Agriculture Current Affair 22 July 2020

It is important to give farmers the power of scale: MS Swaminathan

The Centre recently ushered in agricultural marketing reforms giving farmers the choice to sell outside the regulated market yards (APMC mandis). Eminent agricultural scientist Prof M S Swaminathan, Chairman, National Commission on Farmers, says agri-marketing reform measures are potentially beneficial, but there is still a long way to go in ensuring a fair and reliable price for producers.

AP, AMUL sign up to help self-help groups, boost milk cooperatives

Andhra Pradesh Government has signed an MoU with the milk cooperative giant AMUL (Anand Milk Union Limited) to provide fillip to the empowerment of women self-help groups and by encouraging the milk cooperatives in government sector.

Terming Andhra Pradesh as the gateway to the South, State Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, said, “AMUL will help the women groups and give dairy farming in cooperative sector an opportunity and exposure to world class infrastructure, technology and marketing opportunities which would improve their standard of living and in self-reliance of women.”

Involve farmers in agri-related discussions: FAIFA

The Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) has asked the Union Government to undertake periodic review of reforms in consultation with farmer representatives and associations.

It called for greater integration of farmer organisations in the agri-related decision-making process of the government.

While welcoming the reforms being initiated in the agricultural sector, the association appealed to the government to take necessary steps to ensure smooth implementation of policy reforms.