Union minister Nitin Gadkari, on Friday exhorted tractor manufacturers to embrace alternative sources of fuel to foster sustainability in agriculture and mitigate the sector’s ecological footprint. He reassured manufacturers that the govt would consider reducing certain levies to ensure that tractor prices remain affordable during this transition.
“Transitioning to alternative fuels will not only benefit the environment but also help reduce operational expenses for farmers,” said Gadkari while addressing the MSME conference and exhibition organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He emphasised that the govt is prepared to support this shift by easing duty structure, enabling manufacturers to maintain competitive pricing.
He underscored the importance of agro-processing industries in boosting both the agricultural sector and the local economy.
The MSME sector accounts for 48% of the country’s exports and 35% of its Gross Domestic Product. However, the sector confronts several challenges, including high electricity tariffs and delays in payments to MSME entrepreneurs. “The central govt is actively working to resolve these issues,” Gadkari said.
He discussed the Mother Dairy project in Nagpur, which is set to collect 1.5 million litres milk daily. The project, Gadkari said, is expected to have a significant social and economic impact on Vidarbha by providing jobs and boosting local incomes.
Rahul Dixit, the coordinator for CII Maharashtra, spoke on the industrial importance of various districts in the state and their contributions to Maharashtra’s economic landscape.
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