To bring reform in Indian agriculture, centre constitutes high powered Committee of chief ministers

New Delhi, July 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government are always on toes to develop the nation. Shaping the development further, centre has constituted a high powered committee of Chief Ministers of several states for the transformation of Indian Agriculture. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be the convenor of the committee, while the chief ministers of Karnataka, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have been included as members.

 

Union Agriculture, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister will also be a member of the committee. Besides, NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand has been named the Member Secretary.

The Committee will discuss measures for the transformation of agriculture and raising farmers' income. It will suggest the modalities for adoption and time-bound implementation of agriculture sector reforms. The Committee has been asked to submit its report in two months. It has been tasked to suggest changes in the Essential Commodity Act to attract private investments in agricultural marketing and infrastructure.

 

The terms of Reference (ToR) of the Committee would be:

i) to discuss measures for transformation of agriculture and raising farmers’ income and suggest modalities for adoption and time-bound implementation of following reforms by States/UTs:

a) The….State/Union Territory ‘Agriculture Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2017’ (APLM Act, 2017) circulated by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, GoI to States/UTs.

b) The …..States/Union Territory ‘Agriculture Produce and Livestock, Contract Farming and Services (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2018’ circulated by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, GoI to States/UTs.

ii) to examine various provisions of the Essential Commodity Act (ECA), 1955 and situations that require ECA. To suggest changes in the ECA to attract private investments in agricultural marketing and infrastructure.

iii) to suggest a mechanism for linking of market reforms with e-NAM, GRAM, and other relevant Centrally Sponsored Schemes.

iv) to suggest policy measures to (a) boost agricultural export (b) raise growth in food processing (c) attract investments in modern market infrastructure, value chains, and logistics.

v) to suggest measures to upgrade agri-technology to global standards and improve access of farmers to quality seed, plant propagation material and farm machinery in agriculturally advanced countries.

vi) to propose any other relevant reforms for the transformation of the agriculture sector and raising farmers’ income.