Chandigarh, April 22 (IANS) Vice President of the BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha, Paramjit Singh Kainth, on Wednesday said the combine harvester industry is currently facing serious structural challenges in Punjab, impacting both the industry and farmers.

He said he conducted a survey of various combine harvester industries, which revealed that the sector is currently passing through a crisis.

He emphasised that the state government must pay immediate attention to this matter and work towards measures that benefit the industry, labourers, and farmers alike.

He highlighted that the shortage of skilled workers, absence of combine driving training centres, lack of relevant trades in ITIs, and poor inter-departmental coordination are creating significant ground-level issues.

“The absence of clear regulations by the Transport Department is also causing unnecessary hurdles in the inter-state movement of combine harvesters,” said the BJP leader.

Kainth further noted that complexities related to Goods and Services Tax (GST) and income tax, delay in input tax credit, and an uneven tax structure have imposed additional financial burdens on small and medium manufacturers.

Rising raw material costs and limited access to finance in the manufacturing sector are further slowing the industry’s growth.

He urged both the Central and state governments to implement a uniform policy framework, including a nationwide integrated registration system, clarity in transport regulations, structured skill development mechanisms, and tax reforms.

The BJP leader emphasised that these measures will not only stabilise the industry but also enhance farmers’ productivity and strengthen the country’s agricultural economy.

These facts came to light in a detailed discussion held with prominent combine manufacturers of Nabha city along with other industry stakeholders.

During the interaction, key issues such as challenges faced by the industry, demand for machinery, technological upgradation, and the need for government support were discussed in detail.

–IANS

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