Farm sector sees spike in private investment after reforms: Agri secy

Private companies have began investing in farm sector spurred by the recent reforms that will help increase farmers' income, according to Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal.

The government recently brought three major reforms via Ordinances.

It amended the Essential Commodities Act to deregulate food items, and introduced a new law -- The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 -- to allow farmers to sell their produce outside the Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC).

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 was brought in to legalise contract farming.

"These reforms are