Mainstream WeeklyDecember 17, 2024
Recently the Union agricultural ministry has circulated a new draft agricultural market policy framework on agricultural marketing. Union agricultural additional secretary Mr. Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, is also committee proposed a draft marketing framework to totally revamp the existing heading a committee appointed by ministry earlier this year. According to the government proposed universal ( one tax) tax on agricultural produce across the country is aimed at getting higher incomes for farmers. The committee suggested a new frame work of agricultueral marketing mechanism replacing the present state supported market yard , laws on bulk storage and direct purchase by big private parties. Constitution of a committee comprising state agricultural ministers is proposed in the lines of empowered GST committee to collect taxes directly by Union government. The new proposals are seen as an attempt to scrap existing public market yards making entry of corporates in direct bulk buying and storage. In a way this policy is anti farmer and an attempt to repelled three farm laws three years back after historic farmers agitation.
Union government formulated the marketing frame work based on 12 market reforms recommended by a committee constituted in 2003 by then NDA government. The 12 reforms include