Promotion of pulses and oilseeds production

Ground Report | Vikas Meshram: Promotion of pulses and oilseeds production; In the past few days, the central government has announced a minimum guarantee for several crops, including paddy, for the upcoming Kharif season.  The effect of this is clearly visible in the increase in guarantees.  There has been a significant increase in the minimum guaranteed price of pulses and oilseeds as compared to rice and other crops.  It is definitely a good decision for the farmers.

With this guarantee, farmers can get fifty to eighty percent more than the cost of production.  Farmers may have different opinions on this decision of the government.  This is because the cost of production has increased significantly.  And it's still growing.  In this background, small steps taken to promote the production of pulses and oilseeds are also very important.

Promotion of pulses and oilseeds production

India has become self-sufficient in food grains like rice and wheat.  Not only this, but it has also started producing more than necessary.  But pulses and oilseeds need to be imported in large quantities.  Similarly, edible oil has to be imported in large quantities.  Government policies are largely responsible for this.  This is because the central and state governments did not allow the production of pulses and oilseeds as they encouraged wheat and paddy cultivation. 

To increase the production of these crops, there is a need to move forward from a scientific point of view.  Otherwise, our country will be dependent on the import of oil and pulses for many years to come.  As the demand for oil and pulses increases, this dependence may increase every year.

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Due to the guarantee given to wheat and rice, farmers do not want to switch to other crops except these two important crops.  The most important constraints are the market as well as climate change due to lack of good seeds and changes in water and wind.  For this, such a policy must be made which will support the farmers.  The central government needs to provide high-quality seeds free of cost to the farmers producing pulses and oilseeds during the Kharif season.  Covered properly, it will withstand a plethora of adversity.  The provision of good seeds is a big expense for the farmers.  Availability in the market is also a major problem in front of pulses and oilseeds.  This is because a major part of these crops depends on the market.  For this, it is necessary to provide supplementary facilities to the farmers in this regard.

Need to increase GST collection

Last year, the Corona crisis had a major impact on the country's economy.  The reduction in GST and other tax collections had put a huge strain on the country's economy.  But now due to a good increase in GST collection in March, the GST collection has crossed Rs 1 lakh crore in six consecutive months.  The Corona crisis has signaled the revival of the country's economy.  This is certainly a matter of relief for the Indian economy.  The last year 2020 was completely in the grip of Corona. 

A record GST collection of about Rs 1.20 lakh crore took place in the last month of the financial year 2020-21 affected by the Corona epidemic.  Earlier in February, the government had raised Rs 1.13 lakh crore through GST.  An increase in GST collection is a matter of strengthening the economy.  After coming to power for the second time in a row, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had vowed to make the Indian economy a world leader.  From that point of view, the government was taking steps in the matter of finance.  The corona pandemic crisis in early 2020 adversely affected the economy.  Especially due to the lockdown, the economic cycle had come to a standstill in all sectors.  As a result, the country's economy slowed down.

Good collection of GST

The collection of GST also decreased during this period.  There was a huge deficit in the overall economy.  But now a good collection of GST can give a big boost to the economy.

March is the month with the highest turnover of the financial year.  This business is in the form of payment of taxes and settlement of arrears.  Hence the record GST was deposited in March.  The deficit has come down because of the last financial year, i.e. 2019-20, compared to the recently ended financial year 2020-21.  A total of Rs 12.22 lakh crore GST was collected in the financial year 2019-20.  (Promotion of pulses and oilseeds production)

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This is in comparison to Rs 11.35 lakh crore collected in the last financial year.  At the beginning of this financial year, there was a huge drop in collections due to the corona pandemic.  However, from September, the collection of GST started increasing.  Every taxpayer is required to pay government taxes on time.  An appeal is made through the government to pay the taxes within the stipulated period.  Everyone needs to answer this call well.

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