Contract farming bill passed

Mumbai, Apr 20 (UNI) The Maharashtra government today introduced the new concept of contract farming in agriculture which it hopes will give boost to the food processing,export and retail chain industries.

A bill to this effect was passed in the Legislative Assembly here.

Replying to the debate on the bill,Marketing Minister Harshvardhan Patil said the contract farming would integrate and strengthen the internal agriculture marketing system.

It provides for compulsory registration of all contract farming sponsors, recording of contract farming agreements under certain conditions and indemnity to producer's title and possession over his land from any claim arising out of the agreement.

Mr Patil said the contract farming sponsors would be able to provide inputs, credit and technology to the contract farming producer thereby resulting into improving productivity and quality of produce.

Morever,the contract farming producer would be ensured of the price as it would be part of the agreement. Contract farming would benefit the agriculturists and the business community and would give boost to the development of the state.

He said the amendent to the Agriculture Produce Marketing act was done on the lines of the Model State Agriculture Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation) act prepared by the Union Agriculture Ministry with a view to integrate and strengthen internal agricultural marketing system in the country owing to liberalisation of trade in agriculture commodities.

An agriculturist or an association of agriculturists who have agreed to produce and supply agriculture produce as per contract farming agreement would be called contract farming producer.

Contract farming sponsor would be the person who has entered into the agreement, he said.

UNI MR ADG RL KP1904