December 2, 2020 9:12:20 am
Farmers protest at the Singhu border on December 1, 2020 (Express photo: Gajendra Yadav)
Farmers have been protesting recently enacted farm laws by converging on Delhi’s highways connecting with neighboring states. The agitation is run primarily by Punjab farmers, although other groups have also joined. The Indian Express The opinion pages contain two articles where experts write about the farmers protests.
Ashok Gulati, a professor in the Infosys Chair of Agriculture at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), believes that there is a serious communication failure by the central government to explain to farmers what these laws are, and how they intend benefit them. This communication gap was taken full advantage of by some political parties and social activists, who face an existentialist threat and believe that the Narendra Modi government cannot do this country any good.
“A massive disinformation campaign was launched, saying that these laws are a sale to corporate houses, they will abolish the MSP system, dismantle the APMC mandis and even capture farmers’ lands. Nothing can be further from the truth,” writes Gulati. “Neither the laws say anything about it, nor is the MSP / APMC system going to disappear with these laws.”
Gulati discusses the various options before the government, as he considers the demands of farmers, but more than anything else, he believes that the government should close the communication gap first.
Punjab’s agricultural leaders, including two major political parties, are demanding the repeal of these laws. I do not think that this is in the best interest of the country’s peasantry, since repealing would mean recovering the controls, the raj licenses and the consequent search for rents. Remember that milk, poultry, fishing, etc. they do not go through the mandi system and their growth rates are 3 to 5 times higher than those of wheat and rice. In general, almost 90 percent of agricultural products are sold to the private sector ”. Gulati states.
Read also | Talks with the Center: When the wheat planting is finished, the farmers have free time to continue the agitation
Sukhpal Singh, a professor at IIM Ahmedabad, also believes that the government should aim to win the trust of farmers. 📣 Express Explained is now on Telegram
“The claim of MSP as a legal right is not well advised. But it is necessary to address the apprehensions of farmers about the role of mandi and the terms of acquisition under the new laws. says Singh.
“The concern about the elimination of the MSP and acquisitions stems from the laws being linked to some previous policy documents such as the Shanta Kumar Committee report and the CACP reports suggesting a reduction in acquisitions and an end to acquisitions. states such as Punjab to reduce FCI costs. It is feared that the FCI itself could start purchasing directly from the new business area to reduce purchasing costs such as market rates and arhtiya commission. It is more about the changes in the “social contract” between state farmers and the Union government that is the root cause of this apprehension. ” he explains.
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