The 2020 Farmers and Agricultural Products Trade (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill and the 2020 Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Agricultural Services Bill were approved by oral vote.
The opposition parliamentarians went to the well of the Chamber and raised slogans against the bills. Congress and other opposition parties sat in protest inside the Rajya Sabha after agricultural bills were passed amid uproar and the House suspended session.
Earlier today, the bills were promoted by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, in Rajya Sabha.
Transfer of the bills, said the minister: “The two bills are historic and will bring a change in the lives of farmers. They will be able to freely trade their products anywhere in the country. I want to assure farmers that these projects of law are not related to the Minimum Support Price “.
Shortly after the passage of these bills, Rajya Sabha was suspended until 9am on Monday.
The Draft Law on Trade in Agricultural Products and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) of 2020 allows electronic commerce of agricultural products and allows the creation of transaction platforms to facilitate the direct online purchase and sale of agricultural products.
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Guarantee and Agricultural Services Act of 2020 establishes an agriculture agreement prior to the production or breeding of any agricultural product. Said agreements will mention a guaranteed price to pay for the purchase of agricultural products.
(With inputs from agencies)
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