NEW DELHI: Farmers organisations during their pre-Budget consultation with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday demanded GST exemption on agri inputs, doubling of the financial assistance under the PM-Kisan scheme and uniform taxation in agricultural markets across the country.
General secretary of RSS affiliate Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Badri Narayan Choudhary, demanded increasing benefits under PM-Kisan whereas national spokesperson of Bharatiya Kisan Union (apolitical) Dharmendra Malik demanded that agricultural equipment, animal feed, fertilizers, seeds and medicines be excluded from GST’s ambit.
Bharat Krishak Samaj’s chairman Ajay Vir Jakhar suggested uniform taxation in agri markets, saying it will pave the way for improved governance, systems efficiency, mitigation of food inflation and price fluctuations. He also suggested evaluation of govt schemes for farmers.