16 States Reform Agricultural Marketing on the Lines
of Model APMC Act
In order to improve and strengthen existing agricultural marketing system through improved and alternative marketing channels, a model Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act was prepared by the Government in 2003 and circulated to all State and Union Territories for adoption. Model Act provides provisions for direct marketing / purchase from farmers, contract farming, establishment of markets in private and cooperative sectors, special markets for commodities like onions, fruits, vegetables and flowers, rationalization of market fees, professionalization of management of markets, promotion of Public Private Partnership in management and development of markets, promotion of grading and standardization, etc. This facilitates direct sales by the farmers to the purchasers which reduces the role of middlemen and ensures remunerative prices to the farmers by reducing the marketing cost. Sixteen States, have made reforms on the line of Model Act.
Committee of State Ministers, In-charge of Agriculture Marketing, set up to promote marketing reforms has submitted its First Report to the Government, which has been circulated to all the States and Union Territories for implementation of its recommendation and to offer comments.
In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture is implementing various schemes to improve the agricultural marketing in the country which include Marketing Research and Information Network Scheme, Grameen Bhandaran Yojana and the Scheme for Strengthening/Development of Agricultural Marketing Grading and Standardization.
This information was given by Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
MP:SB: CP: marketing ( 29.11.2011)