New Delhi, Nov 19 (FN Bureau) The three controversial Farm Laws, which are set to be repealed in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament, were passed by Parliament in September, 2020. The three laws are — The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act. The bills were first brought in as Ordinances, before being approved by Parliament during the Monsoon Session last year by a voice vote amid protests by the Opposition MPs.
Here is a look at the three Farm Laws:
1.The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020: The Act aimed to provide for the creation of an “ecosystem” where the farmers and traders could sell their products out of the APMCs (Agricultural Produce & Livestock Market Committee). In case of any dispute arising out of a transaction between the farmer and a trader under section 4, the parties may seek a mutually acceptable solution through conciliation by filing an application to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate who shall refer such dispute to a Conciliation Board to be appointed by him for facilitating the binding settlement of the dispute.
2.The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020: The Act aimed at enabling contract farming. It entailed creating a national framework on farming agreements. Under this law, the minimum period of the farming agreement was to be for one crop season or one production cycle of livestock and the maximum period was five years.
3.The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 : The Essential Commodities Act 1955, which enabled the state governments to impose stock limits and restrict movement of essential commodities, was amended and certain essential commodities were taken out of the list. Commodities such as cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes were removed from the list of essential commodities.