The West Bengal Government is proposing amendments to the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act. The State will however maintain its stance against contract farming, said Mr Arup Roy, the State's Minister for Agriculture Marketing .

“We are in the process of drafting certain amendments to the APMC Act. We are in discussion with our legal department for the same,” Mr Roy told Business Line .

The proposed amendments would be based keeping in view farmers' interest. The draft amendment, once prepared, would be sent to the chief minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, he said.

The central Government had introduced the Model Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act and circulated it to various States and Union Territories in 2003 to implement marketing reforms.

The model Bill includes provisions for direct marketing and purchase of agriculture produce from farmers, contract farming and setting up of markets in private and cooperative sectors among other things.

Out of 35 states and union territories, nearly 17 states have amended their APMC Act to allow direct marketing, contract farming and markets in private and cooperative sectors.

According to Mr Roy, the central government has been insisting that the West Bengal government look into the amendment of the Act and include contract farming in order to help small farmers secure better remuneration for their produce. Contract farming typically covers the price and production risk.

“The central government has been telling us to look into it (contract farming), but we have clearly refused as this could hamper farmers' interests,” Mr Roy said.

shobha@thehindu.co.in

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