In an attempt to ensure a ready market for agricultural produce, the government is working on guidelines for contract farming by corporates. The guidelines, which will not be mandatory, are being worked out by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development Authority (Apeda) and will be forwarded to state governments for implementation.
The national agricultural policy, announced last year, had highlighted the need for an increase in the private sector participation in farming by leasing private land for agri-business and contract farming to private companies. It had also asked for putting in place a suitable legal framework and administrative mechanism to ensure that farmers
