Improving Farmers Income: Consumers suggest changes to 3 Central ordinances

Vijayawada: The city-based Consumer Advocacy Group organised a webinar on the three ordinances promulgated by the Union government to increase the income of farmers. A panel of speakers headed by Dr PVVS Murthy, former member of Vijayawada Consumers Disputes Redressal Forum, discussed the impact of ordinances and suggested various measures to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs before presenting them in Parliament for enacting the same.

The three ordinances include the Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 which ensures barrier-free trade in agriculture produce; The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 which empowers farmers for engaging with processors, aggregators, large retailers, exporters on a level playing field without any fear of exploitation and Essential Commodities Amendment Ordinance 2020 to ensure free trade.

Dr Murthy said that once the ordinance on farming produce is enacted the government will step in to regulate the essential commodities only under extraordinary circumstances like war, famine, extraordinary price rise and natural calamity of grave nature. If there is no regulation on essential commodities consumers will be at a loss. It is suggested that the government should buy the produce from farmers.

Referring to the second ordinance, Dr Murthy pointed out that if big business houses are invited to invest in agri-business they might sell the produce outside the country.

Hence, the panel speakers are of the view that consumers may become victims of price rise. In connection with the ordinance on essential commodities, Dr Murthy said that they must be under regulatory regime.

Previously amendments to the Essential Commodities Act were made with a view to provide better protection to consumer interests. But the latest amendments are aimed at improving the income of farmers. The panel speakers are of the view that providing opportunities to farmers to sell their products to government agencies instead of deregulating the essential commodities will be better.

Summary trial is not advisable in cases where the offence is considered cognizable and punishable with rigorous imprisonment. Constitution of special courts may not be feasible. For instance, the governments have not constituted special courts where the enactments like APCRDA, AP RERA, Rent Control Legislation, NDPS Act and Depositors' Protection Act specify for speedy disposal of cases by special courts.

The farmers and consumers both need handholding and adequate protection from the government otherwise these provisions will fail to bring any improvement in farmers' condition.

The panel of speakers include Dr Ch Divakarbabu from Vijayawada, Dr Sapna Chadah from Delhi, HV Ramani from Rajamahendravaram, Amritlal Shah from Tripura, Somu Krishna Murthy from Vijayawada, ASN Raju from Ahmadnagar, I Govind from Hyderabad, N Narasimha Rao from Kakinada and K Jhansi Lakshmi from Bengaluru.