Will Modi govt's three rushed ordinances benefit farmers?

While agriculture and farmers welfare minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that the landmark decisions will benefit farmers and transform the agricultural sector, none of the farmers' or myriad farmers' organisations, unions, coalitions have welcomed or even supported the Narendra Modi government's three laws on agriculture.

New Delhi:The Narendra Modi-led central government recently passed out three historic ordinances for the agriculture sector, a move aimed at transforming the farm sector and help raise farmers' income.

However, the farmers' unions and experts speculate that the recent development will only benefit private companies, leaving the farmers dejected once again.

While agriculture and farmers welfare minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that the landmark decisions will benefit farmers and transform agricultural sector, none of the farmers' or myraid farmers' organisations, unions, coalitions have welcomed or even supported the Narendra Modi government's three laws on agriculture.

On June 5, Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved 'The Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020'. The ordinance brings several APMC (Agricultural Produce and Marketing Committee) reforms paving way for One India, One Agriculture Market or in easy terms ‘One Nation-One Market’. Before this, there were restrictions for farmers selling agri-produce outside the notified APMC market yards or their districts.

The reform package combines three laws, all introduced through ordinance route. First, the government has amended the Essential Commodities Act too remove the existing restrictions on stocking food produce. Second, it has introduced a new law 'Agricultural and Trade Commerce Act (Promotion and Facilitation) 2020 and third one, is the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection Act) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance- 2020.

According to government, the three laws will benefit farmers as they will get the independence, they have longing for to sell their produce. But even after the ordinances have become law, no prominent farmers' organisations have supported the decision.

International Agriculture and Food Council President M J Khan told ETV Bharat, that the government should have interacted with farmers before enacting the law, as there is a communication gap between the two and the latter unable to understand the development.

It is being opined the laws will benefit private companies and not the farmers, defeating the sole purpose of it.

On June 13, prominent leaders of agricultural sector who were part of the online discussion organised by Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh (RKM) organised on ' One Nation- One Market' claimed that big agricultural reforms has left in farmers in a state of confusion and fear.

Echoing similar views, RKM convenor-Dr. Rajaram Tripathi said that these laws will eventually benefit private companies and urged various farmers' organisation to come forward to oppose the laws.

Tripathi also alleged that the ordinances were passed in hurry due to COVID-19 crisis and government held no discussion with farmers' unions or associations.

Although, Indian Farmers' society president Krishnabir Chaudhary, welcomed the decision but simultaneously, pointed out that government needs to clarify the terms and conditions laid down in the laws to the farmers' and put forward several suggestions before the government.

However, with regards to price assurance for farmers, there is a need for an assured demand for consumption, he added.

Condemning the latest amendments made by the government to empower farmers' and farm sector, the Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Parishad pronounced that they will continue to protest against the move.

However, it yet to be ascertained how will the government react to the outrage, followed by the amendments and what steps it takes to contain their anger.