Industry body FICCI said Thursday that it is happy to note that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to the 'Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of National Agricultural Market through Agri-Tech Infrastructure Fund' (ATIF) and the new scheme 'Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana' (PMKSY). Both the announcements are extremely timely and were much needed.

Jyotsna Suri, president, FICCI stated that ''FICCI has been advocating reforms in the APMC for a long time and towards a movement away from regulated markets. Promotion of National Agricultural Market through Agri-Tech Infrastructure Fund (ATIF) is therefore a step in the right direction as it will step up reforms in the agricultural marketing sector. Unifying the national market through e-platform will give higher transparency and better market access at better prices for farmers. Indian agrarian community surely stands to gain benefits.''

On the 'Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yoiana' Suri added further, ''With nearly 50% of Indian agriculture being rain fed, substantial investments in irrigation was the need of the hour, which this scheme seeks to address. The best part of the scheme is its decentralized nature that will provide States with flexibility in designing the implementation. This scheme perfectly is in line with the Hon'ble Prime Minister's vision of more crop per drop. FICCI welcomes the two announcements.''