Table of Contents

Expert Speak

The farmer’s freedom to sell Ashok Gulati ...... 1

Challenges to farm bills harken to socialist era, attempt to undo agriculture’s 1991 moment Ashok Gulati ...... 4

We need laws that give farmers more space to sell their produce — new farm laws fit this bill Ashok Gulati ...... 7 Punjab needs a package to help it diversify output, overcome MSP trap Ashok Gulati ...... 10

Protesting farmers are arguing for the perpetuation of colonial rule Surjit Bhalla ...... 13

An intellectual biography of India’s new farm laws Gautam Chikermane ...... 17

Farmer interests are missing in farm protest politics Gautam Chikermane ...... 41

Agriculture reforms: ignore political rhetoric, embrace prosperity economics Gautam Chikermane ...... 45

The APMC conundrum: Rolling back this reform will encourage vested interests to strike down all reform Arvind Panagariya ...... 50

Corporates can help expand market rather than driving out mandis Arvind Panagariya ...... 53

Farm Bills Are Latest In The Sequential Liberalisation Of Agricultural Sector TV Mohandas Pai and Nisha Holla ...... 56 APMC laws had shackled farmers, Modi govt’s ordinance makes them as free as other sectors Ila Patnaik and Shubho Roy ...... 59

Farmers Protest: Why Congress was right in 2019, and is wrong in 2020 Gaurav Choudhury ...... 63

Agriculture Reforms: There’s no wrong time to do the right thing Anand Kochukudy ...... 68

Informative Articles

Farm Laws 2020: Correcting a Historical Wrong Organiser ...... 72

Who Is Anti-farmer? Those Who Brought Farm Bills or Those Who Are Opposing the Bills? The True Picture ...... 85

Farmers’ protest is ‘about politics, not economics’, India’s IMF executive director Surjit Bhalla tells CNN-News18 89 Firstpost ......

Maharashtra: FPCs in 4 districts make over Rs 10 crore in out-of-mandi trade since new farm laws 91 Indian Express ......

How new farm laws can benefit growers in a friendly market India Today Bureau ...... 93

Farmers’ unions should consider Govt proposal; we are ready for further talks, says Tomar PTI, CNBC TV18 ...... 97

Farmers’ Group in Support of New Laws Meets Agri Minister Tomar, Threatens to Protest if Repealed News18 ...... 100

Farm Bills will give India’s farmers more economic freedom Money Control ...... 102

Note To Eminent Intellectuals: Tortured Arguments Are Not A Substitute For Economics 101 Swarajya ...... 105

Opposition’s support to farmers’ protest flies in the face of having previously backed similar reforms Firstpost ...... 110 fo’ks”kK dh jk; foi{kh nyksa ds Hkzetky esa Qalus ds ctk; fdlku [ksrh dks ykHknk;d cukus dh eqfge esa ih,e eksnh dk nsa lkFk Shivraj Singh Chouhan ...... 114

—f”k lq/kkjksa dks ysdj eksnh ljdkj ges’kk fdlkuksa ds laidZ esa jgh Amitabh Sinha ...... 117 u, —f”k dkuwuksa dks ysdj Hkze dk dqgklk iSnk fd;k x;k gS Umesh Chaturvedi ...... 119 rhu n’kd igys gh iM+ xbZ Fkh —f”k dkuwu dh uhao] eksnh ljdkj cl vey esa ykbZ Ravi Parashar ...... 122

—f”k dkuwuksa ds f[kykQ fdlku vkanksyu ds tfj;s jktuhfrd ny ladh.kZ fgrksa dks iwjk djus dh fQjkd esa Editorial ...... 124 mfpr :i ls ykxw gq, rks [ksrh dk dk;kdYi djus okys gSa eksnh ljdkj ds ;s rhuksa —f”k dkuwu 126 Ashok Gulati ...... xjhc fdlku] NksVs tehankj vkSj mit dk ladV% ns’k dks l[r —f”k lq/kkjksa dh vko’;drk D;ksa\ Santosh Chaubey ...... 128 dSls —f”k dkuwuksa dk xyr eryc fudky jgs gSa fdlku laxBu\ Kailash Adhikari ...... 131 tkudkjhiw.kZ ys[k

QkWpwZu jkbl fyfeVsM daiuh dks ysuk gksxk vuqca/k ewY; ij /kku MPInfo-org ...... 134

IMF ds dk;Zdkjh funs’kd lqjthr HkYyk cksys& eaMh O;oLFkk çklafxd ugha] APMC ds fy, yM+ jgs vehj fdlku News18 ...... 135

—f”k dkuwu ij okjk.klh esa cksys fo’ks”kK & ^u;k —f”k dkuwu ykxw gksus ls fdlkuksa dks gksxk vf/kd equkQk* Jagran ...... 136 vkyw csYV esa fdlkuksa dks Hkk jgk —f”k fo/ks;d Jagran ...... 138 fdlkuksa dks fu;eksa dh csfM+;ksa ls vktkn djkus ds fy, gSa u, dkuwu] fQj D;ksa tkjh gS vkanksyu\ Karan Bhasin ...... 139 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers The economic rationale of these pieces of legislation is to provide The farmer’s greater choice and freedom to farmers to sell their produce and to buyers to buy and store, thereby freedom to sell creating competition in agricultural marketing. This competition is Ashok Gulati expected to help build more efficient Indian Express value chains in agriculture by 26th September, 2020 reducing marketing costs, enabling better price discovery, improving The passing of the farm bills in both price realisation for farmers and, at the the Houses of Parliament has sparked same time, reducing the price paid a major controversy in the country. by consumers. It will also encourage The government claims that it is a private investment in storage, thus historic step taken in the interest of reducing wastage and help contain farmers, giving them the freedom to seasonal price volatility. It is because sell their produce anywhere in the of these potential benefits that I had country and to any one they want. But compared these pieces of legislation the opposition parties described the to the de-licensing of industry in 1991 passing of the bills as a “black day” (‘A 1991 moment for agriculture’, because these pieces of legislation IE, May ‘18). I had also suggested that could destroy the existing system of for these legal changes to deliver minimum support price (MSP) and results, we need to create Farmer the APMC markets, leaving farmers at Producer Organisations (FPOs) and the mercy of big corporations. invest in marketing infrastructure. In that context, it is good to see that Where does the truth lie? Let us Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dig a little deeper into the economics initiated programmes for the creation and politics of it. of 10,000 FPOs and an Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) of Rs one The bills — The Farmers Produce lakh crore to handle post-harvest Trade and Commerce (Promotion produce, anchored largely with and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 (FPTC); FPOs. NABARD has been entrusted The Farmers (Empowerment and to implement this along with other Protection) Agreement on Price agencies and state governments. Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 (FAPAFS); and The Essential I must caution that sometimes Commodities (Amendment) Bill, good ideas/laws fail because of 2020 (ECA) — have to be seen in bad implementation. Just to cite totality. Essentially, the FPTC breaks an example, late Arun Jaitley had the monopolistic powers of the announced a scheme called TOP APMC markets, while FAPAFS allows (tomatoes, onions and potatoes) to contract farming, and ECA removes stabilise the prices of these farm stocking limits on traders for a large products through processing and number of commodities, with some storage. He also allocated Rs 500 caveats still in place. crore for it. The scheme was entrusted to the Ministry of Food Processing for

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 1 this to emphasise that NABARD has a The economic lot of heavy lifting to do, else they will fail the country by not realising the rationale of these full potential of these legal changes. pieces of legislation NABARD must get its act together, is to provide greater take professional advice and work with implementing agencies in the choice and freedom private sector, including various to farmers to sell foundations already working with farmers. The pay off will be very their produce and high. It will make Indian agriculture to buyers to buy globally competitive, and benefit and store, thereby farmers and consumers alike. creating competition But then why is there so much in agricultural opposition? The Congress is leading the charge. But its manifesto for the marketing. This 2019 general election said, “Congress competition is will repeal the Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act and make expected to help trade in agricultural produce — build more efficient including exports and inter-state value chains in trade — free from all restrictions”. And further: “We will establish farmers’ agriculture by markets with adequate infrastructure reducing marketing and support in large villages and small towns to enable the farmer costs, enabling to bring his/her produce and freely better price market the same” (points 11 and 12 discovery, improving of the manifesto under the section on ‘Agriculture’). I fail to understand price realisation for how this is different from what the farmers and, at the three bills are about? I don’t have any political affiliation, but all my same time, reducing professional life has been spent in the price paid by analysing agri-policies; I have found consumers. how farmers in India have been implicitly taxed through restrictive trade and marketing policies. This is implementation. But even after three so much in contrast with China and years of the scheme, not even 5 per other OECD countries that heavily cent of the money promised has been subsidise their agriculture (see spent. No wonder, the government is graph). So, the freedom to sell is the back to export bans of onions, fearing beginning towards correcting this a spike in onion prices. This is contrary massive distortion and that’s why I to the signal that the government welcome this move. wants to give through the farm bills that farmers have freedom to sell. But the Opposition has now changed the goal post. It is asking MSP It seems the government has one to be made legal, implying that all foot on the accelerator to liberalise private players buying below this price agri markets, and the other foot is on could be jailed. That will spell disaster the brake (ban on onion exports). All in the markets, and private players this dents its credibility. I am saying will shun buying. The government

2 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers does not have the wherewithal to Some states fear losing revenue buy all the 23 commodities for which from mandi fees and cess. The MSP is announced. Even for wheat Centre can promise them some and paddy, it cannot assure MSP compensation, for say 3-5 years, throughout India. The reality, as the subject to reforms in APMC markets. 70th round of NSSO on Key Indicators Arhtias are smart. They can take of Situal Agricultural Households in on new roles of aggregation for the India shows that only six per cent private sector. of farmers gain from MSPs. Roughly the same percentage of value of agri- produce is sold at MSPs. The rest of the farming community (94 per cent) faces imperfect markets. It is time to “get agri-markets right”. These farm bills are steps in that direction.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 3 Challenges to farm bills harken to socialist era, attempt to undo agriculture’s 1991 moment

Ashok Gulati create a fiasco in agri-markets, which Indian Express might boomerang on it politically. 26th October, 2020 By passing its farm bills, Punjab has Would a law for only wheat and fired the first salvo against the pieces paddy help farmers? Not really, as the of legislation enacted by Parliament Centre already buys more than 95 per last month. Other states in which the cent of Punjab’s wheat and paddy at Congress holds office, Rajasthan and MSP through the Food Corporation Chhattisgarh, could follow suit soon. of India (FCI) and state procurement Notwithstanding whether President agencies. So, where is the economic Ram Nath Kovind gives his assent gain for the Punjab farmer? Much of to the state bills that undermine the the uproar is about the Rs 5,000 crore central ones, the important issue is to that the state government (Rs 3,500 sift the grain from chaff — how much crore) and arhtiyas (Rs 1,500 crore) of this conflict is about economics squeeze annually from the FCI for aimed at helping farmers and how wheat and paddy procurement. much sheer politics. My take on this episode is that it is 90 per cent politics Let me get to the economic roots and only 10 per cent economics — if of this politics. My reading is that the at all. Let me explain. Congress and many social activists who demand that MSP be made Punjab’s farm bills prohibit private a legal instrument (rather than players from buying wheat and indicative) actually exhibit deep paddy below the MSP (minimum distrust of the private sector and support price) even outside the markets. This line of thinking goes APMC (agriculture produce market back to about 50 years. It may be worth committee) markets. Anyone trying recalling what late Indira Gandhi did to do so will end up with three years to wheat and paddy traders in 1973- in prison, and also levied a hefty fine. 74, when she was at the peak of her The point is that this pertains only to popularity. Recall that in 1971, she wheat and paddy. Why not do it for had won the war with Pakistan (that other crops, say maize, cotton, pulses gave birth to Bangladesh), abolished and oilseeds that are under the the privy purses of the families of ambit of the central MSP system? Or erstwhile princely states, given the even extend it to milk and vegetables catchy slogan of “Garibi hatao”, and by declaring local MSPs for them? nationalised commercial banks in Because the state government is 1969. All this was part of the socialist smart and knows full well that it will era, although the word, “socialist”,

