New Delhi: As farmers vowed to expand their protests over new farm laws, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed on Saturday that his government was committed to the well-being of farmers and that the laws were aimed at giving them alternative markets to increase income.
Without referring directly to the farmers’ turmoil, which entered its seventeenth day on Saturday, Modi said the agricultural reforms were part of the government’s efforts to remove obstacles, and that the new laws will also bring technology and investment into the sector. .
“The reforms will help attract investment in the agricultural sector and benefit farmers,” he said at the annual meeting of the industry body FICCI here. “The goal of all government reforms is to make farmers prosper.”
The new legislation, which was approved in the previous session of Parliament, gives farmers an additional option outside of designated mandi to buy or sell their crops, he said. “The idea is to help increase farmers’ income,” Modi said.
Hundreds of farmers in states such as Punjab and Haryana have blocked some of the roads leading to Delhi’s borders for more than two weeks against new farm laws that they fear will prompt the government to stop making direct purchases of crops at minimum prices. established by the state. called Minimum Support Price (MSP). They also believe that the government is pandering to large corporate groups, including those led by Ambanis and Adanis, seeking to establish themselves in the agricultural sector.
The protesting farmers have vowed to expand their protests across the country until the government removes the new farm laws. So far, the government has refused to meet their demand.
Expressing dissatisfaction with India Inc’s limited involvement in the agricultural sector, the prime minister called on industries to show interest and increase investment in the sector. Unfortunately, India Inc has not made adequate investments in agriculture and private players did not explore the sector to its full potential, instead working on a limited basis, he said.
He said that rural India is growing faster than urban centers in certain aspects of the economy and offers a privileged market for investors.
(With PTI inputs)
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