BJP, the main party in the ruling coalition, seems to be following a two-pronged strategy to deal with farmer protests, which have been on since the laws were passed in September.
Home Minister Amit Shah has already said the Centre will hold discussions with the farmers as soon as they move to the designated place in Burari ground in Delhi.
The Home Minister reiterated that the new farm laws are meant for the welfare of farmers and the farmer is finally going to come out of a locked system.
Photo is being circulated with captions suggesting woman was hired by Congress to ‘act’ as victim’s sister-in-law in Hathras, and now as a protesting farmer.
Petrol & diesel prices have barely changed since June 2022, even though oil prices have fallen 28% since then. This has boosted profitability of OMCs and dividend payouts to govt.
ThePrint had reported earlier this month that while theaterisation is the ultimate goal, set to be rolled out one year from now, the focus is on structured jointness initiatives by 2024-end.
Discussion about outcome of Lok Sabha polls continues to boil in cauldron of expectations only from BJP. Now reverse this equation, what if we asked about the performance of the 'loser'?
This is an INDIRECT ATTACK by the Opposition parties against the central Govt. through Farmers.
Educated among the Farming Community should explain about the Three Bills and their Implications to the Farmers.
Those Farmers who enter into Contracts with the Corporates should ensure for themselves that the Price Fixed for the Produce does not fall below the MSP which would be ensured to all the sale made through Marketting Committees as has been assured by the Govt.
As far as known, Farmers did not protest for doing away with the subsidies for Agriculture loans last year, which is worth fighting. But, for that they did not Protest. Not known why.
Is it because the Opposition Parties are not Aware of this?
You need to pay attention to the youtube video launched by your channel itself, by Shekhar Gupta, Cut the Clutter, episode no. 633. Would be helpful in clearing your mind, as any other channel or media may seem unbiased to you.
Good day
Jai Hind
Farmers have genuine concerns. By claiming the people are misguiding farmer, we are undermining their intelligence. Let’s look at the law one by one to make an assessment.
The first one says that farmer can sell their produce anywhere. It will give access to open market. To understand it’s impact better first we need to understand and purpose and importance of APMC. APMC managed by government and at present Government has 23 items under MSP but make purchase only wheat and rice through these APMC centers. FCI procured less than one-third of farmer produce in the last 16 years. The remaining 2/3rd is anyway sold in open market where farmers are exploited. In Punjab APMC are easily accessible so farmers can sell easily. In some of the places the APMC’s are so far away that for a small farmer it doesn’t make economic sense to transport. We are anyway in open market as far as crops other than wheat and rice is concerned. For wheat and rice around 2/3rd of it is sold in open market.
The second one is about storage. Rabi and kharif crops are seasonal crops. There will be glut when the season harvest approaches. The private player will have too many options to demand lower price. The corporates will only make purchase when it is cheap. Now with additional authority to hoard and store, they will have very high control on when to purchase. Farmers especially the small one will not have any way to store these for long. They also need money to harvest for the next season. This will further increase the exploitation.
The third one is about contract farming. These most likely will be done through intermediaries. The corporates will have contract with these intermediaries which in turn will make contract with farmers. The corporates will have clause with intermediaries in their favour. They can cancel the contract anytime. These intermediaries will go out of business anytime. The poor farmer will struggle to sell his produce. He will have little chance and stamina to recover any money from these intermediaries.
The problem is we are thinking it purely from economic point of view. We are looking at supply and demand curve. Food like air and water are essential for life. We have to be extremely prudent with our policies around these. To give an extreme analogy from economic angle, we can say let’s allow pollution to increase if it make economic sense. It will automatically reach steady state when the cost incurred in maintaining health will match the economic advantage.
Hmm. I agree with you on principle that some concerns need to be allayed. That doesn’t mean that these laws are bad and must be repealed. Let’s take the three points you raised.
For the first one, think of it for a moment, if indeed 2/3 of harvest is sold outside the mandi’s anyways, then what will th e APMC reforms act change? Why the opposition to it? I’m fact you are confusing grains brought by private players with grains sold outside mandi’s. Now I’m all parts of the country, grains can still be bought by private buyers but in mandi’s where the whole sale is rigged and middlemen take most of the cut, I have seen this with my own eyes!
