The Farmers’ Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill
No Comments
Subject: Agriculture
Context:
The Bill is introduced in Loksabha to replace the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020
Concept:
- It seeks to provide for the creation of an ecosystem where the farmers and traders enjoy the freedom of choice relating to sale and purchase of farmers’ produce
- It facilitates remunerative prices through competitive alternative trading channels to promote efficient, transparent and barrier-free inter-State and intra-State trade and commerce of farmers’ produce outside physical premises of markets or deemed markets notified under various State agricultural produce market legislations
- It also provides a facilitative framework for electronic trading and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Background
- Farmers in India suffered from various restrictions in marketing their produce.
- There were restrictions for farmers in selling agri-produce outside the notified APMC market yards.
- The farmers were also restricted to sell the produce only to registered licensees of the State Governments.
- Further, Barriers existed in free flow of agriculture produce between various States owing to the prevalence of various APMC legislations enacted by the State Governments.
- This legislation is a historic-step in unlocking the vastly regulated agriculture markets in the country.
- It will open more choices for the farmer, reduce marketing costs for the farmers and help them in getting better prices.
- It will also help farmers of regions with surplus produce to get better prices and consumers of regions with shortages, lower prices.