Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 16: The J&K Walnut Exporters Association has strongly opposed the levying of 12% tax burden proposed by the GST regime on the State’s walnut and almond industry and urged upon the Govt to go for reconsideration and put it at par with similar produce from other States.
Addressing a press conference here today Sujiv Jain, senior executive committee member of the Association pointed out that the proposed GST at 12% tax comes against the current zero rate, putting small farmers, the main producers of the crop to immense economic hardships. Other stake holders too, face huge economic stress. In addition, the GST rate is prejudicial to the State’s industry as compared to the tax rate on similar produce of other States.
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Jain said the J&K Walnut Exporters Association has already sent a communication in this regard to the State Finance Minister, Haseeb Drabu, urging him for taking-up immediately the issue at the next GST Council meeting scheduled for June 18, 2017. The proposed GST rate at 12%, imperils more than 5 lakh farmers, workers, industrialists and transporters dependent on this industry. It also threatens the collapse of more than 100 processing units engaging over 50,000 workers.
“The Association has urged the Government to lobby with the GST Council to review the rate to 5 per cent like Kaju and Kishmish otherwise, this walnut and almond industry will collapse and all farmers and workers will be on the roadside,” Sujiv Jain, senior member of the Association said.
He pointed out that the taxation under GST @ 12% will impact consumption and this in turn will heavily impact the economic returns to our growers. It may be noted that the Chief Ministers of Cashew Nuts and Raisins (similar category) producing States of Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa got the GST reduced from 12 percent to 5 percent.
“Walnuts and Almonds being taxed @ 12% vis-a-vis other similar produce like cashew nuts and raisins is creating a disparity in one category,” Jain added.
The J&K is a traditional producer of walnuts, providing livelihood to thousands of people spread in the major hill districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Baramulla, Budgam, Shopian, Kulgam, Kupwara, Srinagar, Doda. J&K is number one exporter of the country and there is maximum demand of J&K walnut and almond at international level. The Govt must take measures to protect this industry, Jain maintained.
Several other members of the Association also accompanied jain.
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