SAFEMA - Appellant have furnished evidence which show satisfactorily that they took all reasonable steps to realise export proceeds : Tribunal (See 'Legal Desk') Companies Act - Winding up petition can be dismissed when contentions raised by parties constitute triable issues as Company Court cannot enter into adjudication of disputed facts of amount due and payable : HC (See 'Legal Desk') Competition Act - In absence of any apparent anti-competitive conduct, decision of purchase or sale of product and quantity thereof is driven by commercial considerations of market players : CCI (See 'Legal Desk') Principal Scientific Adviser chairs meeting to discuss Biomass Cultivation (See 'Corp Brief') India Pavilion at World Hydrogen Summit showcases Green Hydrogen Mission (See 'Corp Brief') Slum Rehabilitation Act - Preferential right to owner is available only when someone other than owner is being preferred and owner has never before been given or availed of right to develop : HC (See 'Legal Desk') CPC - Application can be dismissed as Intervener has already initiated its own remedy by way of independent Execution Petition : HC (See 'Legal Desk') SEBI Act - Appellant has not shown sufficient cause for condonation of delay in filing appeal : SAT (See 'Legal Desk') PMLA - When questions relating to legality of arrest is under consideration, more holistic and libertarian view is to release Chief Minister of Delhi on interim bail for Lok Sabha General Elections : SC (See 'Legal Desk') Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976 - Order for forfeiture of properties is rightly made as property is occupied through lllegal earning : Tribunal (See 'Legal Desk') Arbitration Act - As petitioner is not notified as 'financial institution' or 'bank' under RDB Act, there is no bar on parallel proceedings to co-exist under A&C Act as well as SARFAESI Act : HC (See 'Legal Desk') Cr.P.C. - Once order issuing process has been set aside, then applicant has no right to file application u/s 482 of Cr.P.C. for quashment of complaint case : HC (See 'Legal Desk') Summer Power demand expected to be adequately met during both day and night (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Act - WordPress.org is justified in taking appropriate action against any developer found non-compliant with prescribed standards and regulations : CCI (See 'Legal Desk') Ministry of Skill signs MoU with Mahindra Ltd to conduct two Pilot Projects (See 'Corp Brief') SEBI Act - Operation of order can be stayed for appellant as he has resigned and has no role to play in decisions made thereafter for continuation of schemes : SAT (See 'Legal Desk') IREDA Global Green Energy Finance IFSC Limited incorporated in GIFT City (See 'Corp Brief') Trade Marks Act - Petitioner has no locus to challenge order as petitioner is not claiming itself to be manufactory in Madhya Pradesh and registration of its label under M.P. Beer & Wine Rules : HC (See 'Legal Desk') SARFAESI Act - Discretion to grant reduction in pre-deposit rests with DRAT and Petitioner has failed to make out any ground for interference : HC (See 'Legal Desk') Constitution of India - Petitioner is entitled for Capital subsidy : HC (See 'Legal Desk') Coast Guard inks MoU with Jindal Steel for boosting indigenous manufacturing capacity (See 'Corp Brief') Companies Act - Winding up proceedings pending before High Courts, which are at nascent stage and have not progressed to advanced stage, can be transferred to NCLT : HC (See 'Legal Desk') PMLA - Considering involvement of applicant in selling fake Remdesivir injection at higher price, applicant is not entitled for anticipatory bail : HC (See 'Legal Desk') Arbitration Act - Any amicable settlement not incompatible with arbitration agreement is encouraged by Arbitral Tribunal : HC (See 'Legal Desk') M.P. Nagar Tatha Gram Nivesh Adhiniyam, 1973 - Order passed by respondents is devoid of merit as land of petitioner is left open for purpose of any future road expansion : HC (See 'Legal Desk') Arbitration Act - Since appellant has failed to establish loss suffered, Arbitral Tribunal rightly rejected appellant's claim in this regard : HC (See 'Legal Desk') PMLA - Arrest order and consequent remand order are not illegal : HC (See 'Legal Desk') Keel-laying ceremony performed at Goa Shipyard (See 'Corp Brief') Companies Act - Winding up proceedings pending before High Courts, which are at nascent stage and have not progressed to advanced stage, can be transferred to NCLT : HC (See 'Legal Desk') SEBI Act - Extension of time can be allowed to SEBI to complete investigation : SAT (See 'Legal Desk') Arbitration Act - Respondent no.3 is not liable for repayment obligations of financial facilities extended by appellant to respondent no 1 company : HC (See 'Legal Desk') Mineral production grows by 8 percent in February (See 'Corp Brief') SARFAESI Act - Court refrains to adjudicate matter on merits when matter is already pending in DRAT : HC (See 'Legal Desk') Coal production in April up by 7.4% (See 'Corp Brief') SEBI Act - Appellants have made case for stay as rigours of directions of SEBI order would adversely affect business of Appellant as well as their clients : SAT (See 'Legal Desk') Trade Mark Act - Marks 'BETSONE' and 'BETASON' are deceptively similar to registered trademark 'BETNESOL' and visually, phonetically and structurally alike, with minimal alterations : HC (See 'Legal Desk') Voting by tribal communities blossoms as ECI's outreach to them bears fruit (See 'Corp Brief') SARFAESI Act - No fault can be found with respondent financial institution invoking Section 14 of SARFAESI Act by approaching District Magistrate, Rewa : HC (See 'Legal Desk') Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs observes Swachhata Pakhwada (See 'Corp Brief')

FM announces package for agri, fishery & food processing sectors

Published: May 16, 2020

By TIOLCORPLAWS News Service

NEW DELHI, MAY 16, 2020 : UNION Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman yesterday in her press conference announced the 3rd Tranche of measures to strengthen Infrastructure Logistics, Capacity Building, Governance and Administrative Reforms for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Processing Sectors.

