Govt approves amendment to Essential Commodities Act, clears two ordinances

Amendment to deregulate food items, including cereals, pulses and onion

At a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendment to the six-a-and-a-half decade old Essential Commodities Act, in order to deregulate food items, including cereals, pulses and onion. The move would transform the farm sector and help raise farmers' income, said Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

The Cabinet also approved 'The Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020' to ensure barrier-free trade in agriculture produce.

The government also approved 'The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020' to empower farmers to engage with processors, aggregators, wholesalers,