4 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers was inducted in the Preamble of the with the FCI. In 2003, a model act on Constitution only in 1976. agri-marketing was circulated to the states. Vajpayee’s style of functioning In October 1972, Indira Gandhi was an accommodative one, as announced an important agri- he was leading a large coalition marketing policy step — that the government. But that model act did wholesale trade in wheat and rice not go far enough. The NDA lost the (paddy) will be taken over by the general elections in 2004. government as traders were being unscrupulous in not giving farmers The UPA government, from 2004 their due MSP and manipulating to 2014, did not pursue any major prices. The first marketing season of agri-marketing reforms. In food, they the government takeover of wholesale again turned socialist, enacting the wheat trade, in 1973-74, saw a major National Food Security Act in 2013, fiasco. Market arrivals dropped, and giving 5 kg wheat or rice to 67 per wheat prices shot up by more than cent of the population at Rs 2/kg 50 per cent. It was a bitter lesson. But and Rs 3/kg. One may well ask what Indira Gandhi learnt, and gave up the happened to “Garibi hatao” of 1971, if policy the very next year. 67 per cent of the population was still food-insecure in 2013? In Punjab’s farm laws, I find resonances of the wheat trade takeover of 1973-74 — that was also Centre already buys the period of “licence raj” in industry with marginal income tax rates going more than 95 per as high as 98 per cent. Do we want to cent of Punjab’s go back to the economic philosophy of those days in the early 1970s wheat and paddy that gave us what my teacher, the at MSP through the famous agri-economist, Raj Krishna, Food Corporation described as the “Hindu rate of growth” or 3.5 per cent GDP growth? of India (FCI) and state procurement It is to the credit of the Congress Party leadership under then Prime agencies. Minister PV Narasimha Rao that it supported the economic reforms The NDA government under Prime package prepared by Manmohan Minister Narendra Modi set up a Singh and his team of trusted high-level committee (HLC) under economists in 1991. The reforms Shanta Kumar in 2014 to restructure took some time to yield results, but, the grain management system. by the 2000s, India was taking 7 per The committee suggested major cent GDP growth as its new normal changes, including cash transfers in — double the “Hindu rate of growth” the public distribution system, and of the 1970s socialist era of Indira overhauling the FCI’s operations with Gandhi. But even the 1991 economic a good dose of free markets to make reforms bypassed agriculture the system more efficient. But the marketing reforms. Modi government could not muster courage to undertake bold reforms, It was only under the leadership of except some marginal tinkering of the late PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee that labour rules in the FCI. It also tried agri-marketing reforms became high going the Vajpayee way through on the agenda. It was triggered by model acts on agri-marketing the bulging stocks of wheat and rice reforms. But again, they did not go

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 5 far enough. somewhat akin to the crisis of 1991 leading to de-licensing of industry. The COVID-19 crisis opened a Patience and professionalism will window of opportunity to reform bring rich rewards in due course, not the agri-marketing system. The Modi noisy politics. government grabbed it — this is

6 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers We need laws that give farmers more space to sell their produce — new farm laws fit this bill

Ashok Gulati regime was the creation of the era Indian Express of scarcity in the mid-1960s. Indian 12th October, 2020 agriculture has, since then, turned the corner from scarcity to surplus. Indian democracy has been at full The policy instruments of dealing play in reaction to the new farm laws. with shortages are different from While the government hailed it as those dealing with surpluses. In a a historic decision — I tend to agree surplus economy, unless we allow a with that — the Opposition parties greater role for markets and make described the passing of these farm agriculture demand-driven, the MSP laws as “a dark day for farmers” route can spell financial disaster. and a “sell out to corporate sharks”. This transition is about changing the What amused me the most was pricing mix — how much of it should how everyone’s heart was suddenly be state-supported and how much bleeding for the farmer. market-driven. The new laws are trying to increase the relative role I could, however, see that both of markets without dismantling the sides of the political spectrum want MSP system. Let me also say that, farmers’ incomes to increase. The currently, no system is perfect, be Opposition parties want to ensure it the one based on MSP or that led that through higher and more effective MSP (minimum support prices), while the government is offering greater choices to farmers through markets, without demolishing the existing MSP system.

Having analysed the MSP business over decades, let me say clearly that the

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 7 budget as the FCI is asked to borrow My reading is that more and more. The FCI’s burden is touching Rs 3 lakh crore. We are in the next three to simply postponing a financial crisis five years, hundreds in the food management system. The FCI can reduce costs if it uses policy and thousands of instruments like “put options”. But companies will be who cares for cost efficiency when encouraged to build arguments are put forward in the name of the poor? efficient supply lines somewhat on Some scholars have even spoken of sugarcane pricing and milk pricing the lines of milk, by co-operatives in the same vein as a result of these as the MSP. Technically, that is not correct. The MSP is an assurance (not changes in farm legal binding) by the government to laws. the farmers that it will buy at this assured price if the market prices go by the markets. But the MSP system below it. In the case of sugarcane, the is much more costly and inefficient, government announces a “fair and while the market-led system will remunerative price” (FRP) to be paid be more sustainable provided we by sugar factories — Uttar Pradesh can “get the markets right”. Let me announces its own “state advised explain that in some detail. price” (SAP). Look at the mess we have created in the sugar sector. The MSPs pertain primarily to paddy sheer populism of SAP has resulted in and wheat in selected states — in cane arrears amounting to more than recent years, the government has also Rs 8,000 crore, with large surpluses been buying some amounts of pulses, of sugar that can’t be exported. oilseeds and cotton occasionally. This sector has, consequently, A perusal of the MSP dominated system of rice and wheat shows that the stocks with the government are These companies way above the buffer stock norms (see figure). The economic cost of will help raise procured rice comes to about Rs 37/ productivity, kg and that of wheat is around Rs 27/kg. The CTC (cost to company) similar to what of departmental labour of the Food has happened in Corporation of India is six to eight the poultry sector. times higher than contract labour in the market. No wonder, market prices Milk and poultry of rice and wheat are much lower don’t have MSP than the economic cost incurred by the FCI. In Bihar’s rural areas, for and farmers do example, one can easily get rice in not have to go the retail market at Rs 23-25/kg. through the mandi The bottom line is that grain stocks with the FCI cannot be exported system paying without a subsidy, which invites high commissions, WTO’s objections. The real bill of food subsidy is going through the roof but market fees and that is not reflected in the Central cess.

8 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers become globally non-competitive. of companies will be encouraged to Unless sugarcane pricing follows build efficient supply lines somewhat the C Rangarajan Committee’s on the lines of milk, as a result of recommendations — somewhat akin these changes in farm laws. These to milk pricing — the problems of the supply lines — be it with farmers sugar sector will not go away. producer organisations (FPOs) or through aggregators — will, of course, That brings me to the most be created in states where these important commodity of Indian companies find the right investment agriculture, milk, whose value is climate. Some will fail, but many more than that of rice, wheat, and will succeed. These companies will sugarcane combined. In the case of help raise productivity, similar to milk co-operatives, pricing is done what has happened in the poultry by the company in consultation sector. Milk and poultry don’t have with milk federations, not by the MSP and farmers do not have to go government. It is more in the nature through the mandi system paying of a contract price. R S Sodhi, the high commissions, market fees and managing director of the largest milk cess. The choice is ours: Do we want co-operative (GCMMF, AMUL) has growth that is financially sustainable, said that milk does not have a MSP. or create a mess somewhat like what It competes with private companies, we have created in the case of rice, be it Nestle, Hatsun or Schreiber wheat, and sugar. Dynamix dairies. And, the milk sector has been growing at a rate two to I must say also that the pricing three times higher than rice, wheat system has its limits in raising farmers’ and sugarcane. Today, India is the incomes. More sustainable solutions largest producer of milk — 187 million lie in augmenting productivity, tonnes annually — way ahead of the diversifying to high-value crops, and second-ranked US which produces shifting people out of agriculture to around 100 million tonnes every year. high productivity jobs elsewhere. But no one talked about these during My reading is that in the next three these agitations. to five years, hundreds and thousands

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 9 Punjab needs a package to help it diversify output, overcome MSP trap

Ashok Gulati Indian Express 7th December, 2020

Punjab’s farmers have been system was devised in 1965. agitating over farm laws, braving cold nights on Delhi borders. They The situation today is vastly fear that these new laws will hit their different. Today, the Food Corporation incomes adversely. There is nothing of India (FCI) is saddled with huge wrong in that — every citizen not stocks of grains — it touched 97 MMT only wants to protect what s/he is in June this year against a buffer stock earning but aspires to earn more on norm of 41.2 MMT. The economic a sustainable basis. How do we do cost of that excess grain, beyond the that is the moot question, beyond buffer stock norm, was more than Rs the current impasse. So far talks have 1,80,000 crore, a dead capital locked remained inconclusive. Hoping that in without much purpose. That’s the protests remain peaceful, and the situation of the current grain a solution is found amicably, let us management system based on MSP focus on Punjab farmers’ incomes — and open ended procurement. an issue that will stay relevant even after the protests are over. On the foreign exchange front, India has more than $575 billion — Punjab’s stellar role in ushering the way more than comfort levels. When Green Revolution in the country in situations change, societies too need the late 1960s through the mid-1980s to change in ways that can lead to is well-known. India was desperately higher levels of development, else short of grains in 1965, and heavily they stagnate and remain stuck dependent on PL 480 imports from in a low-level equilibrium trap. the US to the tune of almost 10 Schumpeter’s process of “creative million metric tonnes (MMT) against destruction” of the old and inefficient rupee payments, as the country did is a fundamental law behind the not have enough foreign exchange development of countries around the to buy wheat at global markets. The world. India is no exception. entire foreign exchange reserves of the country at the time could not It is also worth noting that in help it purchase more than 7 MMT of 1966, when Haryana was carved out grains. It is against this backdrop that of it and a part of its territory was the minimum support price (MSP) transferred to Himachal, Punjab had the highest per capita income.

10 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 50 per cent — Maharashtra’s irrigation cover, in fact, is just 20 per cent. The It is also worth average landholding in Punjab is 3.62 noting that in 1966, hectare (ha) as against an all-India when Haryana was average of 1.08 ha — in Bihar, this figure is just 0.4 ha. Punjab’s fertiliser carved out of it and consumption per ha is about 212 a part of its territory kg vis-à-vis an all-India level of 135 kg/ha. No wonder the productivity was transferred to levels of wheat and rice in Punjab Himachal, Punjab stand at 5 tonnes/ha and 4 tonnes/ had the highest ha respectively, against an all-India average of 3.5t/ha and 2.6t/ha. per capita income. It remained a In Punjab, the total farm families are just 1.09 million, a fraction of frontrunner in that the all-India total of 146.45 million. respect till almost The subsidy provision to Punjab farmers through free power by the early 2000s. But, the state government (2020-21 thereafter, Punjab budget) amounts to Rs 8,275 crore. started sliding down The fertiliser subsidy —through the central government — to Punjab was very fast in the about Rs 5,000 crore in 2019-20. The overall ranking of overall subsidy, from just power and fertilisers, therefore, would amount to major states of India roughly Rs 13,275 crores. That means — if smaller states each farm household in Punjab got are included in the a subsidy of about Rs 1.22 lakh in 2019-20. This is the highest subsidy ranking, Punjab’s for a farm household in India. Let’s position fell to 13th in not forget that the average income of the Punjab farm household is the 2018-19 highest in India — in fact, almost two- and-a-half times that of an average It remained a frontrunner in that farm household in the country. respect till almost the early 2000s. But, thereafter, Punjab started sliding But to assess the real contribution down very fast in the overall ranking of farmers/states to agriculture and of major states of India — if smaller incomes, the metric is the agri- states are included in the ranking, GDP per ha of gross cropped area Punjab’s position fell to 13th in of the state in question. This is an 2018-19. There are several reasons important catch-all indicator, as it behind this deterioration, ranging captures the impact of productivity, from lack of industrialisation to not diversification, prices of outputs catching up even with respect to and inputs and subsidies. On that the modern services sector like IT, indicator, unfortunately, Punjab has financial services. But I focus here on the 11th rank amongst major agri- agriculture and suggest how Punjab states. can regain its top position. States in south India like Andhra Punjab’s agriculture is blessed with Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala almost 99 per cent irrigation against have a much more diversified crop an all-India average of little less than pattern tending towards high-value

