New Delhi, Oct. 15 -- Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said the goods and service tax (GST) reforms, implemented last month, will benefit farmers and that the government was committed to the welfare and empowerment of the agrarian community.

"The reduction in GST on bio-pesticides and micronutrients will bring direct benefits to our farmers and empower them," Sitharaman said, referring to the reduction in rates made effective from 22 September.

Speaking at an event at Koppal in Karnataka, the minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was keen to make GST simpler and more beneficial for the people. "Accordingly, we implemented the next generation GST from the very first day of Navratri. GST rates on several items have be...