Center ushers in agriculture reform process

New Delhi:  NITI Aayog and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare have jointly held one day national consultation meeting with states and Union Territories on agriculture reforms on Friday here.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretaries, in-charge of agriculture marketing, Forest and Revenue Departments of different States.

Agricultural marketing reforms, laws related to felling, transportation and processing of farm forestry produce and land leasing for agricultural purposes were discussed in the meeting.

The Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog, Arvind Panagariya, while inaugurating the meeting,  said that reform will be the key for enhancing agricultural prosperity and should be the part of vision for 15 years being prepared by NITI Aayog.

The States overwhelmingly supported the views of the NITI Aayog and the Ministry and pitched for the reforms to be put on fast track. It was decided that DAC&FW will come out with model APMC Act soon, incorporating suggestions from States for quick action on reforms.

The Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Shobhan K Pattanayak presented the model of reform process in the meeting. All 14 States have initiated reforms in varied models.