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 11 In Punjab, the total farm families are just 1.09 million, a fraction of the all-India total of 146.45 million. The subsidy provision to Punjab farmers through free power by the state government (2020-21 budget) amounts to Rs 8,275 crore. The fertiliser subsidy —through the central government — to Punjab was about Rs 5,000 crore in 2019-20. The overall subsidy, from just power and fertilisers, therefore, would amount to roughly Rs 13,275 crores. That means each farm household in Punjab got a subsidy of about Rs 1.22 lakh in 2019-20. This is the highest subsidy for a farm household in India.

crops/livestock — poultry, dairy, fruits, diversify its agriculture — say a Rs vegetables, spices, fisheries. Even 10,000 crore package spread over five West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh years. The Centre and the state can score over Punjab in this respect. pitch in, on a 60:40 ratio. That will The writing on the wall is clear: If be a win-win situation for all. Once Punjab farmers want to increase their farmers diversify their farm output incomes significantly, double or even and double their incomes, they will triple, they need to gradually move not be stuck in the MSP trap. Can the away from MSP-based wheat and Centre and the Punjab government rice to high-value crops and livestock, join hands to find a sustainable the demand for which is increasing solution to farmers’ incomes and at three to five times that of cereals. also save depleting water, soil, and air? Only then can they make Punjab Punjab needs a package to great again.

12 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers supporting the “poor” farmers (who were recently seen distributing Protesting expensive dry fruit freely to all those coming to their “protest”) are unaware of some simple facts. By supporting farmers are these very (relatively) rich farmers, the protesters are in fact arguing for arguing for the the perpetuation of colonial rule. Some steps further in this historical lesson. The corrosive monopoly perpetuation of power held by the APMCs has been recognised by almost all political parties and farmer unions (for colonial rule example, the Bharat Kisan Union took out a protest in 2008 arguing for Surjit Bhalla the right of farmers to sell produce Indian Express to corporates). The Congress party 12th December, 2020 had these very same laws in its 2019 election manifesto. There is an old saying — no one ever went broke under-estimating the Let us further follow this chain of intelligence of the American public. If logic of the farm protest supporters. In you think about it further, it probably 1991, the government freed industry works better with over-estimation. If from its cage and the results are there you think about it more, it fits almost for everybody to see, and applaud all democracies. And if you are patient (except, of course, the wilfully blind). enough, and think some more, it fits GDP growth in India doubled to an best if the word American is switched average of 6 per cent over the next with the word Indian. Especially, now with all the “debate” around the long awaited, long argued, and vastly Farmers are forced to overdue farm bills. sell their marketable A little detail on these bills: The old produce only farm produce laws (the creation of the Agricultural Produce Marketing through a mandi Committee (APMC) came into regulated by the existence almost 150 years ago to government. The new feed the colonial masters raw cotton for their Manchester mills. The output reformed law allows of these mills was then sold to the the farmer to sell “natives” for a hefty profit. The farmer was obligated, required, forced to sell through the APMC, to the masters in a regulated market and to sell outside whose regulation was set by, you the APMC. It is her guessed it, the colonial masters. It is very likely that the people blindly choice.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 13 30 years, from the previous average of Haryana and less than 5 per cent have less than 3 per cent. holdings above 10 hectares. A rough back of the envelope calculation For reasons best known to the suggests that the protesting farmers “political” economists, agriculture from Punjab and Haryana total no was not freed in 1991, or thereafter more than 200,000 — that is two — until now. Farmers are forced to hundred thousand so there is no sell their marketable produce only confusion with numbers. The number through a mandi regulated by the of all farmers in India, very small, government. The new reformed law small and large is 100 million. So allows the farmer to sell through the about 0.2 per cent of all farmers in APMC, and to sell outside the APMC. India have “reason” to protest. And It is her choice. The government what are they protesting for? Likely procures all of its food through the licence to remain the richest APMCs — only about 6 per cent of farmers in India or the world because the farmers in India sell through the in addition to the exclusive APMC APMCs to the government. These largesse, the income of these farmers 6 per cent are all large farmers, is not taxed. The non-taxation of primarily residing in the two states agricultural incomes does not benefit of Punjab and Haryana. These two the poor farmer because she does not states typically account for close to 60 have enough income to be taxed. per cent of wheat procurement and close to a third of rice procurement. Rice, wheat and pulse production The government procures from these growth farmers in order to re-distribute the food via ration shops to the bottom Be honest — how many of you know two-thirds of the population. But a law in any of the 195 out of 200 there are leakages. This leakage was countries in the world that prohibit first openly discussed by former an individual from selling her wares Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1985 in the market? Count the countless when he stated that only 15 per street vendors in the world, in both cent of the food procured by the developing and developed markets. government reached the poor. Are they prohibited from selling who they want to sell to? Then why the There are no more than two million demand that the APMC be the sole farmers — total — in Punjab and buyer for all farmers?

14 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers All these facts are well known, except to large elements of the Be honest — how ideologically motivated domestic and international media. “News” is many of you know making the rounds that the largest a law in any of demonstration in the world has taken place in India and/or that 250 million the 195 out of 200 workers have participated in that. countries in the Fake news can only be “influential” world that prohibit if there is some plausibility in the fakeness. What we are being asked an individual from to believe is that the richest 2,00,000 selling her wares in farmers are being supported by the considerably poorer 100 million the market? Count farmers and all those who earn the countless street considerably less than the rich vendors in the world, untaxed farmers! Remember the opening paragraph? in both developing and developed The political economy of the protest is also illustrated by the following markets. Are they comment from the former chief prohibited from economic adviser to the government of India and former chief economist selling who they of the World Bank, Kaushik Basu. He want to sell to? Then recently tweeted: “I’ve now studied why the demand India’s new farm bills & realise they are flawed & will be detrimental to that the APMC be farmers. Our agriculture regulation the sole buyer for all needs change but the new laws will end up serving corporate interests farmers? more than farmers. Hats off to the growth at a faster rate and thereby sensibility & moral strength of India’s helped the state, the country, and farmers.” the poor.

The sensibility part is A comparison of growth in output understandable — the rich do not in states other than Punjab and want to let their richness go, especially Haryana indicates a much lower if such richness is undeserved. The growth in these two states. Output moral part is not obvious but maybe growth for three important crops some digging will illustrate. Let us — rice, wheat and pulses — and two abstract from moral philosophy and time-periods — the last 15 years (2004 examine what India’s unreformed to 2018) and the last eight (2011 to markets have done to the farm 2018) are presented in the table. economies of Punjab and Haryana. Neither APMC, nor subsidies, nor These two states were the pioneers “favouritism” has resulted in higher of the Green Revolution. Electricity to output growth in Punjab-Haryana. these farmers is subsidised (so that No matter which crop, or which they can destroy the water table), as time-period, the results are a sad is their extensive use of fertiliser (so reflection on the misguided policy. that they have a license to over-use For both periods, output growth and destroy the environment). But of wheat in other states was more maybe the rich Punjab-Haryana (PH) than double the growth achieved farmers have provided agricultural in Punjab and Haryana; ditto the

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 15 case for pulses (between 2011-2018, All the above facts have been pulses production growth in Punjab known, and discussed, by learned and Haryana was at a -0.4 per cent people for decades. Which is per annum, compared to 5.7 per cent precisely why the intellectual per annum in 10 other states). In rice, gymnastics played by many learned the other states do much better than people defending the farmer protests Punjab and Haryana, but the excess is so shocking. The “demand” by growth is not double that of the two intellectuals that the farm bill should states; however, it is nearly double for have been discussed before being 2004-18 — two per cent for Punjab passed is well beyond the bounds of and Haryana, and nearly double (3.7 conventional dishonesty. per cent) for nine other states.

16 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers not part of the debate — and aren’t — are being picked up, cooked and An intellectual served as facts in a post-truth world. Any researcher, analyst or journalist studying the laws and the sector for biography of clarity is negotiating misinformation traps. That the three laws are part of agricultural reforms that have taken India’s new more than two decades to fructify is bad enough. Worse, lost in the din is the farmer on whose behalf these farm laws reforms have been legislated, and protests organised. Gautam Chikermane ORF This page is for those who wish 11th December, 2020 to engage with the ongoing debate around agricultural laws. It aims to The debate around the economics capture debates that have happened and administration of farm laws at the highest levels of India’s farm stands frozen by politics. It is, therefore, sector — politicians, administrators, time for politicians, administrators, economists, activists, writers and economists, policymakers and other experts — for those wanting to get a concerned citizens to examine the clearer picture. It will help readers evolution of these laws. The three and thinkers place their ideological laws that have been enacted by stances in perspective, get a more Parliament attempt to take farmers rounded analysis from the highest towards harvesting economic gains; echelons of India’s policymaking, they have thus far been held back across time. It goes beyond politics by outdated laws, manipulated and ideologies and enables politicians markets and vested interests-driven and ideologues to contextualise their corruption. This is aside from macro- stances and ideas. It also shows a factors, such as India moving away policy mirror to them. In other words, from food shortages into an era of this is a brief history of farm politics surpluses. and agricultural economics, within the context of the current controversy As yesterday’s proponents of around the recently enacted three these reform ideas become today’s laws. opponents of its laws, noise has become the currency of discourse. In the process of collating, reading Confusion mars the economics and excepting reports drafted by of farm laws, misinformation Parliamentary Standing Committees, drives its politics, bandh and siege expert committees, and task forces, have become its instruments of this page can be seen as an intellectual engagement. Worse, false narratives biography of the three farm laws are being created across multiple in particular, and the problems of platforms. Institutions that were India’s agriculture in general. The

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 17 to farmers. Within this, agricultural That the three marketing became an important component. This included the laws are part of development of infrastructure for agricultural reforms agricultural marketing, establishing sound linkages between production that have taken and marketing, development of more than two market intelligence for the benefit of decades to fructify is farmers and consumers, promotion of direct marketing, application of bad enough. Worse, information technology in marketing lost in the din is the and encouraging public, private and cooperative sectors to make farmer on whose investments for the development of behalf these reforms agricultural marketing. have been legislated, 29 JUNE 2001: SHANKERLAL GURU and protests COMMITTEE SUBMITS REPORT organised. Some conclusions: reports below have been arranged chronologically, with a link at the end DD The Guru Committee made for those who want to delve deeper several recommendations, one of and understand the nuances of the which included remodelling the three laws better. All ideas-reports Agriculture Produce Marketing are linked with one another, but each Committees (APMCs). is adding its own weight and carrying D the debate further. Even after the D Being “corporate bodies” ongoing controversy ends, this list established under State of intellectual material will help legislations, APMCs are either scholars understand and negotiate elected or nominated by the the landscape of India’s agriculture government. better. DD Although, technically the farmer The chronology of, and the clarity is free to sell his produce in any on, these laws begins here. mandi he likes, practically he has no liberty to sell his produce in 19 DECEMBER 2000: EXPERT his village or to the retail chain, COMMITTEE SET UP BY THE processor, bulk buyer directly. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, D DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE D He has to take his produce to AND COOPERATION ON a regulated market where the “STRENGTHENING AND sales and deliveries are effected. DEVELOPING OF AGRICULTURAL This has hampered development MARKETING” UNDER THE of retail supply chains and CHAIRMANSHIP OF SHANKERLAL direct supply to the processing, GURU consuming factories or other bulk purchasers. The idea behind this Committee D was to call for ideas to promote D As far as warehousing goes, agricultural growth and benefits godowns should be declared from exports and to ensure that a as deemed warehouses and greater share of the ultimate price no APMC market fee, sales tax, of the agricultural produce goes purchase tax, or octroi should

