The purpose of state regulation of agricultural markets is to protect farmers from the exploitation of intermediaries and traders and also to endure better prices and timely payment for their produce. Over a period time, these markets provide no help in direct and free marketing, organized retailing and smooth raw marketing, organized retailing and smooth raw material supplies to agro-industries. Exporters, processors and retail chain operators cannot procure directly from the farmers as the produce is required to be channelised through regulated markets and licensed traders. There is a process of an enormous increase in the cost of marketing and farmers end up getting a low price for their produce. Monopolistic practices and modalities of the state-controlled markets have prevented private investment in the sector. Post-harvest losses are estimated to be of the order of 5-7 per cent in food grains and 25-30 per cent in the case of fruits and vegetables.
The agricultural sector needs well function to drive growth, employment and economic prosperity in rural areas. In order to provide dynamism and efficiency into the marketing system, large investment is required for the development of post-harvest and cold-chain infrastructure nearer to the farmer s field. A portion of this investment is expected from the private sector, for which an appropriate regulatory and policy environment is necessary. Also, enabling policies need to be put in place to encourage the procurement of agricultural commodities directly from farmers’ field and to establish effective linkage between the farms Production and the retail chain and food processing industries. Accordingly, the state governments were requested to suitably amend their respective APMC Acts for deregulation of the marketing system in India, to promote investment in marketing infrastructure, thereby motivating the corporate sector to undertake direct marketing and to facilitate a national integrated market.
The department of agriculture and cooperation formulated a model law on agricultural marketing for guidance and adoption by the state government. The model legislation provides for the establishment of private markets/yards, direct purchase centers, consumer/farmers’ markets for direct sale and promotion of public-private partnership (PPP) in the management and development of agricultural markets in India. Provision has also been made in the Acts for constitution of state agricultural produce marketing standards bureau for the promotion of grading, standardization and quality certification of agricultural products. This would facilitate pledge financing, direct purchasing, forward and future trading and exports.
Marketing Research and Information Network (AGMARKNET) is a central scheme, which was launched by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation in March 2000. The scheme provides funds to state and national level institutions managing and executing market-led extension activities and thus, has no separate gender-specific provisions under the scheme. During the Tenth Plan, an outlay of `35 crore has been approved for the implementation of the scheme. This includes networking of markets, development of regional portals, market-led extension activities and development of market atlas on Global Information System (GIS) platform.
The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation introduced a central sector scheme, the ‘Grameen Bhanaran Yojana’. In March 2002 to promote the construction of rural Godowns. Under the revised scheme, a subsidy at the rate of 25 per cent was given to all categories of farmer, agriculture graduates, cooperatives and the Central Warehousing Cooperation/State Warehousing Cooperation (CWC/SWC). In Northeastern states/hilly areas and SC/ST entrepreneurs and their cooperatives, subsidy is provided at the rate of 33.33 per cent.
The main Objectives for creation of a scientific storage capacity with allied facilities in rural areas are to meet the requirements of farmers for storing farm products and moreover to prevent distress sale of its products. The Development for strengthening of Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Grading and Standardization scheme was launched on 20th October 2004. Under this scheme, a credit-linked investment subsidy is being provided on the capital cost of general or commodity-specific marketing infrastructure for agricultural commodities and for strengthening and modernization of existing agricultural wholesales markets, and rural or periodic markets in the required areas. The schemes cover all the agricultural and allied sectors, which includes dairy, poultry, fisheries, livestock and minor forest products. The main aim of the scheme is to linked and implement in those states/UTs that permit the setting up of agricultural markets in the private and cooperative sector and to allow direct marketing.
The National Policy on Farm and Agricultural mechanization is to lead sustainable increase in yields and cropping intensity with the objective of meeting the planned growth rate in agricultural production. The target of the government is to increase income of agricultural workers to a level of disparity between the urban and rural area. The benefits of agricultural mechanization should apply to all types of farmers including small and marginal ones in different regions of the country, particularly the rain fed areas.
Agricultural mechanization should create a worker friendly environment especially for women workers by lessening hard labour, health hazards and improve safety in production operations. Agricultural mechanization should lead to a reduced cost of production of agricultural commodities. Which will increase the income of farmers and impart a price advantage while competing for export contracts in the national and international market.
It may be mentioned that Machinery and Equipment eligible for subsidy (as per GOI norms) under Agricultural Mechanization of Work Plan and The machinery and equipments eligible for subsidy under Work Plan are given below. Tractor (Up to 35 PTO hp) Power Tiller Tractor operated Rotavator Self propelled Paddy Reaper Self propelled Paddy Transplanter Power operated implements (Tractor mounted Seed drill, Tractor Drawn MB Plough/ Disc Plough, Tractor mounted Seed-cum-Fertilizer drill, Inclined Plate Planter, Power operated thresher-cum-winnower, Power operated grain cleaner, Tractor drawn sugarcane ridger, Zero till seed cum fertilizer drill, Power multi crop thresher, Power operated Sheller etc.) Specialized power driven Implements (Tractor/Power tiller drawn axial flow thresher, Tractor mounted post hole digger, Tractor mounted sugarcane cutter planter, Power weeder) etc. Bullock drawn/manually operated implements Tractor drawn Hydraulic trailer.
