Farmers Welfare, Agriculture Development Top Priority Of Govt: PM Modi

Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that farmers’ welfare and agricultural development are the top priority of the government, as he announced repealing of three central agriculture laws.

Addressing the nation, Prime Minister said, “When the country gave us the opportunity to serve as Pradhan Sevaks in 2014, we gave top priority to agricultural development and farmer welfare. Many people are unaware of the truth that 80 per cent are small scale farmers who have less than 2 hectares of land and are over 10 crores in population. This piece of land is their survival.”

“To overcome the challenges of the small farmers of the country, we worked all-round on seeds, insurance, markets and savings. Along with good quality seeds, the government also connected the farmers with facilities like neem coated urea, soil health card and micro-irrigation. Many steps were also taken for the farmers to get the right price for their produce in return for their hard work. The country strengthened its rural market infrastructure,” he stated.

The Prime Minister said that the procurement made by the Central Government has broken the record of the last several decades.

Farmers have been protesting the government’s three agriculture laws after the Center passed the Compromise on Farmer Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Price Assurance and Agricultural Services Bill, 2020.

The three farm laws are– The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act provides for setting up a mechanism allowing the farmers to sell their farm produces outside the Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs). Any licence-holder trader can buy the produce from the farmers at mutually agreed prices.

This trade of farm produces will be free of mandi tax imposed by the state governments. The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act allows farmers to do contract farming and market their produces freely.

The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act is an amendment to the existing Essential Commodities Act.

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and like us on Facebook for the latest updates and interesting stories.