Farmers to gain from India's denotification of fruits & vegetables
"Market reforms will be undertaken and the States would be urged to denotify perishables from middlemen. This will give opportunity to farmers to sell their produce and get better prices," said finance minister, Arun Jaitely, in his budget speech.
"We also propose to integrate farmers who grow fruits and vegetables with agro processing units for better price realisation and a reduction of post-harvest losses. A model law on contract farming would therefore be prepared and circulated among the States for adoption," stated the budget document.
However, the food industry pointed out that the contract farming act does not exist in many states. Even in those states that allow direct marketing of their produce by farmers, the middlemen insist on paying the market charges and harass farmers, complained the industry veterans.
"If fruits and vegetables are removed from the APMC regulations, farmers and processors will benefit immensely. Companies will be able to pass on the innovative technologies, good agricultural practises and supply agricultural material to the farmers," Sunil Deshmpande, head, Jain Farm Fresh Foods, one of the biggest processors of mangoes, other fruits and onions in the country, said.
source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
