NEW DELHI: Nine States have amended the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Act (APMC) allowing for new, private markets to be set up for growers to sell their produce.

To facilitate direct and free marketing, the Centre had drafted a model APMC Act for States and this would include supporting services such as grading, standardisation and storage as part of its agriculture reforms, Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar told the Rajya Sabha on Friday.

External markets

"External markets are becoming increasingly important for farmers in response to growing globalisation and the compelling need to avail opportunities from international trade in agriculture,'' the Minister said, replying to a question on farmers' welfare.

Mr. Pawar said the Government was conscious of the need to improve the living conditions of farmers and as part of that concern, several schemes and programmes had been initiated to improve their income. The National Horticulture Mission launched in May this year was designed to double the production of horticulture crops by 2011-12. Under this mission, assistance would be provided for development of seeds and planting material through public and private sectors.

Under the Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil Palm and Maize, subsidy was given for seed production and distribution. Under Mini Mission II of Technology Mission on Cotton as well, aid was provided for supply of breeder seed and production of foundation seeds. Likewise, the Minister said, under the scheme of National Project on Organic Farming, farmers were given support for setting up compost unit, bio-fertilizer production and vermiculture hatcheries.

Farmers also receive subsidy on purchase of various agriculture equipment including hand tools, bullock-drawn/power-driven implements, sprinkler and drip irrigation equipment, tractors, power tillers and the like.

The National Agriculture Insurance Scheme enabled small and marginal farmers to receive subsidy to the extent of 10 per cent of the premium.

To make the Kisan Credit Cards Scheme "more beneficial'' to farmers by catering to their investment credit requirements, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) revised the scheme in August last to cover term loans for agriculture and allied activities.

Special attention was being given to animal diseases control, livestock breed improvement and development, fodder development, dairy and poultry development and fisheries development.

Mr. Pawar said some States had set up welfare funds for different categories of farmers.

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