0
Home
News
Directory
E-newsletter
Magazine
Events
Data
AgReport
Subscribe
Agriculture Minister reviews relief steps for farmers with states via video-conferencing
Apr. 14, 2020
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on last Thursday, along with State Agriculture Ministers, reviewed relief steps for farmers, appreciating their efforts for undertaking farming activities even during the challenging time of COVID-19.
States were told to sensitise field agencies about exemptions to farming-related activities. They should allow movement of farm produce, farming products, fertilizers and farm implements and machinery, it was said.
Tomar held the meeting with the State Ministers via video-conferencing on last Wednesday evening. Issues related to farming operations and harvesting, agriculture marketing and 'mandi' operations, procurement at MSP, provisions of inputs (seeds and fertilisers), logistics and movement of products were discussed.
During the discussion, issues regarding harvesting procurement, availability of inputs, credit, insurance and inter-state movement of agriculture produce were also raised.
A few issues were resolved and instructions were passed to the states.
Other issues which required deliberations were noted. The states were assured that the issues would be looked into, and necessary instructions would follow in due course, officials said.
The Minister said the Kharif National Conference will be held on April 16 via video conferencing to firm up the field preparations. It is for ensuing Kharif season and urging the states to make preparations for all logistics and be prepared for the conference.
The Minister talked about the measures taken by the Ministry to facilitate the activities related to agriculture and allied sectors during the lockdown period.
Also, the exemptions notified by the Government of India for agricultural operations in view of the harvesting and sowing season were discussed at length, they said.
The states were again informed about various exemptions regarding the procurement of agriculture products, including MSP operations, and farming operations by farmers and farm workers in fields.
Other exemptions include ‘mandis’ operated by the Agriculture Produce Market Committee or as notified by the State Government.
‘Mandis’ include direct marketing, facilitated by the State Government/UT Administration, directly from the farmers/groups of farmers, FPOs, Cooperatives, etc, shops for seeds, fertilisers and pesticides, manufacturing and packaging units of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides and Custom Hiring Centres (CHC) related to farm machinery.
The tea industry, including plantation with a maximum of 50% of workers, were also exempted.
States were asked to sensitize field agencies for facilitating smooth farming operations including sowing, harvesting and marketing; to ensure expeditious permission for movement of staff and labour and goods, machines and materials of agencies engaged in these exempted categories of activities and to issue authorization letters to companies/organisations having nation-wide supply chain of essential goods, allowing them to issue regional passes for easy movement of critical staff and workers to maintain their national supply chain.
While undertaking these activities the norms of ‘social distancing’ should be followed and proper hygiene and sanitation should be ensured at all public places, the Minister said, assuring States that all the necessary help and support would be rendered to them during this period which would facilitate them in facing the emerging challenges.
State Agriculture Ministers appreciated the efforts of the Centre and expressed that the exemption provided for agriculture operations and activities have greatly helped the farmers and farming activities in the States, said, officials.
It was informed that the Ministry has released e-NAM modules to enable the e-trading and bidding from source point by farmers, FPOs and Cooperatives.
States may issue necessary instructions to give effect to the same which would facilitate the farmers in selling their produce at their doorsteps, ensuring the availability of produce at consumption centers and decongesting mandis.
Similarly, the intra and inter-state movement of harvesting and sowing related machines like combined harvester and other agriculture/ horticulture implements should be facilitated so that all states may benefit from it.
Source: The Tribune Trust
More from AgroNews
Change
Hot TopicSubscribe
| Subscribe Email: | * | |
| Name: | ||
| Mobile Number: | ||
Comment
0/1200
NEWSLETTER