NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday allayed fears that private companies could seize farmers’ lands under a new contract farming law promulgated by the Center, while listening to success stories about the benefits of the new laws while interacting with farmers from seven states.
After releasing Rs 18 billion funds to Rs 9 million farmers under the PM-KISAN program, Modi interacted with farmers in Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Haryana.
In their interaction with the PM, the seven farmers shared their success stories and also highlighted the benefits of the recently enacted farm laws. They also shared their good experience working with private actors under contract farming agreements.
“Sitting in Arunachal Pradesh, you are sure your land is safe. But some people are spreading the myth that those who sign a contract (agreement) with a crop sales company will also lose their land. So many are being lied to. I’m glad that you’ve shared your experience, “Modi said while interacting with farmer Gagan Parin.
He also said that some politicians, by their own agenda, are spreading lies that the laws will affect farmers.
Parin told the prime minister that a recently established agricultural producer organization (FPO) with 446 organic producers has started marketing their products in Bengaluru and Delhi. Recently, the FPO partnered with a private company for the supply of organic ginger.
When the prime minister asked if private companies had reached an agreement for land or cultivation, Parin said: “We have entered into an agreement for finished products and not for land.”
Parin also said that he has received 6,000 rupees as part of the PM-KISAN scheme and used that money to buy fertilizers and cover labor costs.
Further sharing the benefits of the new agricultural laws, another farmer Manoj Patekar from the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh informed the prime minister that the new laws have given farmers options to sell their products.
“Due to the new laws, we got new opportunities. Before, there was only one mandi, now we can sell to private players. This year, I sold 85 quintals of the kharif soybean crop to ITC e-choupal at 4,800 rupees per quintal.” he said.
On e-choupal, Patekar said that he received the product fees one day before and the quality of his product was checked in front of him and the payment was made immediately.
“I’m happy that through the new farm laws, we have other options to sell our products,” he said, adding that many of his fellow farmers are also taking advantage of direct marketing.
When asked by the prime minister if he had faith that farmers would benefit from the new system, Patekar replied in the affirmative.
Patekar, who said he owns six acres of land, told the prime minister that he had received a 10,000 rupee benefit from the PM-KISAN scheme. He also asked the Prime Minister to address the stray cattle threat.
At his request, the prime minister said: “Those who are sitting on behalf of the farmers in the protests and have similar lines of thought on behalf of the environment calling for those who kill animals to be sent to jail. They are organizing a protest there, a protest here in the name of politics. We need to find a solution for this. In many parts of the country, there are such problems. ”
Sharing his experience with the prime minister, farmer Ram Gulab from Maharajganj district in Uttar Pradesh said that a newly established FPO with 300 farmers has signed an agreement for the sale of sweet potatoes with an Ahmedabad-based company.
“Before, farmers used to sell sweet potatoes at 10-15 rupees per kg, but now we have come to an agreement for 25 rupees per kg. They will take the produce from the field. We do not have to bear the transportation costs or face middlemen. “, said.
When Modi asked him if he feared losing land (after signing an agreement), Gulab replied, “No sir. Our land will not go away.” He also said that the new laws will be beneficial to farmers.
Modi said: “Lies are being spread. When people like you speak, there will be confidence in others that no one will lose land, only crops will be sold …”
The Farmers’ Agreement (Empowerment and Protection) on Price Guarantee and Agricultural Services Act of 2020 is one of the three laws against which farmers, especially those of PunjabThey are protesting on the borders of Delhi for almost a month.
In clearing the apprehension about contract farming, Modi previously said there was a penalty for farmers for violating a contract. The new law ensures that no sanctions are imposed on farmers.
“We are receiving reports of how farmers are benefiting from the laws. The government supports farmers at every step. The government has established strong legal support to help farmers,” he said.
When someone comes to an agreement with a farmer, that person will provide agricultural inputs and services to farmers to get good products. In case the crop is damaged, even those who have reached an agreement have to give the rate at which it was signed to a farmer, Modi said.
“He (private party) cannot terminate an agreement at his will. On the other hand, if a farmer wants to terminate an agreement, he can do so. Isn’t this in favor of the farmers?” asked the prime minister.
Also, Modi said, in case the harvest is good and the market rates are higher than the agreed price, then a farmer will need to receive the agreed rate and also a bonus on top of that.
“Before, all risk was in the farmers and the profitability used to be for others. Now, all risk will be borne by a company that enters into (an agreement) and the profitability will be for the farmers,” he added.
Share the benefits of other agricultural plans, farmers M Subramani from the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu spoke about how he was able to address the water problem on four acres of land using drip irrigation.
“Before, there was only water to grow one acre. Now, I get water for the remaining three acres with drip irrigation. Before, I was making 40,000 rupees, now I get 1.40 lakh rupees,” he said.
Another farmer from Odisha (Naupada district), Naveen Thakur, said that he received 10,000 rupees under the PM-KISAN scheme and also obtained the benefit of a 4% lower interest crop loan via Kisan credit card .
On the benefits of crop diversification, farmer Hari Singh Bishnoi from Haryana-based Fatehabad District said he has diversified to horticultural crops on 10 acres of land, planting lemon on three acres of land and guava on seven acres of land.
“We sell mandis abroad. We are receiving more money,” he added.
Taking advantage of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), farmer Ganesh Rajan Bhosle from Maharashtra from Latur The district said it paid a premium of Rs 2,580 and took out crop insurance in 2019. It received a claim for Rs 54,314 for damage to its soybean crop due to excessive rains last year.
He also informed the prime minister that his fellow farmers are also associated with this plan. “This is a good plan and all farmers are benefiting.”
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