Repeal of APMC Act lies with states: minister

The Union Food Processing Ministry today said that it was the states which could repeal the Agriculture Produce Market Committees Act (APMC Act) and not the Centre to pave the way for contract farming.
"To abolish the APMC Act, the Centre cannot do anything. It is something a state has to do, so that contract farming is allowed. Some states are changing the polices. That is why I appeal to all states to come up with such policies that farmers are allowed to work directly with the processing industry for better price and low wastage," Food Processing and Horticulture Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said today.

She was speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on agriculture and food processing organised by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce.
Badal said that the first and foremost challenge before her government was to bring down inflation, so that affordable food is available for the masses.
The minister referred to the low farm yield in India compared to global standard and cited the example of domestic wheat output which is three tonnes as against 12 tonnes globally.
The paddy productivity was thus lower by 60 per cent and potato yield was lower by 50 per cent, the minister pointed out.