(a) whether the Government is considering to constitute Committees to examine
and make recommendations on issues related to agricultural marketing and farm
income, safeguard for growers and the cost of cultivation for determining the
Minimum Support Price of various agricultural commodities; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD
PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI TARIQ ANWAR)
(a) & (b): No, Madam. However, Ministry of Agriculture has constituted a
Committee of State Agricultural Marketing Ministers on 2nd March 2010 to persuade
the State Governments/UTs to implement the reforms in agriculture marketing,
suggest further reforms necessary to provide a barrier free national market for
benefit of farmers and consumers and also to suggest measures to effectively
disseminate market information and to promote grading, standardization, packaging,
and quality certification of agricultural produce.
The Committee in its Nine meetings held so far has deliberated upon
different issues related to promotion of alternative marketing channels,
simplification of contract farming procedures, provision of single unified license for
trading as well as for wholesale and terminal markets and single point levy of
market fee. In addition, other important issues like waiving off of market fee on fruit
and vegetables; promotion of grading and effective market information system,
demarcation of power of Director (Marketing) and Managing Director of Mandi Board
as regulator and service provider respectively. The Committee in its Ninth and
Concluding Meeting held on 22nd January, 2013 has approved its “Final Reportâ€
consisting of policy recommendations on aforementioned issues. The Report has
not yet been submitted to Government of India. Recommendations on MSP in
respect of various agricultural commodities are made by Commission for Agricultural
Costs & Prices (CACP).