"Empty Gesture": Farmers Body On Mandis Allowed Finance From Agri-Infra Fund

Samyukt Kisan Morcha said reference to the Rs 1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund is "highly misleading" and added the aim of the three farm laws is the collapse of the APMCs.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmers' union, on Friday said the Centre's decision to allow APMC mandis to avail financial support from the Rs 1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund is an "empty gesture". Reference to the Rs 1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund is "highly misleading", it alleged, adding the aim of the three contentious Central farm laws is the collapse of the agricultural produce market committees (APMCs). APMC markets are set up to provide market linkages and create an ecosystem of post-harvest public infrastructure open to all farmers. The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved modification in the central scheme making the APMC mandis eligible to avail financial support from the Rs 1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to expand the regulated markets' capacity and provide better facilities to farmers.