Apple growers want GST rollback on tree spray oil

Ishfaq Tantry

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Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 16

Apple growers and dealers in Kashmir have demanded rollback of the GST on tree spray oil, saying that the increased cost of the product will hurt the interests of thousands of people associated with apple trade.

Before the introduction of the GST, apple growers of the Kashmir were charged 12.5 per cent excise duty on tree spray oil, while no VAT was applicable. However, after the new tax regime came into effect, 18 per cent GST is being charged on tree spray oil.

While the apple growers have already taken up the issue with the state Horticulture Minister and the state Finance Secretary so that the issued can be taken up in the forthcoming GST Council meeting, they demanded rollback of the GST on tree spray oil during a press conference in Jammu today.

“Despite some positive steps by the state government, including opening of Jawahar Tunnel 24x7 to facilitate transportation of apple across markets in the country, the fruit growers of the Valley are still facing many problems. The government should take immediate steps for the growth of the horticulture sector in the Valley,” president, J&K Apple Growers Association, M Yousuf Dar said during the joint press conference by the Kashmir Apple Dealers Union and Kashmir Kisan Sabha.

Dar said a joint delegation of the apple growers’ organisations and unions had earlier met Horticulture Minister Basharat Bukhari at the civil secretariat, Jammu, and apprised him of the problems faced by the fruit growers of the Valley. He said they had demanded immediate redress of their problems, including rollback of 18 per cent GST on tree spray oil.

“Tree spray oil is an agricultural product and put under 5 per cent GST slab for the benefit of farmers,” Dar said.

The apple growers have also taken up the matter with Finance Secretary Navin K Choudhary, requesting him to take up the matter with the Central GST Council so that the GST rate on spray oils is reduced from the current 18 per cent to 5 per cent.

‘Declare J&K a horticulture state’

• Sufficient and timely availability of fertilisers in the Valley. Removal of GST on pesticides, fungicides and walnut
• Fertiliser companies be allowed to transport fertilisers from Udhampur Railway Rake point to the Valley
• J&K be declared a horticulture state and introduction of crop insurance scheme for horticulture, agriculture
• Apple juice processing centres at fruit mandi level and district level. Cold storage facilities at fruit mandis of Kashmir and at the district level
• Waiving of bad loans and Kisan Credit Card loans