- The farm bills passed in the last parliament session have all the ingredients to usher in much-needed reforms in the crucial agriculture sector allowing the farming community multiple options to not only sell their yields judiciously but also at an extremely competitive price bypassing the bogey of middlemen and cartels. Mostly agitating farmers are from the northwest region of the country, read as Punjab Rajasthan, and Haryana, who appear to be gravely concerned with the minimum support price (MSP) missing out from the move.
PC: vajiramias
- On its part, the Union Government has asserted in no uncertain terms that the MSP shall continue to be operational and there is no proposal on the table to repeal the same in the present day or the foreseeable future. Despite the assurances, the agitating farmers have continued to block Delhi for the sixth day in a row. There have been incidents of small skirmishes with the law enforcing agencies, where the barricades erected, were removed leading to water cannons being used to stop the farmers from marching ahead.
- Looked at any angle, there is a definite trust deficit between the Centre and the farmers’ representatives on the crucial issue of MSP that requires deft handling of the situation by initiating talks without sounding intransigent, especially the Union Government. The onus is on the Government to traverse that extra mile in assuaging the misconceptions prevalent surrounding the farm bills by sitting across the table and holding discussions unconditionally. Reports emerging suggest the Government has indeed offered to hold talks without any preconditions which are accepted by the agitating farmers. The first round of talks is inconclusive and more talks are in the offing.
PC: YOGESH SINGH
- There is no denying the fact that Indian agriculture faces an increase in risks, both from extreme climatic conditions as well as sharp price fluctuations and thus, MSP is a catchword for income stability for the farming community. Note that of the 22 crops where MSP is mandated, it works in merely two, paddy and wheat, respectively procuring about 36% production under MSP. As it is geographically concentrated, less than 12% of paddy growers benefit from MSP, and its concentration in Punjab has led to severe collateral damages. Fast depleting groundwater table and misuse of power subsidies, for example.
- There exist anxieties amongst the farmers and the Union Government should come out with some concrete proposals to allay the same. Transparent and open discussions about the benefits accruing with the implementation of farm laws should pave way for a way out from the logjam. Needless to mention, the law and order cannot be allowed to be dictated by the agitators intending to blockade entry routes to Delhi. Don’t forget that the pandemic is raging in those parts and finding an amicable solution under these trying circumstances should be the priority.
