Is Contract farming the answer to the current woes confronting the nation’s farmers ?

Amendment of agricultural produce marketing committee (APMC)act in 14 states allows farmers to sell their produce in the open markets.

ITC,Reliance,Pepsico involved.Pepsico started the trend with tomatoes in Punjab

Good prices for the farmers, all technical know-how, guaranteed buying, no middlemen involved.

Farmers need to give only the land, and the labour.

Contract farming has come at a time when farmers are suffering because of high fertilizer, insecticide and power costs.

It generally involves: a pre agreed price between the company and the farmer, alongwith measures of quality, quantity, acreage to be farmed, duration of the contract.

Cash crops, crops for food processing industry will replace staple food like rice and wheat, so we lose food security.

But income from exports to increase a lot.

70% of the population dependent on agriculture, it is not just a trade, it is a way of life.

Agriculture to agribusiness………………………and it is a form of capitalist penetration

Corporate will dictate, what crops to be grown which will result in loss of natural seeds.

Incidence of pre-determined prices being rejected on pretext of inferior quality of crops.

Corporate can integrate the supply chain by ensuring timely availability of quality and quantity of materials.