Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal on Tuesday demanded exemption of income tax on income from animal husbandry, fishing and poultry farming professions.
“Income from animal husbandry, fishing and poultry farming should also be exempted from income tax like agricultural income, as it would help in providing additional income as well as generating employment in these sectors,” he said while addressing a conference of ministers for animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries of all States and UTs in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Department, Ajay Singh also attended the conference. Agrawal said that loan limit for Animal Husbandry, Fishing and Poultry Farming should be increased to Rs15 lakh while urging the Centre to make necessary arrangements for providing loan facilities from nationalised banks for these sectors.
He said that it is necessary to start various schemes targetting these sectors to ensure faster growth of these important sectors. He demanded funds worth Rs57 crore from Central Government for developing milk route, processing and marketing of milk and setting up animal feed plant in Chhattisgarh.
Agrawal also demanded Rs14 crore for infrastructural development in veterinary hospitals in the State.
He said that the income of tribal people would increase if breeding of goats is encouraged while urging the Central Government to open an institute for research on goats in the State. The Minister also demanded establishment of central poultry development organisation.
Speaking at the conference, Minister Brijmohan Agrawal said that Chhattisgarh has ample opportunities in fisheries related activities as it is the sixth largest state in the country in fish production.
He suggested amendments in criteria for developing new ponds to encourage fishing activities and demanded Rs10 crore for the same. Chhattisgarh requires four ice plants and as many cold storages for enhancing fish production, he said.