Raising concern over the announcement of a 2 per cent rise in excise duty in the Union Budget, Rohtash Mal, President, Tractor Manufacturers Association (TMA), said the hike in excise duty would lead to a rise in tractor prices which would adversely affect farm mechanisation and agricultural productivity.
Due to NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), availability of farm labour has declined during farming season which can only be addressed through farm mechanisation. Tractors, farm implements and machines enable farmers increase productivity by ensuring timeliness of farm operations and increased work output per unit time.
The rise in tractor prices would inhibit creation of affordable access for the farming community, Mr. Rohtash Mal said in a release.
Keywords: tractor prices
Tractors do not have excise duty and still even after the budget do not have excise duty. A rise in 2% of the excise duty means a max increase of 500/- to 600/- in the input cost. If tractor manufacturers use this is an excuse of increasing prices by 10K to 12K they are the ones taking farmers for a ride!!
Please do not increase tractor prices young farmers like us may not be able to mecahanise and thus fail to add to food production.
Sorry. I don't follow the logic. Or is it the subtle illogic that is supposed to be the logic? Such seemingly innocuous prevarications are the foundations of insane neo-liberal thinking that threaten eco-systems and livelihoods.
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