CHP's Gürer proposes a bill: VAT should not be collected from irrigation electricity

CHP Niğde Deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer submitted a bill to abolish the VAT on electricity used in agricultural irrigation activities.

Gürer said, “Our producers and farmers are waiting for support. Agricultural frost is widespread in 34 provinces and has caused significant yield and crop losses in 65 provinces. Drought is also a factor. Due to yield and crop losses in many regions, it no longer seems possible to achieve the targeted and expected yields.”

"In the situation where farmers find themselves, purchasing prices should be increased, taxes should be reduced to zero, and additional support should be provided to ensure the survival of farmers and producers," he said.

CHP Niğde Deputy and member of the Parliamentary Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Affairs Committee, Ömer Fethi Gürer, stated that farmers' production costs must be reduced. Gürer made the following statement regarding the bill he submitted to the Parliamentary Speaker's Office:

Producers and farmers are suffering. As if rising input costs weren't enough, farmers were also hit hard this year by frost and drought. Therefore, farmers need to reduce their input costs or at least provide them with tax relief. Electricity used for irrigation water is taxed at around 17 percent. This tax should be abolished.

"SCT AND VAT ON FUEL SHOULD BE REMOVED FOR THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR"

Additionally, the Special Consumption Tax (SCT) and VAT on diesel fuel should be abolished for the agricultural sector. In addition to farmer support, input costs must be reduced drastically to ensure sustainable agriculture. Fertilizer prices are skyrocketing. Rising feed prices are straining livestock farming. Increases in the cost of pesticides, seeds, care, labor, diesel, and electricity are making agricultural sustainability more difficult. Therefore, the government absolutely must eliminate taxes on farmers' inputs.

"OUR PRODUCERS AND FARMERS ARE WAITING FOR SUPPORT"

Therefore, I submitted a bill to the Speaker of Parliament to abolish the VAT imposed on the price of electricity for irrigation water. If electricity is used in agriculture, VAT should not be levied on it. Our producers and farmers are waiting for support. Agricultural frost is widespread in 34 provinces and has caused significant crop and yield losses in 65 provinces. Drought is a further factor. Due to yield and yield losses in many regions, it is now unlikely that the targeted and expected yields will be achieved. In the situation where farmers find themselves in a difficult situation, purchase prices must be increased, taxes must be absolutely eliminated, and additional support must be provided to ensure the survival of farmers and producers.