Hyderabad, Aug. 21 -- Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, urging them to exempt the 12 per cent GST levied on agricultural machinery and equipment. In his letter, the Minister stressed that agriculture is the backbone of the nation's economy and the livelihood source for more than 65 per cent of the population. He said that while modern farming methods are essential to boost food production, the GST on farm machinery has become a heavy financial burden on small and marginal farmers. "Poor farmers cannot afford to buy agricultural equipment, resulting in low yields and rising investment pres...