Gone are the days where farmers had to struggle to assure fair prices of their produce that too in a scenario where competitive price discovery in agri-markets was out of the box concept.
Now it’s a time to revolutionize the market by eliminating the concepts like hoarding and black marketing. That’s what the government has done recently by announcing various reforms which will transform the agriculture sector.
“Empowering farmers”, is what the new transformational policy reforms have come up with. A historical day that witnessed the move to make the feeders of the nation i.e., OUR FARMERS, ATMANIRBHAR. Overcoming the plight of the farmers and safeguarding the interest of each stakeholder involved in the supply chain, the government has given a new dimension to see this prismatic agricultural sector.
The biggest amendment is the amendment to Essential Commodities Act, it’s after six and a half decades, the government is removing cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes from the list of essential commodities. Thus, giving a way to harness the economies by revoking the regulations and freeing up the decisions to produce, hold, move, distribute, and supply. This will ultimately attract the FDIs which will help in strengthening the backend of the warehousing and cold storage infrastructures.
Price fluctuation has always been a major concern in the agricultural sector, but the step taken by the government has covered that aspect also, though they have liberalized the environment during the time of any natural calamity regulation of foodstuff is allowed within some limit. Thus, ensuring the stable prices of the commodity.
Next, another landmark move unlocking of markets, “Barrier-free trade in agriculture produce” way forwarding market to the ecosystem where both farmer and traders can enjoy the liberty to sale and purchase of Agri produce with restriction-free inter-state or intra-state trade and commerce outside the physical premises of markets notified under State Agriculture Produce Marketing Legislations. Moreover, this step will minimize the marketing cost and will ensure a fair share of the farmer in consumer’s rupee. Even the no charge of any cess and levy for sale under this act will boost the marketing arena.
With a vision of “One India One Agriculture Market,” the government has new gateways giving farmers an edge to get fair remunerative prices of their produce thus envisaging their interest and hard work. Another appreciable step is to engage farmers with the processors. Aggregators, wholesalers, large retailers, exporters thus creating an “Aggregated Supply Chain” integrating it both vertically and horizontally thus strengthening the market intelligence system and minimizing the intermediaries in the chain. Even other measures have been announced to boost the agriculture and allied sectors. Measures like convenient financing for agri-infra projects, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, credit facilities through Kisan Credit Cards, etc,. Moreover, as on June 2020 through PM KISAN over 9.54 crore, farmers have been benefitted and an amount of Rs.19515 crore has been disbursed during this lockdown
In a nutshell, all these reforms and provisions have intensified the strength of the Agricultural sector, the backbone of our country.
Giving it a way “LET’S EMPOWER THE ONE WHO FEEDS THE NATION”
