Farm Laws 2020:

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Why in the news?

Recently, PM Modi announced that the Centre will repeal three contentious Farm Laws 2020 in the upcoming Parliament session. 

Key highlights:

• Earlier, the Supreme Court (SC) stayed the implementation of the Farm Acts 2020 constituted a four-member committee to make recommendations within two months. 
• The laws will be withdrawn in the upcoming session of the Parliament starting on 29 November 2021. 

About Laws:

• In September 2020, President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the three 'Agriculture Bills' that were earlier passed by the Indian Parliament. These Farm Acts are as follows:
• 1- Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020
• 2- Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020
• 3- Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020

Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020

• The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 14 September 2020, passed in Lok Sabha on 17 September 2020. 
•  It was passed in Rajya Sabha on 20 September 2020. 
• The Bill received Presidential Assent on 24 September 2020. 
• It creates a national framework for contract farming through an agreement between a farmer and a buyer before the production or rearing of any farm produces.
• Minimum Period of Farming Agreement: The minimum period of the farming agreement shall be for one crop season or one production cycle of livestock.
•  Maximum Period of Farming Agreement: The maximum period of the farming agreement shall be five years.

Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020

•  The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 14 September 2020, passed in Lok Sabha on 17 September 2020. 
•  It was passed in Rajya Sabha on 20 September 2020. 
•  It permits intra and inter-state trade of farmers’ produce beyond the physical premises of Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) markets and other markets notified under the state APMC Acts. 
• As per the Act, the State Governments are prohibited from levying any market fee or cess on farmers, traders and electronic trading platforms for trading farmers' produce in an 'outside trade area'.

Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020:

• The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 14 September 2020, passed in Lok Sabha on 15 September 2020. 
• It was passed in Rajya Sabha on 22 September 2020. 
•  It is an act of the Indian Parliament that was enacted in 1955 to ensure the delivery of certain commodities or products, the supply of which if obstructed owing to hoarding or black-marketing would affect the normal life of the people. 
• This includes foodstuff, drugs, fuel (petroleum products) etc.

What is (APMC)?

• An Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) is a marketing board established by the State Governments in India to safeguard the farmers from the exploitation by large retailers, ensuring that the farm to retail price does not reach excessively high levels.

Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020:

• It was first enacted on 1 April 1955 by the Government of India to provide, in the interest of the general public, for the control of the production, supply and distribution of, and trade and commerce, in certain commodities.