According to NITI Aayog index on reforms in the farm sector, Maharashtra topped as the most farmer friendly state in the country followed by Gujarat and Rajasthan.
“The state of Maharashtra achieves first rank in implementation of various reforms. The state has implemented most of the marketing reforms and it offers best environment for doing agribusiness among all the states and UTs,” an official statement said.
As per the states’ score in the Index, Madhya Pradesh ranked fourth, followed by Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Goa and Chattisgarh.
NITI Aayog has prepared ‘Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reform Index’ based on the initiatives taken by the states in implementing farm sector reforms.
Almost 20 out of 29 states, Including Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, could not even reach the halfway mark in the index.
First of its kind of exercise, the farm index is based on implementation of seven provisions under the model APMC Act, joining the online marketing platform eNAM, special treatment to fruits and vegetables for marketing and levels of taxes in mandis.
The area identified by NITI Aayog for immediate reforms includes agricultural market reforms, land lease reforms and reforms related to forestry on private land