18 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers be leviable on the goods stored. collaboration with the Planning Similarly, provisions of Essential Commission, should undertake Commodity Act, Labour Act, a systematic review of State laws Mathadi Act, Shop Establishment and control orders which impose Act, or Industrial Disputes Act harmful controls on agriculture should not be applicable to these and actively seek their repeal. warehouses. Vested interests and inertia will resist such a move, but we feel that 1 JULY 2001: REPORT OF THE it is an essential step for extending TASK FORCE ON EMPLOYMENT the benefits of economic reforms OPPORTUNITIES, CHAIRED BY to agriculture. MONTEK SINGH AHLUWALIA DD The marketing of agricultural nder control in agriculture, produce, especially fruits and the task force made seven vegetables, is governed by laws Uobservations, of which that stifle the development of two are around the Essential agriculture. The existing laws Commodities Act and APMCs: require that wholesalers must purchase agricultural produce DD The Essential Commodities Act is a only in regulated mandis Central Legislation which provides controlled by the Agricultural an umbrella under which States Produce Marketing Committee are enabled to impose all kinds of (APMC). Since most farmers are restrictions on storage, transport small farmers, they cannot directly and processing of agricultural bring vegetables and fruits to the produce. These controls have mandis. They typically sell their been traditionally justified on the produce to village commission grounds that they are necessary agents who collect produce on to control hoarding and other behalf of the market commission types of speculative activity, but agent who sells to wholesalers in the fact is that they do not work the mandi. Although sale in the in times of genuine scarcity and mandi is supposed to be by open they are not needed in normal auction to ensure fair pricing, in times. Besides, they are typically practice the price is determined misused by the lower levels of in a highly non-transparent the administration and become manner by negotiations between an instrument for harassment market commission agents and and corruption. At a time wholesalers. Lack of transparency when European countries have is perpetuated by the fact that integrated their national markets produce is not graded before and regard the resulting large it is sold. The prices arrived at European market as a feature in this fashion are declared as which strengthens their position the mandi price and the farmer globally, it is an anomaly that we receives the residual price after have laws that actually prevent the commission of the village the development of an integrated commission agent and the market national market for agricultural commission agent is deducted products. After full consideration from the declared market price. of this issue, we are of the view Not only is the price determination that the Essential Commodities non-transparent, the large Act should be repealed. number of middlemen, each of whom charges a commission, DD The Ministry of Agriculture in squeezes the realisation of the the Central Government, in farmer so that the gap between

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 19 the farm-gate price and the retail DD Permitting ‘Contract farming’ price paid by the consumer is programs by processing or very large. Although originally marketing firms. The APMC designed to protect farmers’ within whose jurisdiction the interests by creating regulated area covered by contract farming markets, the system has actually agreement lies, should record the created a monopoly situation in contract farming agreements and which a small group of traders and act as a protector of producer’s agents are able to extract huge and processor’s interests with due benefits. It is absolutely essential legal support in its jurisdiction. to liberalise the existing laws and Incidence of taxes by way of allow competing markets to be market fee, cess, duties, taxes etc. set up. on procurement of agricultural or horticultural produce under 4 JULY 2001. INTER-MINISTERIAL the ‘Contract farming’ program TASK FORCE CONSTITUTED should be waived or minimised. UNDER RCA JAIN, ADDITIONAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF DD Promote the forward and AGRICULTURE AND COOPERATION, futures markets in agricultural MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE commodities.

he RCA Jain Task Force DD Essential to delink minimum was constituted to look support price (MSP) from Tinto the Guru Committee procurement, particularly if the recommendations. These private sector is to be restored included examining legislative its rightful role in marketing reforms, institutional and policy agricultural produce. The support measures to expand alternative policy should allow credit, and the creation of market forces to determine the marketing infrastructure. This price and provide financial support Task Force spanned across through an insurance programme ministries and was not restricted to farmers for protection of their to agriculture alone. incomes in falling markets.

Some recommendations: 9 SEPTEMBER 2003. MODEL APMC ACT CREATED. DD All State governments should amend their respective APMC n order to reform APMCs laws to deliver the following: across the country, the Union Igovernment drafted the Model DD Enable private and cooperative APMC Act, 2003. sectors to establish and operate (including levy of service Excerpts: charge) agricultural marketing infrastructure and supporting DD The monopoly of [state] services. government regulated wholesale markets has prevented DD Direct marketing of agricultural development of a competitive commodities from producing marketing system in the country, areas and farmers’ fields, without providing no help to farmers the necessity of going through in direct marketing, organising licensed traders and regulated retailing, a smooth raw material markets. supply to agro-processing industries and adoption of

20 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers innovative marketing system and »» Compulsory registration of all technologies. contract farming sponsors

DD If agricultural markets are to »» Recording of contract farming be developed in private and agreements cooperative sectors and to be provided a level competitive »» Resolution of disputes, if any, environment vis-a-vis regulated arising out of such agreement markets, the existing framework of State APMC Acts will have to »» Exemption from levy of market fee undergo a change. on produce covered by contract farming agreements DD Section 14: There will be no compulsion on the growers to sell »» Provide for indemnity to their produce through existing producers’ title or possession over markets administered by the his land from any claim arising APMC. However, agriculturists out of the agreement who do not bring his produce to the market area for sale will not DD Chapter VII: Provision made be eligible for election to the for direct sale of farm produce APMC. to contract farming sponsor from farmers’ field without the DD Sections 26 and 27: The APMC necessity of routing it through have been made specifically notified markets responsible for: DD Section 42: Provision made for »» Ensuring complete transparency imposition of single point levy of in pricing system and transactions market fee on the sale of notified taking place in market area; agricultural commodities in any market area and discretion »» Providing market-led extension provided to the State Government services to farmers; to fix graded levy of market fee on different types of sales »» Ensuring payment for agricultural produce sold by farmers on the DD Section 50: Provision made for same day; resolving of disputes, if any, arising between private market »» Promoting agricultural processing or consumer market and market including activities for value committee addition in agricultural produce 29 DECEMBER 2004: NATIONAL »» Setup and promote public private COMMISSION ON FARMERS, partnership in the management CHAIRED BY MS SWAMINATHAN, of agricultural markets. SUBMITS ITS FIRST REPORT, “SERVING FARMERS AND SAVING “PROVISION MADE FOR DIRECT FARMERS: FIRST REPORT” SALE OF FARM PRODUCE TO CONTRACT FARMING SPONSOR n order to strengthen and FROM FARMERS’ FIELD WITHOUT expand the horticulture THE NECESSITY OF ROUTING IT Irevolution, the policy focus THROUGH NOTIFIED MARKETS” must be on post-harvest management, processing and DD Chapter VII: a new Chapter on marketing. Further, the policy ‘Contract Farming’ added to must bridge the disconnection provide for: between production and profit:

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 21 DD Adoption of this strategy would DD It was felt that the reforms in call for immediate amendment APMC Acts were necessary to the APMC Act by each State for creating a nation-wide to decentralise the system and integration of the agriculture permit marketing by other markets, facilitating emergence of players for achieving the ultimate agriculture markets in private and goal of ensuring better returns cooperative sectors and creating to the growers and reasonably a conducive environment for good quality products to the private sector investment in the consumers. market infrastructure.

11 AUGUST 2005: NATIONAL DD The role of the APMCs and the COMMISSION ON FARMERS, State Agriculture Marketing CHAIRED BY M.S. SWAMINATHAN, Boards [SAMBs] needs to change SUBMITS ITS SECOND REPORT, from regulation to development “SERVING FARMERS AND SAVING in the changed production and FARMING: FROM CRISIS TO demand environment. The APMCs CONFIDENCE” and SAMBs should be primarily involved in grading, branding DD States/UTs where there is and packaging and building up no APMC Act and hence not markets for the local products in requiring reforms: Kerala, domestic and even international Manipur, Andaman & Nicobar markets. Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu and Lakshadweep DD The State Agriculture Produce Marketing Acts need to be DD States/UTs where APMC Act amended to provide for, among already provides for the reforms: others, encouraging the private Tamil Nadu sector or cooperatives to establish markets, develop marketing DD States/UTs where reforms to infrastructure and supporting APMC Act has been done as services, collect charges and suggested: Madhya Pradesh, allowing marketing without the Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and necessity of going though APMC/ Nagaland (Gazette Notification licensed traders. Further, the under issues), Andhra Pradesh market fee and other charges (ordinance under issue) needs to be rationalised.

DD States/UTs where reforms to DD The APMC Act in different States/ APMC Act has been done partially: Union Territories needs to be Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, amended on the lines of the Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and draft of the amended APMC Act NCT of Delhi circulated by the Government of India. It would encourage private DD States/UTs where administrative sector investment in development action is initiated for the reforms: of agricultural marketing. Orissa, Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Chhattisgarh, DD Need for review of the Essential Meghalaya, J&K, Uttaranchal, Commodities Act and other Goa, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Acts/Orders concerning storing, Pondicherry and Chandigarh marketing and processing etc of the agricultural commodities. DD States/UTs where there is no progress: Bihar and Jharkhand DD There is an urgent need to

22 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers undertake a review of the DD There is reason to believe that the Essential Commodities Act and law has outlived its utility and is other legal instruments covering only contributing to the rising marketing, storing and processing transaction costs. Although in the of agriculture produce; some of last few years both the State and these Acts and Orders appear to the Central governments have have outlived their utility. taken number of steps to reduce the rigours of the ECA and the DECEMBER 2005: THE FOOD AND number of commodities covered AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION by it has been drastically cut (FAO) OF THE UNITED NATIONS down, the government still retains SUBMITS A REPORT TO THE the right to bring any commodity NATIONAL COMMISSION ON under its purview, if need be. FARMERS (NCF), “TOWARDS AN INDIAN COMMON MARKET: DD Out of the 15 commodities still REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIONS ON kept in the list, 11 are related to INTERNAL TRADE IN AGRICULTURE agricultural products. The mere COMMODITIES” threat of potential Government action keeps the private sector he study was undertaken participation in storage, transport by FAO at the request of and processing at a low level. Tthe NCF through the Union It also bears consequences on Ministry of Agriculture to study verifications made at the inter- the possibilities of emergence of state borders on movement of a farmer-centric Indian common goods. market catering to both over a billion consumers within the DD The powers for states to restrict country and consumers abroad. the movement of agricultural The technical project was products out of their territory initiated to study the possibilities granted by the ECA are of removal of unnecessary incompatible with the principle restrictions on the movement of of a single market. They may have agriculture products both within served a purpose in helping to and between states in India and preserve local food security but at measures that could be taken for the cost of reducing food security better market integration. Some for India as a whole. For these conclusions: reasons the provision should gradually be phased out. DD The Essential Commodities Act was introduced during a period DD As regards the collection of when India was not self-sufficient market fees through the APMC in agriculture and controlling Act, it still continues to be a major the movement and storage hurdle on the free movement practices acted as an efficient of primary agriculture products check against dishonest business not only between States but practices. However, given the also even within the States from fact that India has now created one market area to another. As a respectable buffer stock of already stated, it sometimes food grains against any disaster, results in double taxation of the thanks to the operation of the same products. Moreover, its Food Corporation of India, there is operation creates monopolies of scope for re-looking at the actual the State Marketing Board/Market utility of the provision. Committees in regulating the wholesale market by not allowing

