CMs' panel for major reforms to transform agriculture sector
New Delhi: With the objective to give a fillip to the agriculture sector, the high-powered committee for the transformation of Indian agriculture, which was constituted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has suggested radical reforms to transform agricultural sector with massive thrust on private investments, technological interventions and robust marketing infrastructure across the country.
At its maiden meeting on Thursday at Niti Aayog, the members of the panel discussed different possible reforms that need to be adopted by states to improve agriculture sector. The panel would also examine the various provision of the
Essential Commodities Act, besides ways to attract private investments in agriculture marketing and infrastructure and submit its report within two months.
While briefing about the meeting, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the states which adopted contract farming are getting private investments. "Other states need to be encouraged to adopt contact farming with the application of new technologies like in developed countries to increase production."
Stressing that small farmers need to group together and increase their investment capacities, Fadnavis said, "We are also deliberating on how small farmers can get access to modern technologies. We need to find ways so that our banking system becomes farmers-friendly."
The meeting was attended by CMs of Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat besides Union Minister of Rural Development, Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath joined the meeting through video-conferencing.
The Maharashtra CM further said that Indian agriculture is witnessing a growth rate of three to four per cent per year, while the food processing sector's growth is just about one per cent.
"Until the food processing growth rate does not exceed agricultural growth rate, farmers will not be able to realise the prices of their
products," he said, adding that the states should utilise the National Agriculture Market (eNAM) online trading platform for agricultural commodities to expand their market access.
