VAT, surcharge on fertilizers waived

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government on Friday waived the four percent VAT and one percent surcharge on fertilisers to aid farmers hit by rise in prices of fertilisers.“The decision will entail a liability of Rs 35 crore on the State Government, but it would be of considerable help to the farmers,” Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan said. “The Agriculture Department has also devised a scheme to reduce the additional burden caused by the slight hike in rents of harvesters and tractors in the private sector,” he said.Custom hiring centres under the department are renting out the machinery at nominal rates to the farmers. “The rents are fixed by the monitoring committee led by the district panchayat,” the minister said. “Machinery is also available at low rates from the Kerala Agro Industries Corporation,” he said.