APMC Act

Innumerable committees have recommended reforming the regulated markets much before 2003, when the first model APMC Act was framed to do precisely that in the country

80% of states have had some sort of reforms to their APMCs, but most of these were partial, on pick-and-choose basis and defeated the goal of creating a uniform trade environment across the country

Pawar was the union agriculture, consumer affairs, food and public distribution minister in the then Manmohan Singh-led government

While the move might lead to further confrontation, experts say states are well within their rights in notifying mandis

Farmers used to face a lot of problems earlier as they were not able to sell their produce anywhere in the country due to the Act, Kumar said

Another proposal is to levy a small cess on trades outside APMC or market yard but within the state. The cess may be a quarter of that currently levied when trades are done inside APMC

Referring to the Ordinances, SIngh said the APMC system in Punjab had stood the test of time and served the state and the country well over the last 60 years

The final of a two-part series looks at why investment is unlikely to be forthcoming until industry sees the new ground reality

The first of a two-part series looks at why states such as Punjab, which depend on taxes levied on mandi transactions, are disgruntled

Lack of mandatory written contracts, provision to invoke controlling powers among many bones of contention

However, both of Ordinances give unbridled power to the lower bureaucracy in times of dispute between farmers and buyers that can be companies in case of the Contract agreement.

This will open up the avenues for farmers to sell their produce at e-commerce and modern markets such as Amazon, BigBasket for a better price

He says that the APMC system did not evolve with changes in time and requirement

Farmers will now be free to sell their produce at competitive prices

Agriculture marketing reforms have been pending for long

To exclude contract farming by 2017

Arrival of agri produce to improve from Thursday onwards and thereby bring relief in prices