Jammu, Dec 24: Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather today said that government has made the entire agriculture sector more or less tax free.
 “Soon after taking over in 2008, the coalition government in its very first Budget exempted toll tax on import of fertilizers, agriculture tools, weedicides and pesticides, besides minimizing import duty on day-old chicks to promote poultry sector in the state in a big way. The tax concessions on agriculture and allied sectors will continue in future budgets also”, he added.
 “J&K is the only state in India where agriculture sector is more or less tax free”, Rather said, while addressing a massive gathering of farmers, panchs, sarpanchs and senior citizens at Surora in Gagwal block of district Samba today, who had gathered there in connection with Farmer’s awareness camp.
 The day-long farmers Awareness Camp was organized by the J&K State Advisory Board for development of Kissans.
 Rather said that the present government also constituted first of its kind in the country, J&K Kissan Development Board, for looking after the matters related to farming community and the agriculture sector.
 The Board is doing well and acts as a bridge between the farmers and the government.
 He asked the board members, which has representation from all the districts of the state, to submit its recommendations from time to time to the government for the development of agriculture sector and betterment of farmers and assured that their recommendations will be given due consideration.  

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