The Shiv Sena-led MVA government in Maharashtra on Tuesday introduced three amendment bills in the Assembly related to agriculture, cooperatives, food and civil supplies to counter the new agricultural laws framed by the Centre. A class of farmers. The bills provide for rates higher than the MSP for produce in agricultural agreements with traders, timely payment of arrears, three years in jail and a fine of Rs 5 lakh or both for harassing farmers.
They also have the power to empower the state government to regulate and restrict production, supply, distribution and to impose stock limits on essential commodities. Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat said the Central Agriculture Acts were passed without discussion and many of their provisions encroach upon the powers of the state governments.
“The state government has the right to make laws and we want to suggest amendments to the central agricultural laws, which we feel are anti-farmers,” he said. The bills that have been placed in the public domain for two months for suggestions and objections are – Essential Commodities (Amendment), Farmers (Empowerment and Protection), Guaranteed Prices; Amendment to the Agreement on Agriculture (Maharashtra Amendment) and Farmer Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) of the Central Government.
The draft bill has been prepared by a cabinet sub-committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Pawar said the draft bill will be in the public domain for two months, during which all stakeholders can discuss and debate its provisions.
He said that the bills would be taken up for discussion and passing during the winter session of the assembly in Nagpur (held in December). Agriculture Minister Dada Bhuse said that the agricultural contract (between traders and farmers) will be considered invalid if the price of the agricultural produce being offered does not exceed the MSP (minimum support price).
Bhuse said that if the farmer is not paid within seven days of the sale of his produce, a criminal offense can be registered against the trader and the punishment includes three years in jail and a fine of Rs 5 lakh. Cooperation Minister Balasaheb Patil said that under the Central Acts, there is no control over the trader in case of default in payment to the farmer after the sale of agricultural produce. To ensure timely remunerative price to farmers for their agricultural produce and to protect their interests, Patil said, the state government has decided to amend the Centre’s Farmer Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act.
Patil said the draft bill proposes that no trader shall trade in any scheduled agricultural produce unless he has a valid license from the competent authority. In any dispute arising out of a transaction between the farmer and the trader, the parties may seek settlement by filing Application to the Competent Authority and appeal to the Appellate Authority against the order of the Competent Authority, he said.
He said that harassing farmers would be punishable with imprisonment of not less than three years and a fine of not less than five lakh rupees, or with both. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said in the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 – which has been amended by the Centre. – There is no provision for the State Government to regulate or restrict production, supply, distribution, stock limits in exceptional circumstances which may include famine, price rise or natural calamity.
He said that the state government in its application to Maharashtra has proposed to amend the Act and assume the power to control production, supply, distribution and impose stock limits.
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