Kiren Rijiju; Guwahati, October 2: While protests are going on across the country against three new Agricultural bills introduced by the Modi-government, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Minister of State for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that, the three Agriculture bills that have recently been passed in the parliament have been the biggest ever agricultural reforms for the welfare of the farmers of the country since independence.
Addressing a press conference held in Guwahati, Rijiju said that, these bills – the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020, brought by the government will give freedom to the farmers and give them choice to sell their crop anywhere in the country.
“Complete freedom has been given to the farmers as there are no restrictions in selling their produce. The farmers will get mandatory support from state to strengthen the farm sector and to get more production. This amendment will create a positive environment not only for farmers but also for consumers and investors and will help the country to become self-reliant. These reforms have removed all manipulative role of middlemen which will very much benefit the farmers,” Rijiju said.
He further said that, in the coming days Assam and the entire North East will become a very important trading hub of agricultural produce.
“With the support of the central government and in collaboration with the state government, we are going to work together. Assam is known for tea and in future, North Eastern region will be known for many other agricultural products and it will be a good fortune of the farmers of the region,” Rijiju said.
The minister also took part in a seminar on the Empowerment of Farmers where agricultural experts, farmers, intellectuals, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Rameswar Teli and officials of the Agriculture department of Assam government attended.
