Govt happy with farmers getting better prices, says Pawar

Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar today told the Rajya Sabha that the government is only too happy that farmers are getting prices higher than the MSP from private procurers.

Pawar said changes in the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act was initiated by the Union Government. “There is no reason why only farmers should be forced to sell their produce to specified buyers. Others, such as industrialists, can sell their products to anyone. Now, farmers can also do the same after 22 states made the required amendments in the APMC Act,” Pawar said. The minister said except for sugar, all other products are fetching more than MSP in the open market.

Pawar said a massive expansion of the area under pulse cultivation was required to rein in the spiraling prices of pulses. He said most of the pulse cultivation is in rainfed areas and the risks associated with it scare away farmers.

The Agriculture Minister also defended the transport subsidy being granted for sugar export. This year sugar production has touched 260 lakh tonnes against the requirement of 190 lakh tonnes. India also has nearly 90 lakh tonnes from last year’s stock. “There is a glut in the international market also. So a subsidy to transport the sugar to the nearest port is necessary for the producers to enter the world market,” Pawar said.