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The chief minister-led high-powered committee set up to introduce agricultural reforms has decided to not scrap the Essentials Commodities Act, 1955, in its entirety. Instead, clauses will be added to it ensure
the Act is invoked only in "extreme conditions" and all sections that affect farmer income will be taken off. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday that the Act reduces farmer
earnings and that there has been a longpending demand to scrap it. The committee also suggested introducing genetically modified (GM) oilseed varieties to increase production and sought replies from all member
states on the issue. "Our dependence on oilseeds is very high. India imports 65% of edible oil for consumption. If we can introduce GM seed varieties to increase production, it may
help farmers make more profits. Also, countries that import to India use GM technology," said Fadnavis. Whether the entire sector should be GM-dominated or cultivation of these crops should be taken
up under a controlled environment is yet to be decided though. GM crops have been a debated topic in the country and scientific voices on either side of the issue are
equally loud. So far, herbicide-tolerant Bt cotton and Bt brinjal are GM varieties of two crops that the farmers have been demanding for sowing; currently, they are being sown illegally on
a large-scale across the country though. On the Essential Commodities Act, Fadnavis said, "NITI Aayog has suggested imposing stock limits under the Act only when commodity prices rise 50% and not
before that." Stock limits are imposed to lower prices of agricultural produce. The committee was formed to look at ways to increase production and make available better marketing platforms to farmers.
he committee also looked at setting up a model for leasing of agricultural land and better export infrastructure for farmers. "Currently, exports are too little compared to our production and for
the Act is invoked only in "extreme conditions" and all sections that affect farmer income will be taken off. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday that the Act reduces farmer
earnings and that there has been a longpending demand to scrap it. The committee also suggested introducing genetically modified (GM) oilseed varieties to increase production and sought replies from all member
states on the issue. "Our dependence on oilseeds is very high. India imports 65% of edible oil for consumption. If we can introduce GM seed varieties to increase production, it may
help farmers make more profits. Also, countries that import to India use GM technology," said Fadnavis. Whether the entire sector should be GM-dominated or cultivation of these crops should be taken
up under a controlled environment is yet to be decided though. GM crops have been a debated topic in the country and scientific voices on either side of the issue are
equally loud. So far, herbicide-tolerant Bt cotton and Bt brinjal are GM varieties of two crops that the farmers have been demanding for sowing; currently, they are being sown illegally on
a large-scale across the country though. On the Essential Commodities Act, Fadnavis said, "NITI Aayog has suggested imposing stock limits under the Act only when commodity prices rise 50% and not
before that." Stock limits are imposed to lower prices of agricultural produce. The committee was formed to look at ways to increase production and make available better marketing platforms to farmers.
he committee also looked at setting up a model for leasing of agricultural land and better export infrastructure for farmers. "Currently, exports are too little compared to our production and for
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