- The point of this article is to explain why India’s farmers need not fear the new laws and instead adapt to changes.
- While taking the control away from these agents, the government must also ensure that the gap is filled with foolproof mechanisms to ensure timely payments to farmers to avoid any cash crunch.
- The truth is that every government in power in the last couple of decades has wanted to free up India’s agricultural market and the parties in opposition have protested against it.
The point of this article is to explain why India’s farmers need not fear the new laws and instead adapt to the changes. However, just passing these laws won’t be enough. The success of liberalising the farm market will hinge on effective implementation, constant monitoring and timely action.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got two bills — the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020— that aim to liberalise the farm sector passed in the Parliament.
However, this has led to a political slugfest amidst a raging pandemic and debilitating economic slowdown. Members of Parliament from opposition parties and state governments, particularly those ruled by the rivals of the BJP, are looking to stoke hysteric protests citing farmers as their cause.
“I want to assure farmers that the minimum support price (MSP) and APMC (Agricultural Produce & Livestock Market Committee) will continue. These will never be removed at any cost,” Union Minister Rajnath Singh said.
The truth is that every government in power in the last couple of decades has wanted to free up India’s agricultural market and the parties in opposition have protested against it.
Here’s a look at the myths that have triggered the latest protests and the arguments against them.