The Finance Minister announced the following measures to strengthen Infrastructure Logistics and Capacity Building for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Processing Sectors:-

1. Rs 1 lakh crore Agri Infrastructure Fund for farm-gate infrastructure for farmers

Financing facility of Rs. 1,00,000 crore will be provided for funding Agriculture Infrastructure Projects at farm-gate & aggregation points (Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, Farmers Producer Organizations, Agriculture entrepreneurs, Start-ups, etc.).Impetus for development of farm-gate & aggregation point, affordable and financially viable Post Harvest Management infrastructure. Fund will be created immediately.

2. Rs 10,000 crore scheme for Formalisation of Micro Food Enterprises (MFE)

A Scheme promoting vision of Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi: 'Vocal for Local with Global outreach ' will be launched to help 2 lakh MFEs who need technical upgradation to attain FSSAI food standards, build brands and marketing. Existing micro food enterprises, Farmer Producer Organisations, Self Help Groups and Cooperatives to be supported. The focus will be on women and SC/ST owned units and those in Aspirational districts and a Cluster based approach (e.g. Mango in UP, Tomato in Karnataka, Chilli in Andhra Pradesh, Orange in Maharashtra etc.) will be followed.

3. Rs 20,000 crore for fisherman through Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

The Government will launch the PMMSY for integrated, sustainable, inclusive development of marine and inland fisheries. Rs 11,000 crore for activities in Marine, Inland fisheries and Aquaculture and Rs. 9000 crore for Infrastructure - Fishing Harbours, Cold chain, Markets etc shall be provided. Cage Culture, Seaweed farming, Ornamental Fisheries as well as New Fishing Vessels, Traceability, Laboratory Network etc. will be key activities. There will be provisions of Ban Period Support to fishermen (during the period fishing is not permitted), Personal & Boat Insurance.This will lead to Additional Fish Production of 70 lakh tones over 5 years, Employment to over 55 lakh persons and double the exports to Rs 1,00,000 crore. The focus will be on Islands, Himalayan States, North-east and Aspirational Districts.

4. National Animal Disease Control Programme

National Animal Disease Control Programme for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis launched with total outlay of Rs. 13,343 crore to ensure 100% vaccination of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig population (total 53 crore animals) for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and for brucellosis. Till date, 1.5 crore cows & buffaloes tagged and vaccinated.

5. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund - Rs. 15,000 crore

An Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund of Rs. 15,000 crore will be set up, with an aim to support private investment in Dairy Processing, value addition and cattle feed infrastructure. Incentives will be given for establishing plants for export of niche products.

6. Promotion of Herbal Cultivation: Outlay of Rs. 4,000 crore

The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) has supported 2.25 lakh hectare area under cultivation of medicinal plants. 10,00,000 hectare will be covered under Herbal cultivation in next two years with outlay of Rs. 4,000 crore. This will lead to Rs. 5,000 crore income generation for farmers. There will be network of regional Mandis for Medicinal Plants. NMPB will bring 800-hectare area by developing a corridor of medicinal plants along the banks of Ganga.

7. Beekeeping initiatives – Rs 500 crore

Government will implement a scheme for:

a. Infrastructure development related to Integrated Beekeeping Development Centres, Collection, Marketing and Storage Centres, Post Harvest & value Addition facilities etc;

b. Implementation of standards & Developing traceability system c. Capacity building with thrust on women;

d. Development of quality nucleus stock and bee breeders.

This will lead to increase in income for 2 lakh beekeepers and quality honey to consumers.

8. From 'TOP' to TOTAL - Rs 500 crore

"Operation Greens" run by Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI) will be extended from tomatoes, onion and potatoes to ALL fruit and vegetables. The Scheme would provide 50% subsidy on transportation from surplus to deficient markets, 50% subsidy on storage, including cold storages and will be launched as pilot for the next 6 months and will be extended and expanded.This will lead to better price realisation to farmers , reduced wastages, affordability of products for consumers.

During the press conference, the Union Finance Minister also announced following measures for Governance and Administrative Reforms for Agriculture Sector:-

1. Amendments to Essential Commodities Act to enable better price realisation for farmers

The Government will amend Essential Commodities Act . Agriculture food stuffs including cereals, edible oils, oilseeds, pulses, onions and potato shall be deregulated. Stock limit will be imposed under very exceptional circumstances like national calamities, famine with surge in prices. Further, No such stock limit shall apply to processors or value chain participant, subject to their installed capacity or to any exporter subject to the export demand.

2. Agriculture Marketing Reforms to provide marketing choices to farmers

A Central law will be formulated to provide -

- adequate choices to the farmer to sell their produce at remunerative price;

- barrier free Inter-State Trade;

- a framework for e-trading of agriculture produce.

3. Agriculture Produce Pricing and Quality Assurance:

The Government will finalise a facilitative legal framework to enable farmers to engage with processors, aggregators, large retailers, exporters etc. in a fair and transparent manner. Risk mitigation for farmers, assured returns and quality standardisation shall form integral part of the framework.

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