(a) the proportion of warehousing capacity earmarked for agricultural commodities in the Warehousing
(Development and Regulation) Bill 2005;
(b) whether any mechanism has been adopted to ensure that the benefits envisaged in the said Act reach the farmers; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER
AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (DR. AKHILESH PRASAD SINGH)
(a): The Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2005 is under consideration of the Parliament.
The Bill as introduced in Parliament does not have any such provision.
(b)&(c): On enactment of the proposed legislation, the warehouse receipts issued by the registered warehouses to
the farmers against the deposit of their agricultural commodities would be fully negotiable and the farmers would
be able to seek loans from the banks easily. Besides, proper grading and quality certification of agricultural
commodities at the time of deposit in the warehouses would ensure higher return to farmers. Training and Awareness
programmes for farmers, to familiarize them with the provisions of the Bill, are also proposed to be organized in
order to enable them to take benefit of its provisions.