Industry representatives appreciate measures to strengthen farming infrastructure

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, on August 20, 2020, held a meeting via video conference with industry representatives on the two Ordinances, ‘The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020” and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020’.

Tomar said that the ministry has been making concerted efforts to bring reforms in agricultural marketing and freeing the agriculture sector of various restrictions through strategic interventions. He added that the Government has created the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund of Rs 1 lakh crore for building post-harvest storage and processing facilities, intended to be used mostly by the Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), but can also be availed by individual entrepreneurs.

The fund would facilitate in strengthening the agricultural infrastructure, development and improvement of warehouses, cold storage, pack houses and marketing facilities in the rural areas, thereby enhancing the income of farmers and boost rural economy. Industry representatives appreciated the efforts of the Union Agriculture Ministry for the Ordinances and bringing rapid reforms towards strengthening agriculture infrastructure across the country.