A Seminar on “Doubling the Farmers’
Income Through Dairy Sector”, under aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and
Industry here on Friday recommended to the government that the
indigenous dairy sector be a part and parcel of the agri activities, its excise
levy be rationalized and the sector should be kept outside purview of goods and
services tax (GST).
The Seminar was presided over by the
Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of
Agriculture, Mr. Devendra Chaudhary for which moderation was conducted by the
Vice President, PHD Chamber, Mr. Anil Khaitan in which a unified call was given
for reducing the excise duty structure for dairy products from present level of
5-6 per cent.
It was also feared that with the
enactment of GST, the dairy sector may be subjected to about 18 per cent of GST
which would make it economically unviable at a time when talks for doubling the
farmers’ income through dairy also are advancing as when the sector dies with
excessive taxation, how come it could amount to doubling farmers’ income.
The focus of the seminar was also
drawn towards increasing productivity of cows and buffaloes rather than
increasing their number as the sole solution to increase animal productivity
could be through higher yielding fodder.
The Secretary while speaking on the
occasion emphasized that taxation on dairy products could be rationalized
through value added activities of the milk produced but made no definite
comments for reducing excise on dairy products nor did he indicate that his
department would try for dairy products to kept outside ambit of GST, arguing
that without taxation how can the government run its governance.
Among others who spoke on the
occasion consisted of Chairperson, Agribusiness Committee, PHD Chamber, Ms.
Priyanka Mittal; Managing Director Ayurvet Ltd., Dr. Anup Kalra; CEO, Reliance
Dairy Foods Ltd, Dr. Harsev Singh; CEO, Agrinnovate India Limited, Mr.
Ravinderjit Singh; Chief Executive, Max Care Mktg & Technical Services, Mr.
K L Arora; CEO, Hetha Organics LLP, Mr. Aseem Rawat and the like.
Ends.
Koteshwar Prasad Dobhal
Consultant (PR)
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