Source Agri and Allied Department
The agricultural sector needs well function to drive growth, employment and economic prosperity in rural areas. In order to provide dynamism and efficiency into the marketing system, large investment is required for the development of post-harvest and cold-chain infrastructure nearer to the farmer s field. A portion of this investment is expected from the private sector, for which an appropriate regulatory and policy environment is necessary. Also, enabling policies need to be put in place to encourage the procurement of agricultural commodities directly from farmers’ field and to establish effective linkage between the farms Production and the retail chain and food processing industries. Accordingly, the state governments were requested to suitably amend their respective APMC Acts for deregulation of the marketing system in India, to promote investment in marketing infrastructure, thereby motivating the corporate sector to undertake direct marketing and to facilitate a national integrated market.
The department of agriculture and cooperation formulated a model law on agricultural marketing for guidance and adoption by the state government. The model legislation provides for the establishment of private markets/yards, direct purchase centers, consumer/farmers’ markets for direct sale and promotion of public-private partnership (PPP) in the management and development of agricultural markets in India. Provision has also been made in the Acts for constitution of state agricultural produce marketing standards bureau for the promotion of grading, standardization and quality certification of agricultural products. This would facilitate pledge financing, direct purchasing, forward and future trading and exports.
Marketing Research and Information Network (AGMARKNET) is a central scheme, which was launched by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation in March 2000. The scheme provides funds to state and national level institutions managing and executing market-led extension activities and thus, has no separate gender-specific provisions under the scheme. During the Tenth Plan, an outlay of `35 crore has been approved for the implementation of the scheme. This includes networking of markets, development of regional portals, market-led extension activities and development of market atlas on Global Information System (GIS) platform.
The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation introduced a central sector scheme, the ‘Grameen Bhanaran Yojana’. In March 2002 to promote the construction of rural Godowns. Under the revised scheme, a subsidy at the rate of 25 per cent was given to all categories of farmer, agriculture graduates, cooperatives and the Central Warehousing Cooperation/State Warehousing Cooperation (CWC/SWC). In Northeastern states/hilly areas and SC/ST entrepreneurs and their cooperatives, subsidy is provided at the rate of 33.33 per cent.
The main Objectives for creation of a scientific storage capacity with allied facilities in rural areas are to meet the requirements of farmers for storing farm products and moreover to prevent distress sale of its products. The Development for strengthening of Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Grading and Standardization scheme was launched on 20th October 2004. Under this scheme, a credit-linked investment subsidy is being provided on the capital cost of general or commodity-specific marketing infrastructure for agricultural commodities and for strengthening and modernization of existing agricultural wholesales markets, and rural or periodic markets in the required areas. The schemes cover all the agricultural and allied sectors, which includes dairy, poultry, fisheries, livestock and minor forest products. The main aim of the scheme is to linked and implement in those states/UTs that permit the setting up of agricultural markets in the private and cooperative sector and to allow direct marketing.
The National Policy on Farm and Agricultural mechanization is to lead sustainable increase in yields and cropping intensity with the objective of meeting the planned growth rate in agricultural production. The target of the government is to increase income of agricultural workers to a level of disparity between the urban and rural area. The benefits of agricultural mechanization should apply to all types of farmers including small and marginal ones in different regions of the country, particularly the rain fed areas.
Agricultural mechanization should create a worker friendly environment especially for women workers by lessening hard labour, health hazards and improve safety in production operations. Agricultural mechanization should lead to a reduced cost of production of agricultural commodities. Which will increase the income of farmers and impart a price advantage while competing for export contracts in the national and international market.
It may be mentioned that Machinery and Equipment eligible for subsidy (as per GOI norms) under Agricultural Mechanization of Work Plan and The machinery and equipments eligible for subsidy under Work Plan are given below. Tractor (Up to 35 PTO hp) Power Tiller Tractor operated Rotavator Self propelled Paddy Reaper Self propelled Paddy Transplanter Power operated implements (Tractor mounted Seed drill, Tractor Drawn MB Plough/ Disc Plough, Tractor mounted Seed-cum-Fertilizer drill, Inclined Plate Planter, Power operated thresher-cum-winnower, Power operated grain cleaner, Tractor drawn sugarcane ridger, Zero till seed cum fertilizer drill, Power multi crop thresher, Power operated Sheller etc.) Specialized power driven Implements (Tractor/Power tiller drawn axial flow thresher, Tractor mounted post hole digger, Tractor mounted sugarcane cutter planter, Power weeder) etc. Bullock drawn/manually operated implements Tractor drawn Hydraulic trailer.
Source Agri and Allied Department
A DIPR Feature by Temjenkaba, News Assistant
