Contract farming benefitting farmers

New Delhi, May 7 (UNI)Contract farming, being practiced in a number of States has benefitted the farming community by way of assured returns as well as availability of quality products to the industry, the Lok Sabha was told today.

Minister of State for Agriculture Kanti Lal Bhuria said in a written answer that under the contract farming arragement, the private sponsoring companies/agencies are providing technical know how and quality inputs for getting the desired produce from the farmers.

The Central Government, he said, had advised the state governments by circulating the Model Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act in 2003 to make amendments in their respective Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Acts to allow direct marketing and contract farming and to facilitate setting up of competive markets in private and cooperative sectors.

The development of contract farming, direct marketing and alternative competitive market in the private and cooperative sector would povide freedom to the farmers to sell their produce in such markets which will ensure them better prices and services.

Under the provisions of direct marketing,many private companies are purchasing of agriculture produce from farmers directly,the Minister said.

As many as 17 states in the country have made amendments in the major areas of reforms or made partial amendments suggested in the Model Law, the Minister said.

UNI