The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 passed by the Parliament is a pro farmer bill which would  not only provide better marketing facilities to the farmers to sell their produce but also go a long way in  achieving the target of Union Government to double the farmers income, Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Thursday.

Talking to reporters, the  Chief Minister said that APMCs and Marketing Boards would continue to function as usual and grants in aid to develop market yards will   also continue. He said that Bill would create additional trading opportunities outside the APMC market yards to help farmers in getting better prices. He said that it would also allow development of private Mandi infrastructure in the State besides improving market access for the farmers by farm gate sales/mandis.

Thakur said that after getting the consent of the President, the Act would help in introduction of new technologies in the farm sector through private investment. He said that the buyers and investors who directly purchased farm produce from the farmers would not have to pay any market fee or cess. It will motivate reputed agri business companies to purchase directly from the farm fields, he added.

The Chief Minister said that focus would be on electronic mode of transactions which would help in meeting the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding ‘One Nation- One Market’.  He said that it would usher in development of cold chain infrastructure in the State as licensing would be deregulated which would ensure ease of doing business and increase investment in the agro processing sector.

Accusing the Congress leaders for misleading the people of the State on the issue, he said that the Act would give price assurance of farm produce to the farmer at the time of sowing with better income options. He said that the farmers would be motivated to grow crops as per the demands of the market. Thakur said the Central Government was committed for socio-economic upliftment of the farming community and has initiated several schemes for their betterment.

ATAL TUNNEL WILL STRENGTHEN SECURITY OF THE NATION, SAYS CM

Ahead of the proposed visit of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday presided over a meeting of officers of Kullu district in Manali. He said the construction of Atal Tunnel Rohtang will strengthen the security system of the nation paving way for throughout the year movement in this strategically important border area.

He said that a traditional welcome would be accorded to the Prime Minister during his visit, directing the officers to take care of all standard operating procedures of the Covid-19 during this period and said that no negligence should be taken in this regard, at any point. The CM said social distancing should be maintained by the people even while welcoming the Prime Minister and crowding must be avoided at one place. He said that in view of Covid-19, adequate ambulances should also be maintained and necessary arrangements made for isolation.