The Bihar Legislative Assembly’s budget session faced a unique moment when JD(U) legislator Shyam Rajak raised concerns about farmers’ access to agricultural markets. Rajak, representing over 20,000 farmers from his constituency, inquired about the challenges faced by farmers in selling their produce at the Musallahpur market. He emphasized that restrictions at the market were compelling farmers to rely on middlemen, worsening their financial situation.
Bihar’s Agriculture Minister, Ram Kripal Yadav, assured the Assembly of the government’s commitment to ensuring market access and fair prices for farmers. Following the dissolution of the APMC Act in 2006, Bihar has been operating 54 agricultural market yards as free markets, with plans to develop them into model markets gradually. The government is providing digital and online marketing connectivity, cold storage, and essential infrastructure to support farmers, with ongoing development efforts in various districts.
Despite the minister’s response, Rajak expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the government’s reply was generic and did not address the specific issues faced by farmers in Phulwari Sharif and Punpun. He questioned the lack of a local market for over 20,000 registered farmers in his area, highlighting concerns about transportation costs, restricted entry, and the absence of market development plans in Hinduni. Rajak demanded clarity on whether the government intended to establish an agricultural market in Phulwari Sharif or Punpun.
In his further response, Yadav acknowledged the concerns raised by Rajak, mentioning his own representation of the area as a Member of Parliament. While noting the ongoing development of a market in Punpun, the minister explained the challenges of establishing markets everywhere due to logistical constraints. The Speaker suggested exploring the issue under a central government scheme to address the farmers’ market access concerns.
