Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Tractor makers’ body seeks GST rate cut for all components to 18%edit
The Tractor Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) has indicated that the proposed GST rate of 28 per cent for tractor components would lead to an increase in input cost by ₹25,000 per tractor. The Association has requested the government to reduce the duty for all tractor components to 18 per cent from 28 per cent. The anomaly is due to the downward revision of GST being limited to token components of a tractor while major aggregates and components such as engines, transmissions and other parts will continue to be levied at 28 per cent.
Farm loans: Who, how much and waiver worries — all your questions answerededit
Lending to the agriculture sector by banks and institutions in India is not just about providing funds to farmers who want to grow crops. Farm credit, going by its definition spelt out by the Reserve Bank of India, includes short-term crop loans and medium-term or long-term credit to farmers.
Farmers call off stir as state offers a ‘bigger’ loan waiveredit
Concerned over the fallout of prolonged agrarian unrest, the BJP-led government in Maharashtra backed down on Sunday and “in principle” agreed to a loan waiver for all sections of farmers, including the big ones who depend solely on agriculture. The criteria will be fixed by a committee comprising officials and agriculturists.
Why Madhya Pradesh farmers are crying over bumper onion produceedit
Madhya Pradesh’s farmers have always grown onions, but when prices skyrocketed in 2010-11, the land under onion cultivation doubled over the next five years, resulting in the current problem of plenty.
Bring down water requirements for agriculture: former ISRO Chairman K Kasturiranganedit
India needs to promote agricultural practices that need less water for crop cultivation and give thrust to water conservation and harvesting over the next one decade to avert crisis of shortage, according to an eminent scientist. Calling for a holistic approach towards water conservation, including recharging of structures, the former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation, K Kasturirangan said agriculture in India, particularly paddy cultivation, consumes substantial amount of water. “There are agricultural practices that are coming up now which needs much less water,” the former Rajya Sabha member told PTI.
The best of times, the worst of timesedit
The ongoing farmers’ agitation has taken on a shockingly violent form. Discussion has revolved around an apparent paradox: why are farmers rioting after a bumper crop? But any student of economics knows that prices fall after bumper harvests, which is good for consumers but terrible for farmers. This is why the government needs to step in to buy from farmers at a minimum support price, while subsidising consumers so that they get affordable food. This is what we have done over the last fifty years after setting up the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in 1965.
Arunachal farmers keen to go organicedit
Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) [India], June 13 (ANI): Arunachal Pradesh would turn totally organic soon with global organic scientist Dr Nilmadhab Nanda offering progressive farmers the required mantra. Dr.Nanda, who arrived here on June 7 at the invitation of Chief Secretary Shakuntala D Gamlin and prolonged his stay, gave a presentation to state Agriculture Secretary Ajimul Haq on June 8 on his organic product Win (Shree) Crops, besides holding a series of meetings.
Budget
Cabinet sanctions relief of Rs 10,000 to each farmeredit
The cabinet on Tuesday gave its approval to sanction Rs 10,000 to every farmer with a land holding of five acres to pur-chase seeds and fertilizers for sowing crops, ahead of the kharif season. Notwithstanding the biggest loan waiver, the short-term immediate relief of Rs 10,000 to individual farmers was aimed at bringing 30 lakh farm-ers into the mainstream of kharif sowing activities. The decision was announced by Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil and Cooperation and Marketing Minister Subash Deshmukh.
‘Tax tractor parts at lower rate’edit
The Tractor Manufacturers’ Association has appealed to the GST Council to extend the recent rate reduction to all tractor components to protect farmers’ interest. “We are requesting the revenue department to reduce duty on all components that go into the manufacture of tractors like engines, transmission, axles, centre housing, front and rear tires and tubes and other parts thereof, from 28% to 18% — upholding the statement of the finance minister in letter and spirit. This will be much needed to ensure that the farming community does not suffer,” the association said.