How many agricultural sector bills were passed in 2020?
Three
Understanding Agricultural Sector Bills 2020
The year 2020 saw significant legislative activity concerning the agricultural sector in India. Several bills were introduced and passed by the Parliament aimed at bringing reforms to farming and related trade.
Specifically, three major bills related to agriculture were passed in 2020. These bills aimed to facilitate contract farming, remove restrictions on selling produce outside government-regulated markets, and amend the Essential Commodities Act to liberalize regulations on certain food items.
Let's look at the three key bills passed in 2020 concerning the agricultural sector:
- The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020: This bill aimed to allow farmers to sell their produce outside the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) regulated markets.
- The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020: This bill provided a framework for contract farming, enabling farmers to enter into agreements with buyers before sowing crops.
- The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020: This bill sought to remove certain foodstuffs, including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion, and potatoes, from the list of essential commodities, except in extraordinary circumstances.
Therefore, a total of three agricultural sector bills were passed in 2020.
Revision Table: Agricultural Bills 2020
| S.No. | Bill Name | Primary Objective |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 | Freedom to sell produce outside APMC mandis |
| 2 | The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 | Framework for contract farming |
| 3 | The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 | Deregulate certain essential food items |
Additional Information: Impact of Agricultural Bills
These agricultural bills passed in 2020 led to extensive discussions and protests by farmer groups in India. The farmers expressed concerns that the bills could weaken the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system and dismantle the APMC mandi system, leaving them vulnerable to large corporations. The government, on the other hand, argued that these reforms would empower farmers by providing more options for selling their produce and attracting private investment in the agricultural sector. The implementation and impact of these bills became a major point of debate and policy discussion in the country.
Important Questions from Ministry and Ministers
Which Ministry of the Government of India received the SKOCH Challenger Award for ‘Best Performance in e-Governance’ in January 2021?
Who among the following became the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand in March 2021?
As of January 2021, who among the following is the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting.
Which of the following is the nodal ministry for implementation of the ‘SVAMITVA’ scheme launched in 2020?
Who amongst the following is the Minister of Agriculture and Famers Welfare in India as of May 2021?
