Revamp APMC Act to curb middleman: Ajit

MUMBAI: Union agriculture minister Ajit Singh on Friday strongly pleaded for a change in the age-old Agriculture Produce and Marketing Act (APMC) and reduction in the intermediaries between the agri-produce and marketing.
“The existing laws have immensely benefited the middleman rather than farmers for which it was framed, hence we should change the laws immediately,� said Mr Singh while inaugurating a seminar here today on `Opportunities in Agri-Business’ jointly organized by Maharashtra government and Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The change will bring in the free market price mechanism and not only the farmers but even the processing units besides the consumers will be benefited, Mr Singh added.
Advocating contract farming and co-operative movement in agriculture, the minister said the private sector should come forward and lead the nation in green revolution including bio-technology, horticulture and organic farming. “The total trade of organic farming is expected to go up to Rs 300 crore over next decade. However, the certification is an important issue, but the trade should over come of it,� he said.
Delivering the key-note lecture, Mahesh Vyas, chairman of Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), said the economic reforms started from ‘90 goes against agriculture as the reforms puts more emphasis on infrastructural development and cutting down the agriculture subsidies. Advocating transparency in the mandi, Mr Vyas said the corporate should be allowed active participation in farming. Vikram Sarda, president, MCCI said the chain of production start from agriculture and ends with an Ashmani (rain) and Sultani (policies). He urged the government to open up the APMC.
And if it is done it will boost both the production and trade, he added. Mr Vyas said India can become a global player even in agriculture as our available land, rainfall and climate conditions are much better than other developed countries and China as well.
Vikram Sarda, president, MCCI said the chain of production start from agriculture and ends with an Ashmani (rain) and Sultani (policies).
He urged the government to privatise the APMC. And if it is done it will boost both the production and trade, he added. As of now, the state is having six lakh farmers and 600 APMCs.