmers during the upcoming second phase of the ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ for Rabi crops, beginning October 3, so that they can make the best use of it for advanced farming, the communique added.
Suitable measures will also be taken to strengthen farm mechanisation. Suggestions from manufacturer associations will be considered while framing future plans, the minister added.
He urged the representatives to minimise the role of middlemen and ensure that farmers directly receive the benefits of GST reforms.
Representatives of the machinery associations welcomed the government’s decision, pledged to faithfully implement the minister’s directions, and reiterated their commitment to farmers’ welfare.
On the occasion, Chouhan also joined people for a plantation drive, reaffirming the Central government’s resolve to work for the prosperity of farmers.