To boost the income of farmers by liberalising agri-markets, the Central Government would soon introduce the Model Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act, which would allow farmers to sell their products without any interference.
Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, O.P. Dhankar, who attended a meeting of State Agriculture Ministers held under the chairmanship of Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Radha Mohan Singh, in New Delhi on Monday, said that under the Act, farmers would be able to develop mandis on their private lands. However, they would have to abide by government rules. The new rules would also allow for development of private mandis in cities.
Dhankar said that each mandi should be divided into four areas, each selling a particular type of product, including fresh, dry, frozen and processed products. This would help in better management and maintaining cleanliness in the mandis. Efforts are being made to make similar arrangements in some mandis in Haryana on pilot basis, he added.
The minister also urged the Union Minister for establishing at least one agri-business school in each state so that the farmers may learn how to brand and better market their produce. “Haryana will be the first State to make available land for such a school in Gurugram, if the Central Government undertakes this initiative,” he added.
Referring to problem of surplus produce leading to fall in prices, Dhankar said that production should be undertaken only after assessing requirement. Production should be ten per cent or more of the requirement. This would ensure that prices of produce do not fall. Farmers should be given incentives so that they may not face any difficulty in implementing this system. Apart from this, they should be encouraged to keep computerised records of sowing, harvesting and other aspects of cultivation so that they may yield better returns, he added.