The Impact of the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act on Indian Agrarian Population

Karan Singh
Law Graduate from Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab, India
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Amanatbir Kaur
Student at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab, India

Volume III – Issue II, 2021

The farm bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha on 14th September, 2020 by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Narender Singh Tomar. Within less than two weeks, on 27th September, 2020 the President gave assent to these three controversial farm laws which almost immediately led to widespread protests all across the country by the farmers. The laws were passed in order to address the longstanding demands of the farmers as well as the economists in order to take the next step forward in the agrarian sector. The three farm laws are The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020

These laws have been introduced to accelerate agricultural growth through private sector investment by breaking the agriculture monopsony that exists in the agriculture sector, with a view to bring in efficiency by increasing competition and strengthen the economy.  Yet, these laws have received a mix review from across all fields, nationally and internationally and are a continuous topic of debate. This article aims at an elaborate understanding the provisions of The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 and their impact on the agriculture sector and farmers and traders. The article also studies the apprehensions of the farmers and whether the Act would be beneficial or harmful to the interest of the farmers in the long run. The article before concluding also provides a few suggestions as alternatives to get out of the existing agrarian crisis.

 

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