Jammu, January 29, (Scoop News)-The Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather has said that the coalition Government headed by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah in a landmark initiative, has taken a bold decision to make agriculture sector 100 percent tax free. This is the first of its kind initiative in the history of the J&K State, which no dispensation, whatsoever, can now afford to revoke as it of serves the noble cause ameliorating the lot of about 80 percent population of the State comprising farmer community.
Speaking at a thought provoking session held in connection with consultations under the J&K Board for Development of Kissans at Jammu, the Finance Minister said that agriculture sector is the mainstay of state’s economy which needs focused emphasis in budget and plan formulations and its implementation. He said that the today’s discussion have been conceived with a positive frame of mind to carry on extension of tax concessions and incentives to the farm sector to make it much more remunerative activity adding that every possible measure would be made to introduce all the available farm technologies and innovations by providing tax relief on procurement of agriculture inputs and implements and import farm machinery.
“With the advancement of science and technology, farm mechanization has also taken off overwhelmingly and it was paramount duty of the Government to provide every sort of logistic support to the farming community to switch over to new advancements in this field,” Rather observed adding that onus also lies on the agriculture extension agencies to educate the farmers about all available schemes, incentives and concessions aimed at to ameliorate the lot of farming community.
Mr Rather lauded performance of Kissan Development Board for unifying farming community and channelizing its energies towards betterment of farmers and bringing latest innovations in agriculture practices adding that it serves as a bridge between Government and farmers. He said the Government will continue to extend its full support to the Kissan Board to make it a fully empowered and vibrant institution so that other States of the country can take a cue and follow its model.
Assuring that the Government will focus on area specific agri-planning, the Finance Minister said that all the Banking Institutions, in the latest State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) have been asked to complete 100% assigned targets to provide Kissan Credit Card (KCC) before the end of current fiscal. He said Government has already exempted stamp duty on loans up to Rs 1.50 lakh on KCCs adding that the State cannot afford to neglect farming sector as it is still deficit in food grain production, despite having favourable geo-climatic conditions.
He also listed some measures taken by the present Government to promote farm sector adding that tax exemption on import of day old clicks has helped in a big way to boost local poultry production. He said 100 % tax concession of fertilizers is another bold and farm friendly initiative of the present Government which has provided much needed relief to the farming community.
Vice-Chairman, J&K Board for Development of also spoke on the occasion and lauded measures taken up by the coalition Government for prosperity and progress of the farming community.
The prominent progressive farmers including Ex Director Agriculture, Mr Khajuria, Mr Rajesh Bittoo, Choudhary Dev Raj, S. Tejinder Singh and productivity in the State. They called for launching a well organised wheat procurement drive keeping in view the record wheat production this Rabi season, they also sought due share of investment form corporate houses in the agriculture sector under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Choudhary Dev Raj, President Basmati Rice Growers Association R S Pura, who is also prominent social activists of the area gave valuable suggestions to increasing export of world famous Basmati rice of R S Pura.
The Economic Advisor to Government, Mr Jalil Ahmed Khan, Commissioner Commercial Taxes, Mr Kifayat Hussain Rizvi, Excise Commissioner, Mrs Vineeta Gupta, Additional Secretary, Finance, Mr Showkat Aijaz, Secretary J&K Board for welfare of Kissans, Mr G A Mir were also present in the meeting.