‘Agriculture in transition, get used to imports’

When under attack by several members on wheat imports, Pawar made it clear that imports were going to a be way of life. ‘‘This is the first year when they have been able to sell to whomsoever they wanted at a good price,’’ he said.

He said agriculture was in a transition phase and reforms would take time to bear results. He was referring to the amendment to the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Act which allowed farmers to directly sell to any party without going through the mandi.

He said time had come to have a credible export and import policy for farm produce especially in the changed international scenario.