UK Farmers Protest Inheritance Tax Changes

Punjab's Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani reported significant progress on several agricultural initiatives, including the Kissan Card, which has received applications from 1.4 million farmers, with Rs21 billion worth of inputs purchased so far. Farmers will soon be able to withdraw cash using the Kissan Card, and strict monitoring has been ordered to prevent overcharging by dealers. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's farmers are rallying against new inheritance tax rules that impose a 20% tax on farms valued over £1 million, which they argue will hinder the next generation from taking over family businesses. The Ulster Farmers Union claims the changes will affect thousands of farms, contradicting government assertions that only 500 estates will be impacted. As protests escalate, some campaign groups are calling for farmers to stop supplying supermarkets, although the National Farmers Union has distanced itself from this strategy. Government officials, including Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner, urge farmers to remain calm, asserting that most will not be adversely affected by the new tax regulations.