MSP: During a meeting in Chandigarh on Sunday, the government talked with Punjab farmers about growing different crops. They agreed on a five-year plan where the government will buy their crops through agencies like NAFED and CCI.
Crop diversification has been a big issue in Punjab, causing problems for farmers. To tackle this, the government suggested growing crops like pulses, cotton, and maize. This could lower the need for imports and save water in the state.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, along with Union Ministers Nityanand Rai and Arjun Munda, met with farmers in Chandigarh for the fourth round of talks. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also participated in the discussion
The protesting farmers have requested the government to give them until February 20 to discuss the proposal with other groups. However, the crucial demand for a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) is still unresolved.
The meeting aimed to address the concerns raised by the farmers and find common ground on various issues. Despite ongoing discussions, certain key demands, such as MSP assurances, remain outstanding. This farmers have emphasized the importance of ensuring fair prices for their produces and securing their livelihoods.
Five Year Proposal of the Government
The government has proposed a five-year plan to address agricultural concerns. Under this plan:
- The National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Foundation of India Ltd will enter contracts with farmers growing tur, urad, masoor dal, or maize. They will buy these crops for the next five years, without any limits on the quantity purchased.
- Encouraging farmers to grow arhar or tur dal under MSP aims to reduce imports, conserve water in Punjab, and provide pulses at subsidized prices to consumers.
- The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) will purchase cotton crops at MSP. Farmers have also urged for cotton and maize to be included under MSP.
These measures aim to support farmers, promote crop diversification, and ensure fair prices for their produce.
Sarvan Singh Pandher, the coordinator of Kisan Mazdoor Manch (KMM), suggested that the government should increase the minimum support price (MSP) to at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commitee.
According to sources, various methods for calculating production costs were discussed during the meeting. The Commission of Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) provides three definitions of production costs: A2, A2+FL, and C2. A2 includes all expenses incurred by farmers, such as seeds, fertilizers, labor, fuel, and irrigation. A2+FL covers actual expenses plus the imputed value of unpaid family labor. C2 incorporates rentals, forgone interest on owned land, and fixed capital assets on top of A2+FL.
During the discussions, union leaders paid tribute to two farmers who recently passed away. Gyan Singh, aged 78, suffered a heart attack while protesting at the Shambhu border on Friday. Additionally, Manjit Singh, the unit president of BKU (Krantikari), passed away after falling at a hospital in Patiala on Sunday evening.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Mann expressed support for crop diversification and raised concerns about the suspension of interest services in specific areas like Patiala, Sangruru, and Fatehgarh Sahib.
Currently, around 20,000 farmers are protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. The Haryana Police is managing their movement and has reportedly used tear gas shells and rubber bullets.
Chief Minister Mann’s advocacy for crop diversification suggests a focus on promoting alternative crops to improve agricultural sustainability. Additionally, his concerns about internet suspension highlight the impact on communication and access to information for residents in affected areas.
The ongoing protests at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders underscore the tensions between farmers and authorities, as demonstrated by the police response using tear gas and rubber bullets. This situation reflects the ongoing challenges and disagreements surrounding agricultural reforms and farmers demands.
A top-level meeting of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha is scheduled to take place in Delhi on February 22. SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal informed the news agency PTI about this meeting, which aims to plan future demands and actions.
Farmers Protest
Farmer leaders have announced a pause to the Delhi Chalo march as they review the government’s new plan for minimum support prices (MSP) on crops. If unresolved issues persist, the march may resume on February 21. The decision came after Union Ministers held talks with farmer representatives regarding their demands, including legal guarantees for MSP and other concerns.
The farmers, primarily from Punjab and Haryana, have been stationed at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders since February 13, following the police halting of the Delhi Chalo protest. Their demands, presented by non-political groups like the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, include MSP assurances. The government’s proposal suggests that cooperative societies like NCCF and NAFED will purchase pulses, maize, and cotton at MSP for five years under contract agreements.
While farmer leaders will discuss the proposal in upcoming forums on February 19-20, unresolved matters such as loan waivers and other demands remain. General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsg Committee, Sarwan Singh Pandher, stated that if talks fail to yield results, they will request the government to allow a peaceful march to Delhi. Other demands encompass recommendations from the Swaminathan Commission, pension for farmers, debt waivers, and justice for victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, among others.
Also Read: Bharat Bandh: Nationwide Farmers Protest. What Services Will Be Impacted?
