Agriculture reform bill is an important step of central government – CM Chouhan

Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that there is need for maximum relief to farmers under the present circumstances. The two bills brought by the central government for agricultural reforms, so that the farmers can decide the prices for their crops themselves and avail maximum benefits as per one nation one market, will prove to be revolutionary. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan has welcomed the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Service Ordinance, 2020 passed in Lok Sabha. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan has described the steps being taken by Prime Minister Shri Modi for the welfare of the farmers of the country as very effective and relevant.

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that today the farmer of the country is keen to become self-reliant. The central government also wants to realize this mantra. Today the farmer of the country wants to be free from control. The intention of the Agricultural Reforms Bill is also that the farmer can fix the price of his crop himself and will be free to sell and purchase the produce outside the boundaries of the states. The farmer will be able to get beneficial price through the medium of alternative trade. This will help in simplifying the inter-state and intra-state business. Mandis operating under the States’ Act will also function, while keeping the Minimum Support Price (MSP) unchanged. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that positive changes will result due to increase in investment in agriculture sector. As a result of these bills, not only the agricultural sector but our entire economy will become stronger.

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that now marketing options are available to farmers. The PM Kisan Scheme was also implemented for income support to farmers. The central government also made a significant increase in the budget in the field of agriculture. Rs 1,34,399.77 crore was allocated in the year 2020-21, which is more than 1,30,485.21 crore in the previous year. The allocation was also increased in the year before the previous year. The minimum support price was set at one and a half times the cost of production in the Union Budget 2018-19. Sowing of most crops also increased significantly. In the Rabi season 2020, 3.9 crore etric tonnes were purchased in the country till last month. Rs 75 thousand crore was paid to the farmers on the support price. Similarly, an amount of Rs 24 thousand crore has been paid to farmers by purchasing 1.32 crore metric tonnes of paddy. Farmers have been paid an amount of Rs 1,13,290 crore on selling pulses and oilseed crops in addition to wheat and paddy. This amount is 31 percent more than the previous year. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that the steps taken in the country to promote the agricultural sector are steps to realize the concept of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.