Consultation on Farm Laws in India
13 February 2021, New Delhi, IN: Government had promulgated “The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020”, “The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020”, and “The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020” on 5th June, 2020 by following the due procedure. Draft of the Ordinances had been circulated to various Ministries/Departments, NITI Aayog etc., for their comments. State Governments were also consulted through Video Conferencing (VC) on 21st May, 2020, which was attended by the officials of States/ UTs, to obtain feedback on new legal framework facilitating barrier free inter-State and intra-State trade in agriculture produce to provide choice to farmers.
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During COVID-19 lockdown due to disruption of markets and supply chains, there was utmost need to allow free direct marketing outside the mandis to facilitate the farmers in selling their produce near to farm gate at remunerative prices. As COVID-19 situation may have a prolonged effect globally on demand side, hence the urgency for promulgation of an Ordinances was necessitated to provide a new facilitative framework to promote barrier free inter-state and intra-state trade to increase market accessibility for farmers to realize their income.
In view of COVID-19 situation, Government had also proactively undertaken many webinars interactions with farmers and other stakeholders on new Farm laws during the period from 5th June, 2020 to 17th September, 2020.
Government engaged itself and constantly with the agitating farmers’ unions and 11 rounds of negotiations were held between the Government and agitating farmers’ unions to resolve the issues.
This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar in Rajya Sabha.
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