Tax concessions to agri sector will continue in J&K: Rather

J&K Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdul Rahim Rather today said the coalition government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in a has taken a bold decision to make agriculture sector 100 per cent tax free and will continue to make it more remunerative, lucrative.
"The coalition government in a landmark initiative, has taken a bold decision to make agriculture sector 100 per cent tax free. Tax Concessions to agri sector will continue to make it more remunerative, lucrative," Rather said here today.
This is first of its kind initiative in the history of the Jammu and Kashmir state, which no dispensation, whatsoever, even in future can afford to revoke it, as it serves the noble cause of ameliorating the lot of about 80 percent population of the state comprising farming community, he said.

Speaking at a thought provoking session held in connection with pre-budget consultations with progressive farmers, under the aegis of 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 the government with a positive frame of mind will carry on to extend tax concessions and incentives to the agriculture sector to make it more remunerative and lucrative business activity.
Every possible measure would be taken to introduce all the available farm technologies and innovations by providing tax relief on procurement of agriculture inputs and implements and import farm machinery, he added.

"With the advancement of science and technology, farm mechanisation 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 said.
The 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, he added.