Koppal (Karnataka): The reduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on bio-pesticides and micronutrients will provide direct advantages to farmers and empower them, stated Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday. Speaking after the inauguration of a training and common facility center for agro-processing in Methagal village, Koppal district, she emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed the effort to simplify GST for the public. “We implemented GST from the very first day of Navratri, with reductions on various items, including agricultural products like tractors, solar-powered equipment, and machinery utilized by our farmers,” she noted.
FM Sitharaman added that through the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme, Rs6,000 is transferred annually to farmers’ bank accounts via direct benefit transfer (DBT). “In Karnataka, more than 43 lakh farmers benefit from the PM-KISAN scheme,” she mentioned. Additionally, she pointed out that the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana includes 100 districts nationwide, including Koppal.