Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Key agricultural reforms cleared, farmers freed from mandisedit
CLEARING THE way for significant reforms in the agriculture sector, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared three ordinances aimed at lifting restrictions on key commodities such as cereals, pulses, onion and potato, and giving farmers the freedom to sell their produce directly or through e-trading platforms to entities of their choice instead of being confined to state mandis.
They also offer a legal framework that will enable farmers to enter into an “agreement” with private sector players on pricing and purchase — a step that can provide for contract farming.
Microsoft announces programme for agritech startups in Indiaedit
Microsoft announced on Wednesday the launch of a programme for agritech startups in India that it said are committed to driving transformation in agriculture.
It is designed to help startups build industry-specific solutions, scale and grow with access to deep technology, business and marketing resources, the company said in a statement.
Modi government doubles down on farm liberalisationedit
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday announced far-reaching steps to unshackle the country’s farm sector, approving amendments to the six-decade-old Essential Commodities Act and pushing two ordinances, one aimed at freeing up farm trade from all restrictions and the other guaranteeing a legal framework for pre-agreed prices to farmers.
All these steps, which bring the full force of liberalisation to the farm economy, were announced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on May 15 in the second of her series of briefings last month on proposed reforms.
On May 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announced a package worth Rs 20 lakh crore to spur growth.
First flush gone in lockdown, Bengal and Assam tea industries face Rs 2,100 cr lossedit
The lockdown has hit the tea industry in West Bengal and Assam hard, with losses in revenue so far totalling around Rs 2,100 crore, according to a statement issued by the Indian Tea Association last week.
Around 1,000 tea gardens in the two states have lost their ‘first flush’, a major contributor to their revenue. This is usually harvested in March, but this time, due to the lockdown and the social distancing and other norms that needed to be maintained upon resumption of activity, production has taken a hit.
Cabinet amends Essential Commodities Act, approves ordinance to ease barrier-free tradeedit
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an amendment to the Essential Commodities Act of 1955 to “deregulate” agricultural commodities like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, onions and potatoes besides promulgating an ordinance to allow farmers to engage with processors, aggregators, large retailers, exporters.
Addressing a media briefing, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the Cabinet had approved “The Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020” to ensure barrier free trade in agriculture produce. It will not bind farmers to sell their crop only to licensed traders in the APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) mandis of their respective talukas or districts.
Sweeping Reforms In Agriculture: Cabinet Approves Ordinance To End APMC Monopoly, Amends Essential Commodities Actedit
Following up on the reform announcements made as part of its Rs 20 Lakh crore economic stimulus package in the area of agriculture and allied activities, Union Cabinet today (3 June) approved an ordinance removing restrictions on the sale of farm goods and enabling farmers to sell produce outside APMC including via electronic platforms without incurring taxes.
Punjab farmers give 50,000 tonne grain in charity to shrines during lockdownedit
Farmers in Punjab donated nearly 50,000 tonnes of wheat to the the community kitchens of various shrines, particularly gurdwaras and temples, during the last 45 days of the lockdown when the harvesting season started in the state, the agriculture department estimate reveals.
Of the 6,260 tonne grain the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)-run gurdwaras received during the same period, the Sri Guru Ram Das langar in the Golden Temple, Amritsar, got 3,650 tonne in charity against 1,600 tonne last year.
PM Modi Hails Union Cabinet’s Ordinance To Create ‘one India, One Agricultural Market’edit
Highlighting the importance of the Union Cabinet’s decision regarding farmers taken on Wednesday, PM Modi tweeted that it will have a very positive impact on rural India. He added that the Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 will pave the way for the creation of One India, One Agriculture Market. Moreover, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 will give farmers greater freedom to engage with retailers while protecting their interests.