Government proposes GST-like panel to revive thorny farm reforms idea

IN JUNE, THE CENTRE HAD FORMED A PANEL TO PREPARE A DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY FRAMEWORK ON AGRICULTURAL MARKETING

- Zia Haq

NEW DELHI: A draft national agricultural policy prepared by the Centre and released for public comments has recommended several reforms, most of which were part of the three contentious farm laws the government had to repeal in 2021 due to protests by farmers.

In June, the agriculture ministry, soon after the Modi government returned to power for a third time, had formed a panel headed by additional secretary Faiz Ahmed Kidwai to prepare a draft national policy framework on agricultural marketing.

The committee, which finalized the draft recently, has recommended the setting up of an empowered Centre-states committee "on the lines of" a panel formed to implement the Goods and Services Tax.