Page 2 - Essential Commodities Act

Centre paves way for licence-free purchase directly from farmers

Any buyer with a PAN can purchase from farmers; no state or central taxes on direct procurement; food items removed from EC Act

Changes to Essential Commodities Act: Can govt make a departure from past?

Aims to ensure Act kicks in only under exceptional circumstances and unforeseen events such as droughts, floods or when food prices fluctuate beyond a point

Govt approves changes to EC Act, permits farmers to sell produce freely

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

Govt approves amendment to Essential Commodities Act, clears two ordinances

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

Reviving the farm economy

The return of migrant workers to their villages offers an opportunity to give agribusiness a leg-up

Existing APMC laws restrict trade, competition: Ramesh Chand of NITI Aayog

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

Sitharaman brings farm sector reforms, to deregulate onion, potato prices

Stock limits will be imposed only under exceptional circumstances like national calamities and famine, said the FM

Most essentials coming from local retailers; availability via e-com dips

With the commencement of lockdown 4.0, a plethora of relaxations has been announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

Limited Flipkart sales in India hit our growth: Walmart CEO Doug McMillon

Closure of stores, warehouses contributed to volatility in first quarter: McMillon

Time for real action

Agriculture marketing reforms have been pending for long

Centre to free up inter-state agri commodity trade without touching APMCs

For this, the govt will use Entry 42 of the Union list, along with Entry 33 of the Concurrent List, to frame a legislation

Stimulus 2.0: Reforms good, implementation a challenge, say food firms

The reason is the "well-oiled system" that exists right now, preventing farmers from approaching buyers directly.

Proposed marketing reforms will boost agri biz investments: Experts

New Central law will offer adequate choices to farmer to sell produce at attractive prices, barrier-free inter-state trade ensure cultivator gets better deal for his crop

Govt to amend Essential Commodities Act to deregulate cereals, edible oil

A stock limit will be imposed only under very exceptional circumstances like national calamities, famine with a surge in prices.

11 steps taken by FM Nirmala Sitharaman for the agrarian economy

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today announced a third set of stimulus measures, aiming to "put money into the hands of farmers" with plans to help agriculture infrastructure

Govt to set up Rs 1-trn agri infra fund, amend Essential Commodities Act

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday announced setting up of a Rs 1 lakh crore agri infrastructure fund for farm-gate infrastructure. This fund will be used for setting up cold chains and post-harvest management infrastructure, she said while announcing the third tranche of COVID-19 relief package. She also announced a Rs 10,000 crore scheme for formalisation of micro food enterprises (MFE). The scheme will be launched to help 2 lakh MFEs by adopting cluster-based approach such as mango in Uttar Pradesh, kesar in Jammu & Kashmir, bamboo shoots in North-East, chilli in Andhra Pradesh, tapioca in Tamil Nadu. This fund would help in reaching untapped export markets in view of improved health consciousness.

Covid-19: Home Secy writes to states to ensure supply of essential goods

The Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla also urged for steps to be taken to prevent hoarding and black marketing

HC seeks report from govt on supply of essential goods to Andaman & Nicobar

The court asked the Union of India and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands administration to file reports on the prevailing situation by March 30 through email.

Home Ministry's list of what's closed, exempt during coronavirus lockdown

The Home Ministry on Tuesday listed organisations that will be closed-and exempt--during the 21-day nationwide lockdown against the coronavirus announced by Prime Minister

Must review Essential Commodities Act to protect farmers' interest: Niti VC

Organic or natural farming is the sunrise sector of Indian agriculture, Kumar said, adding exports from this sector have risen significantly and have great potential for growth.