Govt working overtime for pro-farmer agri-policy: Pawar

NASIK: The Centre was contemplating major changes in its agriculture policy by adopting “crop plan� and “contract farming� system to get international market for the Indian produce, food and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar told reporters here on Sunday.

“The centre is planning to amend the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act so that the farmers will be able to sell their produce in any market,� Mr Pawar told reporters here.

Under “contract farming� system we need to increase our credit plan, boost agriculture production per acre, make more effective diversification and proper water planning, he said.

“We are also changing our horticulture and floriculture policy in view of getting good market to the farmers,� he added.

When asked whether crop-plan could create problem legally, the minister said: “we have to do it to stand firmly in the international market.�

On Maharashtra government’s demand that the Centre should give guarantee prices to onions, Mr Pawar said that onions does not come under such prices.

“We have decided to shift National Horticulture Aid Centre to Nasik from New Delhi and also setting up international-standard market for horticulture and floriculture on a 20-acre land,� he said.

Mr Pawar also said that his ministry is contemplating to start a separate television channel for agriculture to provide information to the farmers about climate, rain position, latest technology and other agriculture-related issues.