The Akhil Gomantak Shetkari Mahasangh (AGSM) has accused the government of forcing them to buy agriculture machinery and equipment only from authorised dealers in the State to avail subsidies, claiming it would only benefit a few dealers at the cost of farmers and government treasury.
Shetkari Mahasangh says products are cheaper online, other statesrrthe goan I networkrCANACONArr“The government insists that farmers who want subsidies have to compulsorily purchase agriculture machinery/equipments, fencing, drip irrigation and pipes from authorised dealers only. This is a clear ploy to benefit these dealers at the cost of farmers,” said AGSM General Secretary Amey Puranik and a young farmer from Canacona. rPuranik claimed that machinery like weed cutters were far cheaper in other states or even from online sellers. r“The cost of a weed cutter at the authorised agriculture dealer is Rs 37,000, while the same weed cutter is available for Rs 20,000-22,000 with shops/dealers in Karnataka. In fact, an online shop offers 50% discount and the same weed cutter is available for as low as Rs 10,000-11,000,” he said. rHe informed that the government offers a 70-90% a subsidy for the weed cutter priced at Rs 37,000, provided it is purchased from an authorised agriculture dealer. r“If the government gives us a subsidy on this weed cutter bought from the cheapest available source, it would not only benefit us, but will also save public funds,” said Puranik. rCiting another example, Puranik said one authorised dealers had quoted Rs 1.90 lakh to fence 2 acres of agriculture land. “At Yellapur-Karnataka, I was given a quotation of Rs 60,000 for the same fence for the same 2 acres of land,” he said.rPuranik said the issue had been taken up with Director of Agriculture Ulhas Pai Kakode at a function with then agriculture minister Ramesh Tawadkar at Shristhal. r“Kakode gave us two reasons for the subsidy eligibility, stating that farmers get after sales service from these dealers and that, the government earns tax when purchased from local dealers.” rSeeking to repudiate both factors, Puranik said: “A backward Canacona taluka has at least three private service centres of agriculture equipments and they provide better service than the government-registered dealers.” r“On the tax front, how much would the government benefit on taxing agriculture equipments, when it says agriculture income is tax-free? Moreover with GST in place, there is hardly any tax benefit to the government if purchased locally or outside the State.”rrGovt to help farmers buy products rat cheaper rates: VijairrrPONDA: Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai has said the government would explore options of providing subsidies to farmers if they can get machinery or equipment elsewhere at cheaper rates. rHe was responding to complaints by farmers that they were being forced to buy agriculture machinery and equipment at higher rates from authorised dealers to avail of government subsidies, when the same machinery was available at cheaper rates online or in other states. “If they are getting these equipments and machinery elsewhere at cheaper rates, then obviously we will explore that option. If the agriculture machinery is available online, the benefit should certainly go that product as well,” said Sardessai, while speaking to The Goan on Monday evening. “My motto is to provide good services to the farmers. My department will help them purchase equipment and machinery from wherever they find it cheaper,” assured Sardesai. rSpeaking further on the possibility of offering subsidies to equipments brought online, Sardesai added: “The government is working in the best interest of farmers.”
