India: Karnataka farmers are upset about the GST on milk products

MYSURU: Karnataka farmers have vehemently objected to the GST Council's decision to tax dairy items including lassi, curd, paneer, and buttermilk as well as farm machinery. Kurubur Shanthakumar, Head of the State Sugar Cane Growers Association, stated on Saturday that "the government has targeted the agricultural community and milk producers" despite not hiking the tax on gambling and racing. He claimed that in addition to taxing irrigation pumps, sprayers, and other agricultural equipment, the Union Government has broken its promise to farmers to implement the Swaminathan Committee report. Farmers are already struggling due to the collapse of produce prices, crop losses, and rising production costs. We have made the decision to file a protest with Union Minister Nirmala Seetharaman, and we will send a letter to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai pleading with him to exempt Nandini goods and agricultural machinery from GST, he added. He also said that because the cost of production ...