Contentious Farm Bills

The three new agriculture laws will shift the power centre of agriculture trading from established APMC markets to corporate players in a gradual manner. But will the transition be smooth?

- Joe C. Mathew

THE THREE BILLS

1 The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, allows farmers and traders to sell and purchase farmers’ produce through alternative channels outside regulated APMC markets (mandis), without paying fees or levies to the state government

2 The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, provides a national framework for contract farming agreements with agri-business firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters or large retailers for farm services and sale of future farming produce within a mutually agreed remunerative price framework

3 The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020, says the Central government will have powers to regulate the supply of certain food items, including cereals, pulses, potato, onion, edible oilseeds and oil only under extraordinary circumstances such as war, famine, extraordinary price rise and natural calamity of grave nature