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 23 direct marketing, often leading to the loss of market fee may not cartelisation of a few brokers or be significant as the FCI and arhtiyas and non-transparency in the State Government agencies price setting to the disadvantage are expected to continue their of the farmers. procurement through the existing Mandi structure. DD The monopolistic operation of the market committee also acts as a 29 DECEMBER 2005: NATIONAL disincentive to the private sector COMMISSION ON FARMERS, in setting up processing units for CHAIRED BY MS SWAMINATHAN, value addition, as they do not have SUBMITS ITS THIRD REPORT, direct linkage with the farmers, “SERVING FARMERS AND SAVING which would otherwise help FARMING: 2006: YEAR OF them in getting raw materials AGRICULTURAL RENEWAL” of assured quality and quantity. The policy framework should give DD The Essential Commodities Act, farmers the liberty to freely market 1955, and the Control Orders were their produce anywhere including relevant and issued in situation of direct marketing to processors or demand exceeding the supply. other buyers without paying any The demand-supply balance and market fees. However, in case they the economic environment have want the facilities of the market changed in recent years, but yard, they have to pay a service the restrictions and controls are charge, which should be sufficient continuing and coming in the to cover the operation costs of the way of efficient functioning of the market committee. marketing system and also the agricultural development in the DD It is therefore recommended that country. farmers, processor companies or other private operators may DD The number of essential be allowed to operate their commodities has been reduced own wholesale market and from a high of seventy in 1989 charge a suitable fee for the to only fifteen. It would be useful service. This would encourage if the remaining agricultural more investment in setting products are also removed from up infrastructure and create the list of essential commodities. opportunities for providing better Alternatively, the ECA, 1955, and more cost-effective services. may be put under suspended animation for the present DD The reform of APMC would and revived by Government facilitate free movement of notification if any emergency agriculture products between situation develops, for a limited different States and from the time, for a specific commodity jurisdiction of one market and in a specified area. committee to another. However, as market fee is a major source DD The Government needs to abolish of income for a number of States, market fee on primary agricultural it may result in loss of revenue to commodities altogether and some of them. It is felt that in the levying of charges for various major cereal producing States services like loading, unloading, like Punjab, Haryana, Western weighing etc. in the APMC UP and Andhra Pradesh where yard and replace it with one bulk of food grains are procured consolidated service charge for by the FCI for the central pool, use of the market infrastructure.

24 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers DD The State has already amended the marketing development. the APMC Act, thereby facilitating the growth of pro-farmer markets. DD The Essential Commodities Act The transition from existing trade and other legal instruments channels like Arhtiyas should be including the State Agriculture brought about with care, so as to Produce Marketing Committee ensure that the new systems of Acts [APMC Acts] relating to farmers-purchaser linkages are marketing, storage and processing both beneficial and sustainable. of agriculture produce need to Opportunities for assured and be reviewed in order to meet remunerative marketing hold the requirements of modern the key for Punjab’s agricultural agriculture and attracting private future. capital in this sector.

DD The APMCs have also generally DD As regards the collection of failed to provide adequate market fees through the APMC infrastructure at the mandis. The Act, it still continues to be a major focus of the APMCs has been on hurdle on the free movement regulation and not development of primary agriculture products of markets for the local products, not only between States but introducing grading and also even within the States from encouraging local processing etc. one market area to another. As The APMCs have also not played already stated, it sometimes any significant role in bringing results in double taxation of the better market information to the same products. Moreover, its farmers. operation creates monopolies of the State Marketing Board/Market DD Direct marketing could enable the Committees in regulating the farmers to sell their produce to the wholesale market by not allowing processors or bulk buyers at lower direct marketing, often leading to transaction costs and maybe at cartelisation of a few brokers or better prices than what they get arhtiyas and non-transparency in from intermediaries or from the price setting to the disadvantage wholesale markets. However, the of the farmers. APMC Act in most of the States does not allow direct buying by DD The reform of APMC would processing industries, exporters facilitate free movement of or wholesalers. Although this agriculture products between requirement has been waived on a different States and from the case-by-case basis in some States jurisdiction of one market under pressure from the industry, committee to another. However, the market fee still has to be paid as market fee is a major source even though the produce may not of income for a number of States, enter the APMC yard. it may result in loss of revenue to some of them. DD The monopoly of APMCs has meant that the private sector 13 AUGUST 2006: NATIONAL including cooperatives have COMMISSION ON FARMERS, not been able to contribute in CHAIRED BY MS SWAMINATHAN, establishing and developing SUBMITS ITS FOURTH REPORT, mandis. The provision of the “SERVING FARMERS AND SAVING APMC Acts in different States FARMING: JAI KISAN: A DRAFT requires modification to create a NATIONAL POLICY FOR FARMERS” lawful role for the private sector in

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 25 armonising the of the key issues confronting recommendations of the our farmers and farming such Hprevious three reports, the as the economic survival of fourth report of the NCF creates a farmers with small holdings Draft National Policy for Farmers. in a globalised economy, shaping the economic destiny Some recommendations: of farmers, strengthening the ecological foundations essential DD The Essential Commodities Act for sustainable agriculture, and other legal instruments attracting and retaining youth in including the State Agriculture farming, and restoring the glory Produce Marketing Committee of Indian farmers and farming. Acts [APMC Acts] relating It presents an action plan for to marketing, storage and making hunger history. processing of agriculture produce need to be reviewed in Volume 1: order to meet the requirements of modern agriculture and DD If we continue the practice of attracting private capital in this importing large quantities of sector. pulses and oil seeds, without determined action to produce DD The role of the APMCs/State them within the country, dry Agriculture Marketing Boards farming areas will continue need to change from regulatory to languish in poverty and focus to promotion of grading, malnutrition. The linkages branding, packaging and between low small farm development of distant and productivity and the persistence international markets for the local of poverty and malnutrition is produce. very strong. Therefore, the sooner we revise our import policies in DD The farmer wants different options relation to pulses and oil seeds for marketing his produce. The and divert our attention to helping State APMC Acts need to be the millions of farmers toiling in amended to provide for, among rain-fed areas to produce more of others, encouraging the private these essential commodities by sector or cooperatives to establish assuring them of a support price, markets, develop marketing the greater will be the possibility infrastructure and supporting of reducing substantially hunger services, collect charges, allowing and poverty in the country. marketing without the necessity Whenever there is a good crop of going through APMC/ licensed of pulses or oilseeds like the one traders etc. in mustard this year, farmers suffer due to lack of assured 4 OCTOBER 2006: NATIONAL and remunerative marketing COMMISSION ON FARMERS, opportunities. The interests of CHAIRED BY MS SWAMINATHAN, the producer-consumer needs SUBMITS ITS FIFTH REPORT IN TWO greater protection than those of VOLUMES, “TOWARDS FASTER the interests of trader-importers. AND MORE INCLUSIVE GROWTH OF FARMERS’ WELFARE” DD The APMCs and State Agriculture Marketing Boards need to change his is NCF’s fifth and final their role from regulatory to report, submitted in two promotional and developmental. Tvolumes. It deals with some These agencies should focus more

26 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers continuous availability of raw The farmer wants material for processing. Direct purchase from the growers is different options not possible under the existing for marketing his APMC Act in many of the States and hence it has to be either produce. The State routed through the APMC or the APMC Acts need concerned State Govt. has to to be amended to specifically permit the same. provide for, among Volume 2: others, encouraging DD Farmer of Punjab could not the private sector transport surplus wheat outside or cooperatives to due to stringent provisions in 9th Schedule of Essential establish markets, Commodities Act. It had acted to develop marketing the detriment of interest of the infrastructure and farmers in the past. supporting services, DD PM in his speech on 15.08.2006, collect charges, mentioned that farmer must get appropriate remunerative price allowing marketing from the market. This must be without the necessity implemented.

of going through DD Need to give more attention APMC/ licensed to remunerative prices for the traders etc. farmers for their produce. APMCs and State Marketing Boards on developing new markets for should understand their new the local products. Their entire developmental role. There was functioning, management, a huge scope of improvement operations and disposal of surplus in existing working style of the need a relook. The need is also APMCs. to encourage and support the farmer’s cooperatives and private DD Hamal and coolie do not deal with sector to operate the wholesale farmers respectfully; rather they agriculture produce markets and insult them. Farmers selling their provide competition to APMCs. produce in APMC feel that the traders and management connive DD Development of agro-processing and often cheat them. There is is important to increase farmers’ need for a greater say of farmers income and also to create in managing the APMCs and a say employment. It would, however, particularly in the auction system. be necessary to introduce The farmer’s interest should be reforms in the agriculture sector uppermost in the working of to facilitate greater private the APMCs. Ungraded produce corporate sector investments in fetches low price. The need is to agro-processing not only in new introduce grading at the farm units but also in modernising the gate itself. established units. The processing industry requires adequate and DD NGO should also be permitted to

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 27 buy agricultural produce directly gate should be allowed to do so. from the farmers without going For promoting inter-state trade, a through the APMCs. commodity for which market fee has been paid once must not be DD Benefits of APMCs have not subjected to subsequent market reached small, marginal fee in other markets including and medium farmers. that for transaction in other states. Only user charges linked to services provided may be levied 2007 (UNDATED): MODEL APMC for subsequent transactions. RULES, 2007 DD Perishables could be taken out of Across XIII Chapters and 115 the ambit of the APMC Act. The Sections, the Union government recent episodes of inflation in drafts the Model APMC Rules, 2007. vegetables and fruits have exposed The Rules come with 26 forms. flaws in our supply chains. The government-regulated mandis The rules detail how Market sometimes prevent retailers from Committees will function (Chapter integrating their enterprises V), contract farming done (Chapter with those of farmers. In view of VI), and levy of fees and its collection this, perishables may have to be (Chapter VIII). exempted from this regulation.

FEBRUARY 2012: ECONOMIC DD The role of the agriculture market SURVEY 2011-12, CHAPTER 8: is to deliver agricultural produce AGRICULTURE AND FOOD from the farmer to the consumer in the most efficient way. Excerpts: Agriculture markets are regulated in India through the APMC Acts. DD Mandi governance is an area of According to the provisions of the concern. A greater number of APMC Acts of the states, every traders must be allowed as agents APMC is authorised to collect in the mandis. Anyone who gets market fees from the buyers/ better prices and terms outside the traders in the prescribed manner Agricultural Produce Marketing on the sale of notified agricultural Committee (APMC) or at its farm produce. The relatively high incidence of commission charges Direct purchase from on agricultural /horticultural produce renders their marketing the growers is not cost high, which is an undesirable possible under the outcome. All this suggests that a existing APMC Act in single point market fee system is necessary for facilitating free many of the States movement of produce, bringing and hence it has price stabilisation, and reducing price differences between the to be either routed producer and consumer market through the APMC segments. Another point to be or the concerned highlighted is that the cleaning, grading, and packaging of State Govt. has to agricultural produce before sale specifically permit by the farmers have not been popularised by these market the same. committees on a sufficient scale.

