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Source: The post is based on the article “Panel on MSP, Natural Farming setup” published in The Hindu on 19th July 2022.
What is the News?
The Government of India has constituted a committee to look into the issues of minimum support price(MSP), Natural Farming and Crop diversification.
About the Committee on MSP, Natural Farming and Crop diversification
Headed by: Former Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agrawal.
Terms of Reference of the committee
On MSP: To suggest measures to a) make MSP available to farmers by making the systems more effective and transparent, b) give more autonomy to Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
Note: The terms of reference do not mention the legal guarantee on MSP.
On Natural Farming: To make suggestions for programmes and schemes for value chain development, protocol validation and research for future needs and support for area expansion under the Indian Natural Farming System.
On Crop diversification: To provide suggestions related to crop diversification including 1) mapping of existing cropping patterns of agro-ecological zones of producer and consumer states, 2) strategy for diversification policy to change the cropping pattern according to the changing needs of the country and 3) a system to ensure remunerative prices for the sale of new crops.