On August 16, 2019, The 2nd meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi formed a High Powered Committee (HPC)of chief ministers headed by Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for transforming Indian agriculture and raising farmers’ income, under NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog held in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Key suggestions:
i. Agricultural pricing: For the benefit of small traders and farmers, the panel decided the imposition of the Essential Commodities Act,1955, only in rare cases (such as scarcity and war)where the commodity prices rise by over 50% of market rates.
ii. GM crops: The panel sought states’ views on whether GM (genetically modified) crops could be used in restricted spaces to boost productivity& export in the agriculture sector.
iii. Discussion: It also discussed the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act, 2003, Contract Farming Act,2018 & unexpected unusual rainfall in south-central India lead to crop loss.
iv. Participants: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, Odisha Agriculture Minister Dr. Arun Kumar Sahoo, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar have attended the meeting.
v. Background: The 1st meet was held on July 18, 2019, where the discussion focussed on the growth of the food processing industry &ways to promote the infusion of new-age technology and attract private investment to modernize agriculture.
About Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare:
Founded: 1947
Headquarters: New Delhi
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