28 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers DD As the APMC was created to “DUE TO RESTRICTIVE PROVISIONS protect the interests of farmers it OF THE ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES will be in the fitness of things to ACT…. PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN LARGE give farmers the choice of going SCALE STORAGE AND MARKETING to the PMC or not. In the light of INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING IN this, the need is to pursue further THE AREAS OF CONTRACT FARMING, reforms in the state APMC Acts. DIRECT MARKETING HAVE NOT BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING” DD 22 JANUARY 2013: FINAL REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF DD Due to the restrictive provisions STATE MINISTERS, INCHARGE OF of the Essential Commodities Act AGRICULTURE MARKETING TO and various Control Orders issued PROMOTE REFORMS, CHAIRED thereunder, private investment in BY HARSHVARDHAN PATIL large scale storage and marketing infrastructure including in DD This Committee was set up on 2 the areas of contract farming, March 2010 to persuade various direct marketing have not been very encouraging. Under the present system, the marketable As the APMC was surplus of one area moves out to consumption centres through created to protect a network of middlemen and the interests of traders and institutional agencies. Thus, there exists national level farmers it will be in physical, though, there is no the fitness of things national level regulation for the to give farmers the same and the existing regulation does not provide for a barrier choice of going to free market in the country. There the PMC or not. In the are many significant Inter-State barriers to trade, viz. (a) Taxation light of this, the need Related Barriers (variation in is to pursue further rates, applicability of VAT, levy of reforms in the state market fee at multiple point, etc.); (b) Physical Barriers (Essential APMC Acts. Commodities Act, Check Posts, APMC Regulations, etc.); and (c) Statutory Barriers relating States/UTs to implement the to licensing and registration reforms in agriculture marketing of traders, commission agents. through adoption of Model Therefore, there is a need APMC Act and Model APMC to develop a national level Rules, suggest further reforms single market for agricultural necessary to provide a barrier free commodities by removing all national market for the benefit of the existing barriers of licensing, farmers and consumers and also movement and storage. suggest measures to effectively disseminate market information DD In order to regulate and control and to promote grading, the supply and distribution standardisation, packaging, and of foodgrains from surplus to quality certification of agricultural deficit areas, the Government produce. of India implements Essential Commodities Act to control Excerpts: and regulate production,

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 29 manufacturing and distribution production to the consumption of essential commodities in the centres. This will help to contain country in the event of short uneven price fluctuations and supply. The Act itself does not ensure optimum management of lay the Rules and Regulations the supply chain. but allows the States to issue Control Orders in the event of DD The regulation of markets, malpractices like hoarding and however, achieved limited black marketing i.e., “Licensing success in providing an efficient of Dealers/Retailers for trade agricultural marketing system in foodgrains”; “Restrictions in the country because, over on movement of foodgrains”; the years, these development- and “Regulation of Storage oriented institutions (e.g. the limits”. Since 1993, the Central State Agriculture Marketing Government has decided to treat Boards, APMCs etc.) turned out the entire country as a single to be more of revenue generating food zone, but the States are still institutions than facilitating imposing such orders and restrict efficient marketing practices to movements now and then. benefit the farmers and other market participants. Apart DD State Governments often issue from the market regulation Control Orders promulgated under programme, the Essential the Essential Commodities Act, Commodities Act and plethora 1955 adversely affecting trading of Orders promulgated under in agricultural commodities such this Act by the Centre and States as foodgrains, edible oils, pulses prevented development of free and sugar. These Control Orders and competitive marketing broadly relate to licensing of system in the country dealers, regulation of stock limits, restrictions on movement of DD Apart from the market regulation goods and compulsory purchase programme, the Essential under the system of levy. Due to Commodities Act, 1955 (EC the restrictive provisions of the Act) and plethora of Control Essential Commodities Act and Orders promulgated under this various Control Orders issued Act by the Centre and States thereunder, private investment in prevented development of free large scale storage and marketing and competitive marketing infrastructure including in the system in the country. Due to the areas of contract farming, direct restrictive provisions of the EC Act marketing have not been very and various Control Orders issued encouraging. thereunder, private investment in large scale storage and marketing DD Agricultural Produce Marketing has virtually become non-existent. Regulation Act and Essential These Control Orders also give rise Commodities Act need to be to inordinate delay in haulage of amended to ensure barrier agricultural produce at the border free storage and movement check points creating artificial of agricultural commodities barriers on the movement across the States as storage and and storage of agricultural movement are very important commodities and to that extent marketing functions for the formation of common market. maintaining regular supply and distribution of food products in DD The regulatory framework needs the country from the point of to undergo a change by providing

30 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers free hand to private sector to own, FEBRUARY 2013: ECONOMIC operate and manage markets/ SURVEY 2012-13, CHAPTER alternate marketing system with 8: AGRICULTURE AND FOOD backward and forward linkages. MANAGEMENT The Government may at best formulate rules of the game for Excerpts: the market players rather than controlling the system. The role of DD Organised marketing of the Government should be that of agricultural commodities has facilitator only. been promoted in the country through a network of regulated DD The present Act restricts the markets to ensure reasonable farmers from selling their produce gains to farmers and consumers to processor/manufacturer/bulk by creating a market environment processor outside the market conducive for fair play of supply and yard as the produce will have demand. In order to bring about to channel through regulated reforms in the sector, a model market according to provisions Agricultural Produce Marketing of the APMC Act. In the changed (Development and Regulation) scenario, the producer should (APMC) Act was prepared in 2003. be free to enter into direct sale Though the process of market without the involvement of other reforms has been initiated by middlemen outside the market different state governments yard in the market area under through amendments in the the relevant provision of the present APMC Act on the lines concerned Act. This will facilitate of Model Act, many of the states direct marketing between are yet to adopt the Model Act the producers and processing uniformly. It is therefore necessary factories with monetary gains to complete the process of to the producer-seller through market reforms early in order to improving competitiveness and provide farmers an alternative to the consumers by way of competitive marketing channel reasonable prices. for transaction of their agricultural produce at remunerative prices. DD Under the present APMC Act, only Development of an agricultural State Governments are permitted marketing infrastructure is the to set up markets. Monopolistic foremost requirement for the practices and modalities of the growth of a comprehensive State-controlled markets have and integrated agricultural prevented private investment in marketing system in the country. the sector. The licensing of traders For the purpose, the Ministry in the regulated markets has led of Agriculture is implementing to the monopoly of the licensed demand-driven Plan schemes traders acting as a major entry by providing assistance to barrier for new entrepreneurs. entrepreneurs in the form of The traders, commission agents back-ended credit-linked subsidy, and other functionaries organise viz. the Grameen Bhandaran themselves into associations, Yojana and Development/ which generally do not allow Strengthening of Agricultural easy entry of new persons, stifling Marketing Infrastructure, Grading the very spirit of competitive and Standardisation. functioning. FEBRUARY 2014: ECONOMIC

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 31 SURVEY 2013-14, CHAPTER DD 79: On domestic and international 8: AGRICULTURE AND FOOD marketing, the plethora of MANAGEMENT government interventions that were used to build a marketing set Excerpts: up have actually served as barriers to trade. Removing market DD 52: Information asymmetry is a distortions will create greater major market barrier. In order competition in markets, promote to benefit all stakeholders in the efficiency and growth, and agriculture supply chain, and facilitate the creation of a national especially to enable farmers agriculture market. Thus, while to take rational and informed the agricultural market is by itself decisions about cropping pattern not fully malleable to becoming and marketing strategies, the a perfectly competitive structure, FMC is implementing the Price it can asymptotically approach

Under the present APMC Act, only State Governments are permitted to set up markets. Monopolistic practices and modalities of the State-controlled markets have prevented private investment in the sector. The licensing of traders in the regulated markets has led to the monopoly of the licensed traders acting as a major entry barrier for new entrepreneurs. The traders, commission agents and other functionaries organise themselves into associations, which generally do not allow easy entry of new persons, stifling the very spirit of competitive functioning.

Dissemination Scheme. Under it. Since agriculture provides this, the futures and spot prices the backward linkage to agro- of National Exchanges and the based industries and services, it spot prices of AGMARKNET from has to be viewed holistically as a around 1700 mandis are run on seamless farm-to-fork value chain, real-time basis on price tickers/ comprising farming, wholesaling, boards installed in 267 APMCs, warehousing, logistics, processing, KVKs, and other locations where and retailing including exports. farmer footfall is high. To increase For establishing a national awareness amongst farmers common market, some reforms and other stakeholders and for are needed: them to benefit from the price discovery mechanism, there is (i) Examine the APMC Act, EC Act, need to install them in all markets, Land Tenancy Act, and any such including farmers markets. legally created structures whose

32 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers provisions are restrictive and create focused on addressing some of barriers to free trade. the concerns within the existing framework of state Agricultural (ii) Rigorously pursue alternate Produce Marketing Committees marketing initiatives, like direct (APMC). They have however marketing and contract farming. failed to address monopolistic and uncompetitive practices in (iii) Examine inclusion of agri inter-state trading of agricultural related taxes under the General products. The Committee on Goods and Services Tax (GST). Agricultural Reforms (2013) noted that, ‘By and large, the (iv) Establish stable trade policy APMCs have emerged as some based on tariff interventions instead sort of Government sponsored of non-tariff trade barriers. monopolies in supply of marketing services/ facilities, with (v) Develop and initiate competition all drawbacks and inefficiency in the agro-processing sector. associated with a monopoly’. Incentivise the private sector to scale up investments. DD Thus, the APMC Act has not achieved the basic objective NEED FOR REFORMS IN of setting up a network of AGRICULTURAL MARKET physical markets. There are some successful initiatives in direct DD There has been limited success in marketing, such as Apni Mandi establishing efficient agricultural in Punjab, Uzhavar Sandhai in marketing practices in India. Tamil Nadu, Shetkari Bazaar in The monopoly of government- Maharashtra, Hadaspur Vegetable regulated wholesale markets Market in Pune, Rythu Bazar in has prevented development of Andhra Pradesh, Krushak Bazaar a competitive marketing system in Odisha, and Kisan Mandi in in the country. In the context Rajasthan. of liberalisation of trade in agricultural commodities and for DD Some measures that would the domestic farming community facilitate the creation of a barrier- to reap the benefits of new global free national market are: market access opportunities, there is a need to integrate (i) Permit sale and purchase of and strengthen the internal all perishable commodities such as agricultural marketing system. fruits and vegetables, milk and fish in any market. This could later be D D Various committees and task extended to all agricultural produce. forces of the government recommended that control over (ii) Exempt market fee on fruits agricultural markets by the state and vegetables and reduce the high be eased to facilitate greater incidence of commission charges on participation of the private agricultural/ horticultural produce. sector, particularly to stimulate massive investments required for (iii) Taking a cue from the success of the development of agricultural direct marketing efforts of states, the marketing. The model Agricultural APMC/other market infrastructure Produce Marketing (Development may be used to organise farmers and Regulation) [APM(DR)] Act of markets. FPOs/self-help groups 2003 was circulated to all states for (SHGs) can be encouraged to organise adoption. The reforms have largely farmers markets near urban centres,

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 33 malls, etc. that have large open DD The levies and other market spaces. These could be organised charges imposed by states vary every day or on weekends, depending widely. Statutory levies/mandi on the concentration of footfalls. tax, VAT etc. are a major source of market distortion. Such high level (iv) Include ‘facilitating organisation of taxes at the first level of trading of farmers markets’ under the have significant cascading effects permitted list of corporate social on the prices as the commodity responsibility (CSR) activities under passes through the supply chain. Companies Act 2013, to encourage companies engaged in agri-allied DD For rice, listed in Table 8.1, these activities, food processing etc to charges can be as high as 14.5 take up this activity under CSR and percent in Andhra Pradesh also help in setting up supply chain (excluding the state VAT) and infrastructure. This would be similar close to 10 percent in Odisha to the e-Choupal initiative of ITC Ltd., and Punjab. For wheat, too, these but under CSR. charges can be quite high (Table 8.2). (v) All the above facilitators can also tie-up a link to the commodity DD Even the model APMC Act exchanges’ platform to disseminate (described below) treats the spot and futures prices of agricultural APMC as an arm of the State, commodities. and, the market fee, as the tax levied by the State, rather than FEBRUARY 2015: ECONOMIC fee charged for providing services. SURVEY 2014-15 VOLUME I, This is a crucial provision which CHAPTER 8: A NATIONAL acts as a major impediment to MARKET FOR AGRICULTURAL creating national common market COMMODITIES- SOME ISSUES AND in agricultural commodities. THE WAY FORWARD Removal of this provision will pave a way for creating competition 8.2: APMCS LEVY MULTIPLE FEES, and a national common market OF SUBSTANTIAL MAGNITUDE, for agricultural commodities. THAT ARE NONTRANSPARENT, AND HENCE A SOURCE OF POLITICAL DD Moreover, though the market fee POWER. is collected just like a tax, the revenue earned by the APMCs DD Tables 8.1-8.3 convey a sense of does not go to the State exchequer the magnitudes and multiplicity and hence does not require the of fees arising from the operation approval of State legislature to of the APMCs. They charge a utilise the funds so collected. Thus market fee of buyers, and they APMC operations are hidden from charge a licensing fee from the scrutiny. commissioning agents who mediate between buyers and 8.3: ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES ACT, farmers. They also charge small 1955 VS APMC ACT licensing fees from a whole range of functionaries (warehousing DD The scope of the Essential agents, loading agents etc.). In Commodities Act (EC Act) is addition, commissioning agents much broader than the APMC charge commission fees on Act. It empowers the central and transactions between buyers and state governments concurrently farmers. to control production, supply and distribution of certain

