Recent reforms in agriculture sector (farm bills) included: The farmers (empowerment and Protection) agreement on price assurance and farm services ordinance, 2020; The farmers’ produce trade and commerce (promotion and facilitation) ordinance, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act. These initiatives are aimed at reforming production, marketing and storage of agricultural produce in India. However, the reforms, particularly the Farmers’ produce trade and commerce has stirred hornet’s nest nationwide as the acts are critiqued to be liberalising the market for agricultural produce. Conversely, others argue that the reforms would release farmers from the clutches of different layers of parasites in the market.  Most debated Act in the reform package is The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 because the Act has replaced the APMC Act of 2003. Responses of farming community to the reform package have varied across states in India. In a state such as Rajasthan, wherein farm dependent population is much higher than the national average and the agriculture and allied sectors still contribute about 1/4^th of the GSVA, analysis of the impact of the reform package on the agricultural economy of the state assume special significance. Moreover, Rajasthan is the leading producer of several food, spices and non-food crops in India. The above situation warrants serious deliberation on the impact of the recently introduced three Acts on the agricultural sector in Rajasthan. The Webinar intends to have a focussed discussion and debate of different viewpoints and stand points on the impact of recent reforms in the agriculture sector on the farm dependent population of Rajasthan and the food production map of India.

Coordinator: Dr S. Mohanakumar

Programme