Pawar-Tomar spar with each other over Mandi system and stockpiling limits of agri-produce

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Mumbai: Former union Agriculture minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar and incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday sparred with each other on Twitter over Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) or Mandi system and stockpiling of agriculture produce. Tomar remarked that Pawar’s tweets were a mix of ignorance and misinformation. While Pawar remarked that a positive argument on reforms does not mean that it is done to weaken or demolish the system.

In a series of tweets since yesterday, the NCP chief remarked “stockpiling limits have been removed on food grain, pulses, onion, potato, oilseeds etc. It may lead to apprehensions that Corporates may purchase commodities at lower rates and stockpile and sell at higher prices to consumers”.

In the second tweet Pawar said “I am also concerned about the amended Essential Commodities Act (ECA). According to the act the Govt will intervene for price control only if rates of horticulture produce are increased by 100% and that of non-perishable items increase by 50%”.

“Reforms is a continuous process and no one would argue against the reforms in the APMCs or Mandi system, a positive argument on the same does not mean that it is done to weaken or demolish the system”, remarked Pawar in another tweet.

The former union Agriculture minister further tweeted “During my tenure, the draft APMC Rules – 2007 were framed for the setting up of special markets thereby providing alternate platforms for farmers to market their commodities and utmost care was also taken to strengthen the existing Mandi system”.

He further tweeted “New agricultural laws restrict the powers of Mandi system i.e. the collection of, levy and fees from the private markets, dispute resolution, agri-trade licensing and regulators of E-trading”.

Pawar further argued that “New laws will adversely impact the MSP (Minimum Support Price) procurement infrastructure thereby weakening the Mandi system. MSP mechanism has to be ensured and strengthened further”.

In response to Pawar’s tweet, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar tweeted “New Laws facilitate promotion of additional choice channel for farmers with choice to sell their produce to anyone, anywhere with hassle free movement in & outside the state to realize competitive & better net price for their produce. This doesn’t affect the current MSP system”.

Tomar further tweeted in clarification, “Under new ecosystem, mandis are not affected. Instead, they will be more competitive and cost effective in terms of services and infrastructure; and both the systems will synergistically co-exist for the common interest of farmers”..

Earlier, Union Minister N S Tomar tweeted “Sharad Pawar ji is a veteran politician and a former Union Agriculture Minister, who is also considered well-versed with the issues & solutions relating to Agriculture. He has himself tried hard to bring the same agriculture reforms earlier”.

In a sarcastic repartee, the Union Agriculture Minister remarked “Since he (Pawar) speaks with some experience and expertise on the issue, it was dismaying to see his tweets employ a mix of ignorance & misinformation on the agriculture reforms. Let me take this opportunity to present some facts”. In a rejoinder Tweet Tomar added “As he is such a veteran leader, I would like to believe that he was genuinely misinformed of the facts. Now that he has the right facts, I hope he will also change his stand & also explain the benefits to our farmers”.