Next-Gen GST Reforms to Boost Agriculture Sector: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Next-Gen GST Reforms to Boost Agriculture Sector: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced that the newly revised GST rates will significantly benefit the agriculture sector, especially small and medium farmers. Addressing a press conference in Bhopal, he emphasised that reduced GST on agricultural equipment will lower farming costs and enhance profitability.
Key reforms include GST reductions on bio-pesticides and micro-nutrients, which are expected to encourage a shift from chemical to bio-fertilisers. In the dairy sector, the removal of GST on milk and cheese will ease costs for consumers while providing substantial relief to farmers, cattle breeders, and milk producers.
Mr. Chouhan commended the NDA government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for its commitment to improving rural livelihoods. He highlighted the reduction of GST to 5% on essential farming machinery such as tractors, harvesters, and rotavators as a transformative move. Other allied sectors, including animal husbandry, beekeeping, fish farming, agroforestry, and poultry, will also benefit from GST exemptions, further strengthening the agricultural economy.
The Minister also noted the positive impact on rural women, particularly those in self-help groups engaged in handicrafts, leather goods, and dairy production. These reforms, he said, will empower women economically, including those known as “Lakhpati Didis.”
Illustrating the benefits, Mr. Chouhan explained that a tractor previously priced at ₹9 lakh could now save farmers up to ₹65,000 due to the GST cut. He reiterated that the removal of GST on dairy products will stimulate demand and reinforce the agricultural ecosystem.