For the second one, most agricultural products suffer from the same issue. Milk is a particular example. How is that solved? Through storage, milk is stored as milk powder when there is a glut and released when there is a shortage through which prices can be maintained. The hope is the private players would invest in storage now that storage restrictions on essential commodities act is removed and this would solve the problem of agricultural crisis at harvest.
For the third one, contract farming is already done in poultry, fisheries, etc. The farmers doing that seem to be doing very good, so why do you think the farmer who tills the field is incapable of handling contracts while their herding counterparts are successful?
To restate my position that there are some vulnerabilities that farmers might have in a free market, the answer to that is not shut down all free trade, but to have good regulation and redressed mechanisms. so the three laws must stay! Take my suggestions with a pinch of salt since I am not an expert at this but, something like a TRAI which regulates farm produce might be good with special tribunal which provide legal remedy in a timely and unbiased manner.
Excerpts from a report of the Working Group on consumer Affair, headed by the Gurajrat Chief minister Narendra Modi in 2011.
Advance declaration of MSP: Until markets become sufficiently competitive, there is a case for intervention by the government. In order to achieve self sufficiency in food production, Government ofIndia may continue the policy of declaring minimum support price (MSP) of various crops well before the start of sowing season. Further, MSP could be linked to inflation and farmers can get some idea as to how much revision would occur in the MSP. Moreover, MSP so announced should be reviewed where necessary. This will help in encouraging farmers to produce crops such as oilseeds and pulses where India has become a net importer.
Enforce MSP: Since intermediaries play a vital role in the functioning of the market and at times they have advance contract with farmers. In respect of all essential commodities, we should protect farmer’s interests by mandating through statutory provisions that no farmer – trader transaction should be below MSP, wherever prescribed.
Please note:
“we should protect farmer’s interests by mandating through statutory provisions that no farmer – trader transaction should be below MSP, wherever prescribed. “
I think that the main problem is the trust deficit that the farmers have in the central government.
Even in the case of the CAA, there was no problem with the Act itself. People were worried about its linkage with the proposed National Register of Citizens and the process of getting one’s name included in the NRC. With almost a million of residents of Assam, left out of the list, people were worried. That in probability lead to the confusion, rumors and agitation. Statements made by senior leaders of the Govt also did not help the situation.
The Central government should have learnt their lessons from that fiasco.
Government had enough time to discuss the provisions of the amended Acts related to the farmers with all the stake holders, before it was pushed through the Parliament. The Bills in their draft stage could have been placed in the public domain and feedback sought. Ground level meetings could have been held to address the misgivings. The method of “Shock and Awe” does not work every time.
Personally, other than the ambiguity about MSP, I am of the opinion that the new laws will prove beneficial to the farmers in the long run.
Farmers and the traders have a very long standing relationship. As was reported in the case of apple growers from the Kashmir valley, wholesale fruit traders give advance payment to the farmers for their produce. This kind of relationship is difficult to break.
“Management of Change” is the most difficult challenge faced by any leader or manager. The political leadership and their babus should have understood this.
I sincerely hope that the concerned parties climb down from their declared positions and reach a nationally beneficial understanding.
Kudos to you, Mr. VK Narayanan, for such a balanced comment. I would like to compliment Modi for effecting changes which most Governments have shied away from.
It appears that the “protesters” are middle-men who stand to lose the most, muscle-men & hired thugs of the Congress.
No sensible “farmer” would protest against laws meant for his/her benefit.
There is no doubt that the centre govt intentions to usher in these long overdue reforms are for the Kisaans betterment. Still Punjab farmers have serious apprehensions about their end outcome in the long run.
View farmers March to Delhi lock, stock and barrel the Govt has showed it’s seriousness to resolve the issue by inviting farmers to the
table even before the 3rd Dec. Good to learn the Amrinder Singh’s appeal to Kisaans to grab the HM offer without further delay. SAD and AAP too should make their positive contribution by avoiding petty politics so that Kisaans sit with govt to have their grievances sorted out then return home.
This is surely in the best interest of kisaans and the country!
