Food processing and commodities firms are looking at stepping up direct procurement from farmers and setting up frontend infrastructure after the government pushed through two crucial farm Bills in Parliament.
The two Bills — Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 — allow farm trade outside mandis and contract farming. Along with the Essential Commodities Act amendment, these Bills are expected to pave the way for investment and increase farmer engagement.
Angshu Mallick, deputy chief executive officer, Adani Wilmar, said: “We procure our agri-commodity