Page 30 - Putting Farmers First

TWO DECADES OF

CONSULTATIONS

2000-2003 (NDA GOVERNMENT LED BY

PRIME MINISTER A.B. VAJPAYEE)

Shankarlal Guru Expert Committee was appointed in
December 2000 to suggest ways and means to make
Agriculture marketing system more efficient. The
committee submitted its report in June 2001.

To examine these recommendations, the Agriculture
Ministry constituted an Inter-Ministerial Task Force in
July 2001 which submitted its report in June 2002. The
steps recommended by this task force included:
Removal of restrictive provisions hindering a
competitive marketing system
Promotion of direct marketing

Encouragement of contract farming

Rationalization of Market fee and tax structure
Facilitate National Integrated Market

These recommendations resulted in the passage of the
Model APMC Act 2003 which encouraged the state
governments to amend their individual state acts in
accordance with this model act.

23 | Putting Farmers First