Jai Kisaan, Jai India !
PRIME MINISTER HAS MIS READ THE FARMERS TOTALLY.HIS AUTHOTARIAN COMMAND ….DICTATORIAL ATTITUDE MAY COST HIM HEAVILY. BJP HAS IGNITED THE FIRE AND THAT WILL BLOWN BADLY NOW !!
This is an INDIRECT ATTACK by the Opposition parties against the central Govt. through Farmers.
Educated among the Farming Community should explain about the Three Bills and their Implications to the Farmers.
Those Farmers who enter into Contracts with the Corporates should ensure for themselves that the Price Fixed for the Produce does not fall below the MSP which would be ensured to all the sale made through Marketting Committees as has been assured by the Govt.
As far as known, Farmers did not protest for doing away with the subsidies for Agriculture loans last year, which is worth fighting. But, for that they did not Protest. Not known why.
Is it because the Opposition Parties are not Aware of this?
Comments are awaited.
Watch the video, Cut the Clutter, episode 633 in youtube. Will be helpful, and show the hypocrisy.
Good day
Jai Hind
You need to pay attention to the youtube video launched by your channel itself, by Shekhar Gupta, Cut the Clutter, episode no. 633. Would be helpful in clearing your mind, as any other channel or media may seem unbiased to you.
Good day
Jai Hind
Farmers have genuine concerns. By claiming the people are misguiding farmer, we are undermining their intelligence. Let’s look at the law one by one to make an assessment.
The first one says that farmer can sell their produce anywhere. It will give access to open market. To understand it’s impact better first we need to understand and purpose and importance of APMC. APMC managed by government and at present Government has 23 items under MSP but make purchase only wheat and rice through these APMC centers. FCI procured less than one-third of farmer produce in the last 16 years. The remaining 2/3rd is anyway sold in open market where farmers are exploited. In Punjab APMC are easily accessible so farmers can sell easily. In some of the places the APMC’s are so far away that for a small farmer it doesn’t make economic sense to transport. We are anyway in open market as far as crops other than wheat and rice is concerned. For wheat and rice around 2/3rd of it is sold in open market.
The second one is about storage. Rabi and kharif crops are seasonal crops. There will be glut when the season harvest approaches. The private player will have too many options to demand lower price. The corporates will only make purchase when it is cheap. Now with additional authority to hoard and store, they will have very high control on when to purchase. Farmers especially the small one will not have any way to store these for long. They also need money to harvest for the next season. This will further increase the exploitation.
The third one is about contract farming. These most likely will be done through intermediaries. The corporates will have contract with these intermediaries which in turn will make contract with farmers. The corporates will have clause with intermediaries in their favour. They can cancel the contract anytime. These intermediaries will go out of business anytime. The poor farmer will struggle to sell his produce. He will have little chance and stamina to recover any money from these intermediaries.
The problem is we are thinking it purely from economic point of view. We are looking at supply and demand curve. Food like air and water are essential for life. We have to be extremely prudent with our policies around these. To give an extreme analogy from economic angle, we can say let’s allow pollution to increase if it make economic sense. It will automatically reach steady state when the cost incurred in maintaining health will match the economic advantage.
Hmm. I agree with you on principle that some concerns need to be allayed. That doesn’t mean that these laws are bad and must be repealed. Let’s take the three points you raised.
For the first one, think of it for a moment, if indeed 2/3 of harvest is sold outside the mandi’s anyways, then what will th e APMC reforms act change? Why the opposition to it? I’m fact you are confusing grains brought by private players with grains sold outside mandi’s. Now I’m all parts of the country, grains can still be bought by private buyers but in mandi’s where the whole sale is rigged and middlemen take most of the cut, I have seen this with my own eyes!
For the second one, most agricultural products suffer from the same issue. Milk is a particular example. How is that solved? Through storage, milk is stored as milk powder when there is a glut and released when there is a shortage through which prices can be maintained. The hope is the private players would invest in storage now that storage restrictions on essential commodities act is removed and this would solve the problem of agricultural crisis at harvest.
For the third one, contract farming is already done in poultry, fisheries, etc. The farmers doing that seem to be doing very good, so why do you think the farmer who tills the field is incapable of handling contracts while their herding counterparts are successful?