34 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers commodities, including pricing, to facilitate direct sale of agricultural stock-holding and the period for produce to consumers; and which the stocks can be kept and to impose duties. The APMC Act (g) provides for the creation of on the other hand, controls only marketing infrastructure from the the first sale of the agricultural revenue earned by the APMC. produce. Apart from food-stuffs which are covered under the DD The model APMC Act provides APMC Act, the commodities some freedom to the farmers to covered under the EC Act sell their produce directly to the generally are: drugs, fertilisers, contract-sponsors or in the market and textiles and coal. set up by private individuals, consumers or producers. The 8.4: MODEL APMC ACT model APMC Act also increases the competitiveness of the DD Since these State Acts created market of agricultural produce by fragment markets (2477) for allowing common registration of agricultural commodities and market intermediaries. Many of curtailed the freedom of farmers the States have partially adopted to sell their produce other than the provisions of model APMC through the commission agents Acts and amended their APMC and other functionaries licensed Acts. Some of the states have by the APMCs, the Ministry of not framed rules to implement Agriculture developed a model the amended provisions, which APMC Act, 2003 and has been indicate hesitancy on the part of pursuing the state governments state governments to liberalise for over a decade now to modify the statutory compulsion on their respective Acts along the farmers to sell their produce lines of the Model APMC Act, through APMCs. Some states — 2003. The Model APMC Act:- such as Karnataka — have however adopted changes to create greater (a) provides for direct sale of competition within state. farm produce to contract farming sponsors; 8.6: INADEQUACIES OF MODEL APMC ACT (b) provides for setting up “Special markets” for “specified agricultural DD The provisions of the Model APMC commodities” – mostly perishables; Act do not go far enough to create a national – or even state level (c) permits private persons, farmers common market for agricultural and consumers to establish new commodities. The reason is that markets for agricultural produce in the model APMC Act retains any area; the mandatory requirement of the buyers having to pay APMC (d) requires a single levy of market charges even when the produce fee on the sale of notified agricultural is sold directly outside the APMC commodities in any market area; area, say, to the contract sponsors or in a market set up by private (e) replaces licensing with individuals even though no facility registrations of market functionaries provided by the APMC is used. The which would allow them to operate relevant provision (No.42) in the in one or more different market areas; model APMC Act is:

(f) provides for the establishment DD “Power to levy market fee (single of consumers’ and farmers’ markets

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 35 point levy): Every market shall and incremental moves may need levy market fee (i) on the sale or to be considered to get the states purchase of notified agricultural on board. For example, first, it may produce, whether brought from be possible to get all the states to within the State or from outside drop fruits and vegetables from the State into the market area.” the APMC schedule of regulated commodities; this could be DD Though the model APMC Act followed by cereals, pulse and bars the APMCs and commission oil seeds, and then all remaining agents from deducting the commodities. market fee/ commission from the seller, the incidence of these fees/ DD State governments should also be commission falls on the farmers specifically persuaded to provide since buyers would discount their policy support for setting up bids to the extent of the fees/ infrastructure, making available commission charged by the APMC land etc. for alternative or special and the Commission agents. markets in private sector, since the players in the private sector cannot DD Though the model APMC Act viably compete with the APMCs in provides for setting up of markets which the initial investment was by private sector, this provision made by the government on land is not adequate to create and other infrastructure. In view competition for APMCs even of the difficulties in attracting within the State, since the owner domestic capital for setting of the private market will have to up marketing infrastructure, collect the APMC fees/taxes, for particularly, warehousing, and on behalf of the APMC, from cold storages, reefer vans, the buyers/sellers in addition to laboratories, grading facilities etc. the fee that he wants to charge Liberalisation of FDI in retail could for providing trading platform and create the possibilities for filling other services, such as loading, in the massive investment and unloading, grading, weighing etc. infrastructure deficit which results in supply-chain inefficiencies. 8.7 ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF CREATING NATIONAL MARKET FOR 8.8 USING CONSTITUTIONAL AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES PROVISIONS TO SET UP A COMMON MARKET DD The 2014 budget recognises the need for setting up a DD If persuasion fails (and it has national market and stated been tried for a long time since that the central government 2003), it may be necessary to see will work closely with the state what the centre can do, taking governments to reorient their account of the allocation of respective APMC Acts to provide subjects under the Constitution for the establishment of private of India. The Constitution of market yards/private markets. The India does empower the States budget also announced that the to enact APMC Acts under some state governments will also be entries in the List II of Seventh encouraged to develop farmers’ Schedule (State List), viz., Entry markets in towns to enable 14: ‘Agriculture …’, Entry 26: ‘Trade farmers to sell their produce and Commerce within the State directly. ….’ And Entry 28: ‘Markets and fairs’. DD More steps may have to be taken

36 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers DD However, the perception that through e-platforms, the department the Constitution will have to be has approved Rs 200 crore for a amended if the centre has to play a central-sector scheme for Promotion decisive role in creating a national of National Agricultural Market market remains open. There are through Agri-Tech Infrastructure provisions/entries in List III of the Fund (ATIF) to be implemented Seventh Schedule (Concurrent during 2014-15 to 2016-17. Under the List) in the Constitution which scheme, it is proposed to utilise the can be used by the Union to enact ATIF for migrating towards a national legislation for setting up a national market through implementation common market for specified of a common e-platform for agri- agricultural commodities, viz., marketing across all states. Entry 33 which covers trade and commerce and production, supply (iii) On the request of the central and distribution of foodstuffs, government, a number of state including edible oilseeds and oils governments have exempted the raw cotton, raw jute etc. Entry 42 marketing of fruits and vegetables in the Union List, viz., ‘Interstate from the purview of the APMC Act. Trade and Commerce’ also allows The NCT of Delhi has taken the a role for the union. Once a law initiative in this direction by issuing is passed by the Parliament to a notification on 2 September 2014 regulate trading in the specified , ending the regulation of fruits and agricultural commodities, it will vegetables outside redefined market override the state APMC laws, yard/ sub-yard area of the APMC, paving the way for creating a MNI, Azadpur, APMC, Keshopur, and national common market. But this APMC Shahdara. The Small Farmers approach could be seen as heavy- Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) has handed on the part of the centre taken the initiative for developing and contrary to the new spirit of a kisan mandi in Delhi with a view cooperative federalism. to providing a platform to FPOs for direct sale of their produce to FEBRUARY 2015: ECONOMIC prospective buyers totally obviating SURVEY 2014-15 VOLUME II, or reducing unnecessary layers of CHAPTER 5: PRICES, AGRICULTURE intermediation in the process. They AND FOOD MANAGEMENT plan to scale their activities in other states based on the outcome of the Excerpts: experience of the Delhi kisan mandi.

BOX 5.3 : RECENT INITIATIVES IN AUGUST 2017: ECONOMIC SURVEY AGRICULTURAL MARKETING 2016-17 VOLUME 2, CHAPTER 7: AGRICULTURE AND FOOD (i) The Department of Agriculture MANAGEMENT (DAC) has issued a comprehensive advisory to states to go beyond the DD 23: The Indian farmer faces price provisions of the Model Act and uncertainties, for his produce in declare the entire state a single seasons during a year, across years market with one licence valid across owing to supply and demand the entire state and removing fluctuations, speculation and all restrictions on movement of hoarding by traders. The price risks agricultural produce within the state. emanating from an inefficient APMC market, are severe for (ii) In order to promote farmers in India since they have development of a common national very low resilience owing to the market for agricultural commodities perishable nature of produce,

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 37 inability to hold produce, hedge DD 39: Several legislations of the in surplus/shortage scenarios or State and Centre ensure that to insure against losses. the agricultural markets are fragmented and the benefits DD 37: The market risks that arise to the farmers remain low. The in agriculture trade, both above legislations need to be domestic and international are dismantled and move towards mainly due to uncertainty in the a Common National Agriculture policies of agricultural trade and Market as envisaged in the e-NAM market policies pursued by the initiative. government from time to time. The agriculture markets under DD 40: The perishable farm produce the Agricultural Produce Market needs to be kept outside the Committee (APMC) Act of the purview of present APMC, Act/ State Governments, with around proposed Model APMC, Act 2016 2,477 principal regulated markets as has been stated in the Budget based on geography (the APMCs), Speech (2017-18), in para 29, by and 4,843 submarket yards are the Finance Minister that, “Market regulated by the respective reforms will be undertaken and the APMCs. The posts in the market States would be urged to denotify committee and the market board perishables from APMC.” This – which supervises the market will give opportunity to farmers committee are occupied by the to sell fruits and vegetables politically influential, who enjoy through the government created a cosy relationship with the electronic trading portal and get licensed commission agents, who remunerative prices. in turn exercise monopoly power, at times by forming cartels. The STOCK LIMITS UNDER THE farmers lose out in the APMC ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES ACT (ECA), market dynamics. 1955

DD 38: There is need to remove all DD 41: The stock limits imposed restrictions on internal trade on agricultural commodities and dismantle fragmented legislations The price risks that govern agriculture. At present, there are four legislations emanating from an in existence/formulation to inefficient APMC regulate agriculture markets, market, are severe »» Model APMC Act, 2016 to replace for farmers in India the present state legislations on since they have very markets, low resilience owing »» Agricultural Produce Trading to the perishable (Development and Regulation) Act, 2017, nature of produce, inability to hold »» A law that would regulate contract farming and produce, hedge in surplus/shortage »» A law/regulation that would regulate e-NAM. scenarios or to insure against losses.

38 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers under ECA, 1955 end up curtailing • Under Essential Commodities Act, demand for farm produce and so there is a need to have distinction price. The analysis of the stock between genuine service providers limits in select states indicates and black marketeers/hoarders to that a wholesaler is permitted a encourage investment and better stock limit of around between service delivery to the farmers. It is 16 to 50 times in urban areas recommended that Contract Farming and between 10 and 80 times Sponsors and Direct Marketing in other areas than the stock licensees may be exempted from the limits for the retailer, which is stock limits up to six months of their uniform for the entire year. This requirement in the interest of trade sharp difference needs to be and facilitating long term investment. rationalised by permitting the maximum limit commencing the • The States should amend their sowing period till two months APMC Acts on the lines of Model after procurement, to be gradually Act and the reforming States may reduced to a ceiling of half. In the also notify Rules, and States may higher ceiling the farmer shall complete the process early. benefit due to higher demand and in the reduced ceiling the • The private markets should be consumer shall benefit due to treated at par with the existing increased offloading. In contrast, APMCs. requests for enhancing stock limits come when procurement • The Committee feel that scarcity process has commenced or is of marketing platforms for agriculture completed. However, the ideal produce and mismanagement and situation relates to doing away corruption in APMC markets have with the stock holding limits created a situation where farmers are along with the ECA, 1955 as being deprived of fruits of their hard- envisaged in the ‘Removal of earned labour leading to low price Licensing requirements, Stock realisation for farm produce. limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs Order, • The Committee desires the 2016,’ according to which all Government to provide adequate restrictions on permit/licensing funds and manpower to the DMI requirements, stock limits and (directorate of marketing inspection) movement restrictions were to be in order to complete the survey in removed. minimum possible time. Further, the Committee also desires the 3 JANUARY 2019: STANDING Government to hold discussion with COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE the State Governments to keep (2018-2019), MINISTRY OF Gramin Haats out of the ambit of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS APMC Act. WELFARE (DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL, COOPERATION • The Committee observe that AND FARMERS WELFARE): there is urgent need for radical AGRICULTURE MARKETING AND reform in APMC Act in the country, ROLE OF WEEKLY GRAMIN HAATS if we intend to provide justice to the farmers. Remunerative pricing for the Chaired by Hukmdev Narayan farmers cannot be ensured unless Yadav, this Standing Committee number of marketing platforms for examined the issue of Weekly Gramin farm produce are enhanced and Haats and came up with the following functioning of APMC markets is observations and recommendations: made democratic and transparent.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 39 The Committee appreciate efforts of and middleman. The Committee the Government for reforms in APMC observes that APMC markets across market. However, the Committee the country are not working in the is surprised to note the lukewarm interest of farmers due to various response of the State Governments reasons such as limited numbers of towards reforms in APMC market. The traders in APMCs markets thereby Committee is of the view that there reducing competition, cartelisation is need to involve all the stakeholders of traders, undue deduction in the especially the State Governments in name of market fee, commission the process of reforms in the APMC charges etc. The Committee was Act. The Committee, therefore, also informed that provisions of the recommends the Government APMC Acts are not implemented to constitute a Committee of in their true sense. Market fee and Agriculture Ministers of all States commission charges are legally to in order to arrive at a consensus be levied on traders, however, the and chalk out legal framework for same is collected from farmers by marketing of agriculture Produce deducting the amount from farmers in the Country. The Committee is net proceed. also of the opinion that provisions regarding entry fee and other Cess levied on transaction of agriculture produce should be done away with as it will help to reduce corruption and malpractices prevalent in APMC Markets. The Committee would like the Government to hold discussion with the State Governments to abolish entry fee and other cess in APMC Markets.

