Lok Sabha Question No. 3655 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-10
Subject: Agricultural Marketing
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Sadashiv Kisan Lokhande

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3655

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  AUGUST, 2021

## AGRICULTURAL MARKETING

3655.  SHRI SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) the efforts made by the Government to implement an equal marketing system all over the country to ensure better prices to farmers;
- (b) whether  the  Directorate  of  Marketing  and  Inspection  and  National  Institute  of Agricultural Marketing are providing technical and other advice to the States on matters related to marketing; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a): There has been continuous demand for reforming agriculture marketing system in  India  to  facilitate  farmers  in  selling  their  produce  for  better  price  realization  as  has been suggested from time to time by various committees etc. Government of India has been  actively  and  intensively  engaging  with  the  States  for  about  two  decades  for reforms in agriculture marketing sector to provide accessible markets and barrier free trade facilities for selling their produce at better price anytime anywhere.

In order to provide better marketing facilities to the farmers, the Government had released a new model 'The Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2017' popularly known as Model APLM Act, 2017, in April 2017 for its adoption by States/Union Territories (UTs).

Further,  Government  of  India  had  launched  reform  linked  National  Agriculture Market  (e-NAM)  scheme,  a  virtual  platform  integrating  physical  wholesale  mandis/ markets  of  different  States/  Union  Territories  (UTs)  to  facilitate  online  trading  of

O.I.H.

agriculture and horticulture commodities to enable farmers to realize better remunerative  prices  for  their  produce.  All  these  contribute  towards  better  marketing efficiency and also better prices to farmers.

Barrier free market for inter-state and intra-state trade in farmers produce as well as  to  provide  competitive  marketing  channels  near  to  farm  gate  is  vital  to  enhancing price realization by farmers to increase their income.

With this intention, Government has enacted 'The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce  (Promotion  and  Facilitation)  Act,  2020'  to  provide  for  the  creation  of  an ecosystem where the producers and buyers enjoy the freedom of choice relating to sale and  purchase  of  farmers'  produce  which  facilitates  remunerative  prices  to  farmers through  competitive  alternative  trading  channels  promoting    efficient  transparent  and barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade and commerce of farmers' produce outside the  physical  premises  of  regulated  market  yards/  sub-yards  and  deemed  markets notified under various State Agricultural Produce Market legislations.

The  Farming  agreement  i.e  'The  Farmers  (Empowerment  and  Protection) Agreement On Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020' will enable production and  processing  of  high  value  agriculture  produces  and  give  fillip  to  exports.    The framework will also mitigate the risks for the farmers, enhance their income and will put in place an effective and conducive policy regime for agreements.

Farm  Acts  provides  sufficient  safeguard  mechanism  to  protect  the  interest  of farmers including that of small and marginal farmers. Simple, accessible, quick and cost effective  dispute  resolution  mechanism  is  prescribed  at  local  Sub-divisional  level  and deterring penal provisions have been provided against traders to prevent and curb any violation of the Act by them.

(b) & (c): Yes  Sir.  The  twin  organizations,  namely  Directorate  of  Marketing  and Inspection(DMI)  and  National  Institute  of  Agricultural  Marketing(NIAM)  since  their inception in 1935 and 1988 respectively have been mandated, among other things, to provide all type of technical support to the States relating to agricultural marketing. This broadly  includes  promotion  of  Grading  and  Standardization,  training  &  awareness, guidance  on  regulatory  and  reform  matter,  promotion  of  post-harvest  marketing  and value  chain  infrastructure  etc.  The  DMI  is  also  giving  training  to  State  Agricultural Marketing  Officials  on  Agricultural  Marketing  subjects.  The  CCS  NIAM  through  its academic  program  covers  Stakeholders  namely  Farmers,  Govt.  Officers,  NGOs, Cooperatives and Marketing Boards etc.

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