Chhattisgarh raises paddy subsidy, slashes mandi tax

Raipur Oct 14, (PTI) Keeping an eye over the assemblypolls, the Chhattisgarh state government today reduced manditax to 1 per cent on the agriculture produce sold in themarketing yard and raised subsidy for paddy growers by Rs 100per quintal. "The state government has taken a decision to reducemandi tax on all the crops from the existing 2 per cent to 1per cent, except rice. The change will be implemented withimmediate effect," official sources said. The rebate in mandi tax has been given to the farmers inaccordance to the provision of Agricultural Produce MarketAct-1972, State Agriculture department officials said. The state farmers can avail the benefits on selling thecrop in the marketing yards, they said. The state government has also raised subsidy on paddy toRs 300 from the existing Rs 200 per quintal. The move willhelp the state farmers fetch additional Rs 3,000 per hectareon sowing paddy seeds, official sources said. At present, the Chhattisgarh State Seed Development Corpgives subsidy of Rs 200 per quintal to the paddy seed growingfarmers. The decision has been taken in the backdrop ofincrease in minimum support price of the crop and increase incost of paddy production, official sources said. PTI