<span style="color: #222222;">The Central Government has accorded high priority to the welfare of farmers and has taken several steps to achieve the target of doubling their income.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Recently the Narendra Modi led government promulgated three Ordinances in the interest of farmers.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The government brought the Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 or the FPTC Ordinance with an aim to create an ecosystem where the farmers and traders will enjoy freedom of choice of sale and purchase of their agri-produce.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The ordinance basically aims at creating additional trading opportunities outside the Agricultural Produce Market Committee – APMC market yards to help farmers get remunerative prices due to additional competition.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The second ordinance is the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 or the FAPAFS Ordinance.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It aims at empowering farmers for engaging with processors, aggregators, wholesalers, large retailers and exporters on a level playing field without any fear of exploitation.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It will transfer the risk of market unpredictability from the farmer to the sponsor and also enable the farmer to access modern technology and better inputs. It will reduce cost of marketing and improve income of farmers. </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The third ordinance is related to the amendment to Essential Commodities Act, removing commodities like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes from list of essential commodities.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Talking exclusively to AIR News, Member, Agriculture, NITI Aayog Ramesh Chand said, these ordinances in Agricuture sector will ensure that farmers get remunerative price and their income grow at a faster rate.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">AIR Correspondent reports, these three landmark decisions will bring reforms in agriculture marketing and commodities trade.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The FPTC Ordinance aims at ending the monopoly of the APMC and allow anyone to purchase and sell agricultural produce.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Ordinance related to farm services has been brought with a view to legalise contract farming, so that vast area swathes of land can be cultivated on contract.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The amendment to the Essential Commodities Act is a visionary step towards transformation of agriculture and raising farmers' income.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It will help drive up investment in cold storages and modernization of food supply chain.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The amendment to the Essential Commodities Act will help both farmers and consumers while bringing in price stability. </span><br />''