The new Farm Acts introduced by the Indian government in September 2020 aim to bring about major changes in the agricultural sector in the country. Here are some ways in which the new laws can benefit the farming community:

• The new laws aim to provide farmers with better price realisation for their produce, by enabling them to sell their produce directly to buyers outside the Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs).
• By relaxing restrictions on the sale and storage of agri-produce, the new laws are expected to attract private investment in the sector, leading to the creation of infrastructure such as cold storage facilities, warehouses, and processing units.
• The new laws have provisions for contract farming, which can help farmers access better technology, inputs, and markets, leading to higher productivity and income.
• By allowing farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country, the new laws open up new markets for small and marginal farmers, who have limited market access at present.
• The new laws aim to reduce the role of middlemen in the agri-marketing system, which can help farmers get better prices and reduce their dependence on intermediaries.

However, there are also concerns that the new laws could lead to the dismantling of the APMC system, which may lead to price volatility, lack of regulation, and exploitation of farmers by big companies.