Agricultural incentive. (1) For the purpose of collecting amount to the Fund for farmers' welfare, every trader who trade agricultural products, by converting them into value added products, shall pay an amount of one percentage of his annual profit, as a matter of right of profit sharing as agricultural incentive, to the fund in the manner prescribed:

Provided that this is not applicable to the traders whose annual profit is less than one lakh rupees:

Provided further that on the recommendation of the Board, the Government may, by notification, revise the limit of the annual profit.

1. (2) In order to determine such profits, every dealer shall, submit the return showing his sale proceeds and profits of the previous year to the Assistant Chief Executive Officer in the Regional Offices of the Board, in the manner and time as may be prescribed.
2. (3) The Assistant Chief Executive Officer, shall after making or causing to make an inquiry in the prescribed manner, examine the return submitted as per sub-section(2), issue an order determining the amount of agricultural incentive payable by the traders and the date within which it shall be paid. Any person who is aggrieved by the said order may prefer an appeal to the Board in the manner prescribed.
3. (4) The Officer conducting the enquiry under sub-section (3) shall, for the purposes of such enquiry, have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act 5 of 1908), in respect of the following matter, namely:-
   • (a) enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath or affirmation;
   • (b) requiring the disclosure, discovery and production of records and documents;
   • (c) receiving evidence on affidavits;
   • (d) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses;
4. (5) Any enquiry under this section shall be deemed to be a judicial proceedings within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code,1860 (Central Act 45 of 1860) and for the purpose of section 196 of the said Code. Explanation.–For the purpose of this section “trader” means an entrepreneur or industrialists or industrial institutions, who converts the agricultural products produced by the farmers into value added products.