Centre proposes GST panel-like body to push agriculture marketing reforms in states
A committee formed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has proposed the constitution of a panel of state agriculture ministers, on the lines of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on Goods and Services Tax, to push agriculture marketing reforms.
The committee, headed by Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Additional Secretary (Marketing), Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW), made this suggestion in its draft of the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing. The agriculture ministry constituted this committee to prepare the draft on June 25.
On November 25, the committee circulated the draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing, seeking public comments or suggestions.
The committee notes that the DA&FW has been working with the states for more than two decades to reform agricultural marketing with the objectives to make the agricultural marketing competitive, barrier-free and transparent with adequate post-harvest management and marketing infrastructure. The DA&FW has also been striving for years to develop a unified national agricultural market for agricultural produce, it adds.
