JOIN USIn far-reaching reforms in the farm sector, the Centre on Monday circulated a draft model law that seeks to end the monopoly of Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMC) and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the state.
The draft Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion and Facilitation) Act also allows private players to set up wholesale markets, a move that could give farmers access to markets nearer to their farms. “At present, there is one regularlised market is available at every 462 sq km, (with this law) we hope to have a market every 80 sq km,” Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh told reporters here.
The law also seeks to abolish the fragmentation of markets within the states by removing the concept of notified market area by APMC. “We are moving towards a single, unified national market,” the minister said. It also allows setting up of a livestock market including camel market, fish market, poultry market and other marketplaces.
At a meeting of state agriculture minister, Singh said that he had received assurances from almost all of them on implementation of the new law. “Its implementation will help in doubling farmers’ income by 2022,” the minister said.
The minister said the draft law also has provisions to declare cold storage facilities and godowns as markets so that farmers can have a market at their farm-gates.