NEW DELHI: Official think tank Niti Aayog is pushing for a legislature to allow direct buying of agriculture produce from farmers, a move meant to help farmers and buyers fetch better prices and do away with middlemen. “Majority of states have shown willingness to implement the Act with Punjab likely to roll out as early as its next assembly session,” Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand said.Agriculture is a state subject and hence it is essential that states support and implement the model Act mooted by the Centre. The existing Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act has not been implemented by majority of states, as a result of which farmers continue to be exploited by the middlemen.Niti Aayog had recently called a meeting of state agriculture ministers to seek their support to the Centre's multi-pronged initiative towards doubling farmers' income by 2022. These include an average 33% increase in crop production, enabling use of cost-effective technological interventions that can improve efficiency, giving better prices to farmers by ensuring no states give below the MSP for their produce, creating employment opportunities for farmers in non-farm sectors by setting up labour intensive industries.“Ownership of states for doubling farmers' income is important. We are here to protect the interest of producers and consumers,” Chand said.

Source: Economic Times April 26, 2017 19:18 UTC