In an effort to provide farmers a barrier-free market for their own benefits and those of the consumers as well, the State Government has decided to amend the Odisha Agricultural Produce Markets (OAPM) Act, 1958 with provision of e-market.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has given go-ahead to the proposal made by the Department of Cooperation in this regard, which is expected to open the sector to private players.
Amendments in the OAPM Act would facilitate setting up of e-market to ensure transparency in transaction and better price discovery by farmers, for which the Government has made a budgetary provision. Farmers would be provided mobile phones to get updates on market prices of their produces.
Notably, the Union Government has been advising the States to amend the APM Acts and bring in reforms in agricultural marketing to strengthen and streamline the sector, for which the Odisha Government is taking steps, said an official here.
In order to bring in amendments, a high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary has been formed to examine the issues relating to restructuring of the agricultural marketing sector and suggest reforms.
The amendments would facilitate setting up and management of agricultural markets and development of agricultural marketing infrastructure under public-private partnership (PPP) mode so as to promote private sector investment in agricultural marketing.
Further, with establishment of commodity-specific ‘Special Markets’ and ‘Farmers’ Markets’, farmers would be able to sell their produces directly both to the Regulated Marketing Committees (RMCs) and private buyers.
Now, the RMCs would give representation to more farmers drawn from farmers’ organisations like Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACSs), large Area Multipurpose Cooperative Societies (lAMPSs) and Producer Farmers’ Groups (PFGs) through elections and nominations.
For greater decentralisation, the post of Director, Agricultural Marketing would be separated from that of Member Secretary, Odisha State Agricultural Marketing Board (OSAMB) while respective roles of the Directorate of Agricultural Marketing, OSAMB and RMCs would be further defined to clear ambiguities.
The Director Agricultural Marketing would function as Regulator of Markets and professional hands would be roped in for effective management of the OASMB and RMCs. Most importantly, there would be no physical barrier like check-gates that levy and collect market fees for the RMCs. More financial powers would be given to the RMCs to execute developmental works of the organisation to benefit farmers.
Besides, the amendments would provide for election to the Market Committees, which would be conducted by the State Cooperative Election Commission through free and fair methods.