Knowing all about the Farmer’s Bill
The Farmer’s bill was passed on 27th of September with a nod from the President that gave way to the three agricultural bills in contention that was earlier on sanctioned by the Parliament. The opposition as well as a former ally of the ruling party, the Shiromani Akali Dal voiced out against the bills stating them to be “Anti-Farmer”.
This led to widespread protests and agitation movements related to the reforms in regards to the Trade and Commerce of a Farmers Produce i.e. the Promotion and Facilitation Act. This was also the true case for the Empowerment and Protection Act that relates to the agreements of the farmers for a price assurance all in accordance of the Farm Services Act as well as the Amendment Act for Essential Commodities. This paved way for the farmers to join a mass protest and Delhi was under siege as the ruling party is still trying to decipher to reach a solution rather amicably.
The turmoil started when the bills were converted to laws. However, a word from Narendra Singh Tomar, the Agriculture Minister has given an assurance for the mechanism of Minimum Support Price that will be staying on for a longer term along with protection for ownership of land, which will be provided adequately keeping the farmer’s interests as concern.
Why the reforms are initiated in the first place?
These reforms as entailed by the government is for acceleration of growth in the agricultural sector through investments for building of infrastructure and as well as supply chains for procurement of farm produce in both markets nationally and globally. The intention is solely helping out the small-scale farmers who do not have the means as such to market their produce or get a better share through negotiations or bargains thereby which could help them further to make investments in technology improvising the farm and its productivity.
The Agri market bill sets allowance of sale of farmer’s produce outside of the mandi’s governed by APMC to whosoever they chose to, thereby seething a rise in competition and cost cutting techniques. However, the feud seems to arise due to states losing out on commissions and fees they collect through mandis. The contract farming legislations would allow the farmers of getting into contracts with big time agricultural business firms and even retailers to sell produce on pre-agreed pricing. The amendment bill of 2020 for essential commodities focuses on removal of cereals, oilseeds to pulses, edible oils as well as onions and potatoes from the list of essential commodities to put an end to stock holding.
A question still prevails on the could be and the could not’s of how effective the agricultural bills will be after implementation and if the dialogues as necessitated would see any amendments. All we can do is hope & wait while letting the protests cool off and giving the farmer’s their actual due for putting food on our plates ever since.
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News Source: The Economic Times
Update by Tithi Banerjee