Answers

• 

  jitender yadav

  Aug 7, 2024, 9:36:50 AM | Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Linkedin
  • Copy Link

  Farmers in India have been protesting against the Kisan Bills, also known as the Farm Bills, since their introduction in 2020. These bills include:

  1. The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020
  2. The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020
  3. The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020

  The primary reasons for the protests are concerns and apprehensions about the potential negative impacts of these bills on farmers' livelihoods. Here are the main points of contention:

  1. Fear of Dismantling the Minimum Support Price (MSP) System

  • MSP Concerns: Farmers fear that the bills will lead to the eventual dismantling of the MSP system, which ensures a guaranteed price for their produce. They worry that without the MSP, they will be at the mercy of large corporations and middlemen who could exploit them by offering lower prices.
  • Assurance Demands: Farmers demand a legal guarantee that MSP will continue to be enforced to protect them from price volatility and exploitation.

  2. Concerns About the APMC Mandis (Agricultural Produce Market Committee Markets)

  • APMC Bypass: The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce Bill allows farmers to sell their produce outside the APMC mandis. Farmers fear that this will lead to a decline in the significance of APMC mandis, which could eventually be phased out.
  • Market Regulation: Farmers believe that APMC mandis provide a regulated environment where they are protected from exploitation by middlemen. They fear that the new system will lack such regulation and lead to their exploitation.

  3. Potential Corporate Exploitation

  • Corporate Dominance: The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill encourages contract farming. Farmers are concerned that they might be forced into unfavorable contracts with large agribusinesses and corporations, leading to their exploitation.
  • Lack of Bargaining Power: Small and marginal farmers fear that they will have little to no bargaining power against large corporations, which could dictate terms and conditions that might not be favorable to the farmers.

  4. Changes to Essential Commodities Act

  • Stockpiling and Hoarding: The amendment to the Essential Commodities Act allows for the deregulation of food items like cereals, pulses, potatoes, onions, and edible oilseeds. Farmers fear this could lead to hoarding and artificial price fluctuations by large corporations, negatively impacting both farmers and consumers.

  5. Lack of Consultation

  • Insufficient Dialogue: Farmers have expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of consultation and dialogue with farmer organizations and stakeholders before the introduction of these bills. They feel their voices and concerns were not adequately considered in the legislative process.

  6. Legal and Structural Concerns

  • Dispute Resolution: The new bills propose a framework for dispute resolution that many farmers believe is inadequate. They fear it might not provide them with sufficient legal recourse in case of disputes with large corporations or buyers.
  • Implementation Challenges: Farmers are skeptical about the practical implementation of these bills, given the existing challenges in the agricultural sector, including infrastructure, market access, and support systems.

  Conclusion

  Farmers' protests against the Kisan Bills are driven by fears of losing the safety net provided by the MSP system, concerns about the weakening of APMC mandis, potential exploitation by large corporations, and dissatisfaction with the lack of consultation and dialogue in the legislative process. The protesters demand the repeal of these bills or significant amendments to address their concerns and ensure their protection and welfare.

  0 | 0