To restate my position that there are some vulnerabilities that farmers might have in a free market, the answer to that is not shut down all free trade, but to have good regulation and redressed mechanisms. so the three laws must stay! Take my suggestions with a pinch of salt since I am not an expert at this but, something like a TRAI which regulates farm produce might be good with special tribunal which provide legal remedy in a timely and unbiased manner.
Excerpts from a report of the Working Group on consumer Affair, headed by the Gurajrat Chief minister Narendra Modi in 2011.
Advance declaration of MSP: Until markets become sufficiently competitive, there is a case for intervention by the government. In order to achieve self sufficiency in food production, Government ofIndia may continue the policy of declaring minimum support price (MSP) of various crops well before the start of sowing season. Further, MSP could be linked to inflation and farmers can get some idea as to how much revision would occur in the MSP. Moreover, MSP so announced should be reviewed where necessary. This will help in encouraging farmers to produce crops such as oilseeds and pulses where India has become a net importer.
Enforce MSP: Since intermediaries play a vital role in the functioning of the market and at times they have advance contract with farmers. In respect of all essential commodities, we should protect farmer’s interests by mandating through statutory provisions that no farmer – trader transaction should be below MSP, wherever prescribed.
Please note:
“we should protect farmer’s interests by mandating through statutory provisions that no farmer – trader transaction should be below MSP, wherever prescribed. “
I think that the main problem is the trust deficit that the farmers have in the central government.
Even in the case of the CAA, there was no problem with the Act itself. People were worried about its linkage with the proposed National Register of Citizens and the process of getting one’s name included in the NRC. With almost a million of residents of Assam, left out of the list, people were worried. That in probability lead to the confusion, rumors and agitation. Statements made by senior leaders of the Govt also did not help the situation.
The Central government should have learnt their lessons from that fiasco.
Government had enough time to discuss the provisions of the amended Acts related to the farmers with all the stake holders, before it was pushed through the Parliament. The Bills in their draft stage could have been placed in the public domain and feedback sought. Ground level meetings could have been held to address the misgivings. The method of “Shock and Awe” does not work every time.
Personally, other than the ambiguity about MSP, I am of the opinion that the new laws will prove beneficial to the farmers in the long run.
Farmers and the traders have a very long standing relationship. As was reported in the case of apple growers from the Kashmir valley, wholesale fruit traders give advance payment to the farmers for their produce. This kind of relationship is difficult to break.
“Management of Change” is the most difficult challenge faced by any leader or manager. The political leadership and their babus should have understood this.
I sincerely hope that the concerned parties climb down from their declared positions and reach a nationally beneficial understanding.
Kudos to you, Mr. VK Narayanan, for such a balanced comment. I would like to compliment Modi for effecting changes which most Governments have shied away from.
It appears that the “protesters” are middle-men who stand to lose the most, muscle-men & hired thugs of the Congress.
No sensible “farmer” would protest against laws meant for his/her benefit.
The government can form a committee to see if their concerns are genuine or not, without hurting the prospects of non Punjab states.
There is no doubt that the centre govt intentions to usher in these long overdue reforms are for the Kisaans betterment. Still Punjab farmers have serious apprehensions about their end outcome in the long run.
View farmers March to Delhi lock, stock and barrel the Govt has showed it’s seriousness to resolve the issue by inviting farmers to the
table even before the 3rd Dec. Good to learn the Amrinder Singh’s appeal to Kisaans to grab the HM offer without further delay. SAD and AAP too should make their positive contribution by avoiding petty politics so that Kisaans sit with govt to have their grievances sorted out then return home.
This is surely in the best interest of kisaans and the country!
Jai Kisaan, Jai India !
PRIME MINISTER HAS MIS READ THE FARMERS TOTALLY.HIS AUTHOTARIAN COMMAND ….DICTATORIAL ATTITUDE MAY COST HIM HEAVILY. BJP HAS IGNITED THE FIRE AND THAT WILL BLOWN BADLY NOW !!
Saw Rajasthan Panchayati election results?Now stay in Ur dreams libtards