(a)whether NITI Aayog has prepared Agricultural Reforms Index for the first time;
(b)if so, the details thereof and the methodology by which the index is going to rank
States;
(c )whether nearly 2/3rd States could not reach even half way mark of reform score of
index and if so, the details thereof; and
(d)the action taken by the Government for the improvement in agriculture sector across
the country?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND
MINISTRY OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION
(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)
(a) & (b) Yes Madam, NITI Aayog has launched an Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index (AMFFRI) on 31st October, 2016. The three criteria for ranking of the States used by NITI Aayog while developing the AMFFRI were i) Agricultural market reforms ii) Land lease reforms iii) Reforms related to forestry on private land-filling and transit of trees.
(c) &(d) On the basis of rankings of AMFFRI, 11 States reached halfway mark. These States are 1) Maharashtra 2) Gujarat 3) Rajasthan 4) Madhya Pradesh 5) Haryana 6) Himachal Pradesh 7) Andhra Pradesh 8) Karnataka 9) Telangana 10) Goa 11) Chhattisgarh. The AMFFRI has been developed to sensitize the States about the potential of marketing and the benefits that can be accrued from reforming agricultural marketing. In some States there is wide difference between prices received by farmers and prices paid by the consumers. The status paper on agricultural reforms and the AMFFRI prepared by NITI Aayog in consultation of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare have been shared with the States. The Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries of all the States have been requested to expedite the pending agricultural reforms.
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