Last week, Lok Sabha passed three bills to reform and liberalize the production, trade, and pricing of agriculture produce in the country. These are heavy pieces of legislature but let’s under what they are in nutshell –
- Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 – Farmers are now free to sell their produce outside the regulated Mandi (APMC). The bill gives freedom of choice to farmers in sale and purchase of agri-produce.
- Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 – The bill provides a framework for farmers to enter supply contract with larger buyers. The target is to provide farmers with remunerative prices for their produce in fair and transparent manner.
- Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020 – The bill allows large business consumers to maintain stock of agriculture commodities (list of commodities finalised given by the law).
