Tue Feb 25 14:40:26 UTC 2025: **Mysuru MP Secures GST Exemption for Black Pepper, A Boon for Kodagu Farmers**
**Mysuru, Karnataka, February 25, 2025** – Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar announced Tuesday that the central government has granted a continued exemption from Goods and Services Tax (GST) on black pepper. This decision follows months of advocacy by the MP, who met with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to highlight the detrimental impact of GST on black pepper growers, particularly in Kodagu district where the crop is predominantly cultivated.
The MP’s intervention was spurred by a GST notice demanding ₹1 crore from a Kodagu grower, prompting a collective appeal from growers’ associations. Wadiyar argued that the drying process of black pepper, a crucial preservation technique, did not alter its fundamental nature and shouldn’t warrant GST imposition. He emphasized the potential negative consequences for farmers, including increased costs, reduced profits, job losses, and a decline in India’s black pepper exports.
The GST exemption will benefit black pepper farmers not only in Kodagu but also in Hassan and Chikkamagalur districts. Growers and their associations have expressed gratitude to the MP for his successful efforts in securing this crucial relief.
First Piper 