• Various factors such as distance to the nearest APMC market, dominance of middleman in APMCs, lack of transportation facilities etc. are the major factors which propel majority of small and marginal farmers to use the services of local middleman or shops to dispose of their surplus agriculture produce much below the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) announced by the Government.

• The Committee notes that Agriculture Produce Market Acts (APMC Act) which were enacted in various State Governments with the objective to ensure an environment for fair play for supply and demand forces thereby resulting in an effective price discovery for farm produce, to regulate market practices and attain transparency in transactions has become hotbed of politics, corruption and monopoly of traders

40 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers In a sublime whataboutary, the former have nurtured the ideas behind Farmer the new farm laws domestically, and the latter has been fighting against the interests of the same farmers interests are in WTO. The sole constituency that may lose a small part of their interest would be the middlemen now missing in institutionalised, and meddling trade unions finally finding a cause. Both of these have offered the Opposition farm protest platforms from which to exploit and extract political capital. The currency of democracy has shifted its stance politics from principled and beneficiary- focussed debate and protests, to petty Gautam Chikermane opportunism. Politics is skimming ORF the cream off the economy. If the 7th December, 2020 three farm laws are repealed, as the protestors are demanding, farmers The entry points to the capital of will lose thrice over. the world’s fifth-largest economy will be blocked on 8 December 2020. The Farmers will lose their flexibility to reason is a protest against three laws sell that attempt to give freedom of choice to farmers, a virtue in any other part First, farmers lose the flexibility of the world. Leaders of 11 political of selling their produce at better parties, from Congress president prices outside predesignated Sonia Gandhi and DMK chief M.K. mandis. The Farmers’ Produce Trade Stalin, NCP leader Sharad Pawar and Commerce (Promotion and to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Facilitation) Act, 2020, beaks the Yadav are lending their support for monopsony of Agriculture Produce the ‘Bharat Bandh’. Residents of Marketing Committees (APMC). This New Delhi will not be allowed on is an institution created during the roads, they will not be permitted economy of shortages and bound to do their business because a farmers to selling their output to the few middlemen and their political APMCs (mandis) and nowhere else. organisers will lose their monopsony Over the decades, the economics of power to buy from farmers. Illiterate APMCs has gathered political power. motivations have attempted to turn This is an institution that as served its this into a geopolitical moment, purpose and needs to dissolve or die with Canadian Prime Minister Justin in the 21st century. Simply put: the Trudeau following Indian leaders in new law entitles farmers to sell their politicising the issue. crop outside APMCs and across states (Chapter II, Sections 3 and 4). While

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 41 as cold chain infrastructure does not come up and return to the Because agriculture era of price controls. The Essential is a state subject Commodities (Amendment) Act, under the 2020 brings an ancient 20th ancient law, the Essential Commodities Constitution, but Act, 1955, in tune with 21st century food is a national realities, flexibilities and aspirations. It aims to ease excessive controls over market, the law the production and distribution of enables farmers agricultural commodities. It attempts to access that to deregulate the prices of cereals, pulses, potato, onions, edible oilseeds market while and oils (Section 2); controls will come remaining within into effect “only under extraordinary circumstances which may include the Constitutional war, famine, extraordinary price rise confines of Union- and natural calamity of grave nature”. State relations. No These circumstances have been specified — 100 percent increase rational farmer, or a in the retail price of horticultural politician seeking to produce, or 50 percent increase in the retail price of non-perishables. The benefits them, can time period has been specified — the oppose this law. prevailing price over the preceding 12 months or average retail price this is clearly a benefit, it doesn’t stop over the preceding five years. Most them from selling to APMCs. But important, given the criminal it — rightly — prevents APMCs from wastage of food year after year in FCI, charging any market fee, cess or levy this amendment paves the way for outside APMC areas. Further — again cold chain infrastructure to come up, rightly — it prevents state governments thereby managing the problems of from levying “market fee or cess or seasonality. Essentially, it allows cold levy, by whatever name called” on any chains to hold perishables to be able farmer, trader or electronic trading to sell them after the harvest period. and transaction platform (Chapter II, This will help the storage of fruits and Section 6). With a dispute resolution vegetables — and has no impact on mechanism in place (Chapter III, rice and wheat. By repealing this law, Sections 8, 9 and 10), the law plugs the Indian farmer will be relegated potential exploitation of the farmer. back to the 20th century, function Because agriculture is a state subject within a limited span of prices and under the Constitution, but food is commodities, while the rest of the a national market, the law enables country, including wealthy farmers farmers to access that market while and middlemen protesting in their remaining within the Constitutional name, drive their SUVs into the 21st. confines of Union-State relations. No rational farmer, or a politician Farmers will lose protections when seeking to benefits them, can oppose dealing with institutions this law. Finally, the repeal of the third Farmers will return to the era of law will ensure that any legislative price controls mechanism that farmers get while dealing with non APMC buyers, such Second, loss of inventory of crop as agri-business firms, processors,

42 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers wholesalers, exporters or large this protest, is really the politics of retailers, will end. The Farmers vested interests that is steamrolling (Empowerment and Protection) over farmer economics. Every reform Agreement on Price Assurance and has to pass through and either co- Farm Services Act, 2020 is a closure opt or side-line vested interests — the of the two laws above. It creates incumbents who resisted foreign a legal framework of agreements entry into Indian businesses in 1991, within which farmers can engage the brokers who resisted electronic with companies and wholesalers. trading in 1994, the unions that From defining a “farming agreement” have resisted the entry of private (Chapter I, Section 2(g)), to detailing banks (and still do), the traders who it (Chapter II, Sections 3 to 12) and resisted FDI in retail (and still do), finally creating a dispute settlement the companies that found loopholes mechanism (Chapter III, Sections in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy 13 to 15), this law legislates all Code (IBC) law such that it has had components of an agriculture to be amended several times, the transaction — pricing, transparency, corrupt tax officials that have turned payment mechanisms and manner the goods and services tax into a of delivery. It places compliances compliance nightmare rather than on quality and standards (Chapter a catalyst of convenience…the list of II, Section 4), a power held by the vested interests coming in the way of middlemen in APMCs and to which economic reforms is long. the small farmer has no questioning recourse, that factors in farm Many of those protesting against practices, climate, pesticide residue these laws have been proponents of and food and safety standards. the same reforms earlier. There are Irrespective of the output and more than 200 citizens from 12 states, whatever the nature of agreement or including from Punjab, that have dispute, the law prohibits sponsors signed on “Farmers’ Manifesto for (companies, processors, wholesalers) Freedom”, among which the APMC from acquiring ownership rights or and Essential Commodities Act have making permanent modifications on been named as institutions getting farmer’s land or premises (Chapter in the way of these freedoms. Item II, Section 8), thereby protecting the No. 21 under Chapter 7 in the Indian farmer’s land. The law further enables National Congress (INC) manifesto of the agreement with modern financial 2019 says the party will replace the instruments like insurance and credit Essential Commodities Act, which (Chapter II, Section 9). “belongs to the age of controls”; Item 11 under the same Chapter says the What’s all the fuss all about? INC will repeal the APMC Act and “make trade in agriculture — including The political economy of this bandh, exports and inter-state trade — free

Irrespective of the output and whatever the nature of agreement or dispute, the law prohibits sponsors (companies, processors, wholesalers) from acquiring ownership rights or making permanent modifications on farmer’s land or premises (Chapter II, Section 8), thereby protecting the farmer’s land.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 43 from all restrictions”. This is what the the government must act on it with Essential Commodities (Amendment) an amendment, as it has done with Act, 2020, and the Farmers’ Produce IBC. But if the dharna, the protest Trade and Commerce (Promotion and and the inconvenience to citizens Facilitation) Act, 2020 have done. An is merely another reason to hold August 2010 letter by Sharad Pawar back important and crucial reforms (then Union Minister of Agriculture) because of a politics that supports to Sheila Dikshit (then Chief Minister small slivers of vested interests of Delhi) called for amending the rather than the large swathe of state APMC Act “to encourage small farmers, the government must private sector in providing alternative not give in. At the same time, while competitive marketing channels”. digging its heels on the economics of farm laws, it must simultaneously All three — farmer bodies, the reach out to genuine beneficiary Congress and Pawar — can change farmers. If the potential benefits of their minds: a democracy and its these reforms are not articulated interests are free to shift stances in politically to those benefiting from tune with changing needs. Further, them, the debate would be hijacked in a democracy, all voices need to by the entrenched elite trying to hold be heard and protests are a valid them back. The wellbeing of farmers and valuable tool. By negotiating must be taken into account — it is the with farmer representatives, the missing conversation in this political government is hearing them. If a new drama. argument comes against the laws,

44 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers And yet, the discourse against India’s recent agricultural reforms has Agriculture been hijacked by protests in the name of poor small farmers. The drivers of these protests are rich, large and reforms: influential farmers and traders. This is one more example where politics of the past is attempting to prevent ignore political prosperity of the future. The Union government must not give in. In fact, it must start communicating directly rhetoric, with small farmers — the middlemen in the closed agricultural chain are the same that ensure exploitative embrace politics on farms. While doing that it must offer a farmer credit driven Jan Dhan equivalent, an institution prosperity currently controlled by the same middlemen opposing this reform.

economics Three laws for one constituency

Gautam Chikermane There are three laws that have ORF become controversial. Here are some 22nd September, 2020 key provisions these laws offer.

A visibly low-hanging economic The Essential Commodities reform contains within it several (Amendment) Act, 2020. This law vested interests. The protests we see aims to ease excessive controls over against three important agricultural the production and distribution of reforms recently are, therefore, not agricultural commodities. It brings surprising. They are one more step an ancient 20th ancient law, the in the noisy democracy of India that Essential Commodities Act, 1955, desperately needs economic reforms in tune with 21st century realities, on the one hand but gets swept by flexibilities and aspirations. The law the tide of political rhetoric on the aims to deregulate cereals, pulses, other. A reform that proposes to potato, onions, edible oilseeds and increase the prices farmers get for oils that will come into effect “only their output by giving them flexibility under extraordinary circumstances to sell, with governments continuing which may include war, famine, to support a base minimum thorough extraordinary price rise and natural the minimum support price (MSP) calamity of grave nature”. These within the extant system, should not circumstances have been specified cost anyone but benefit millions of — 100 percent increase in the retail farmers. price of horticultural produce, or 50 percent increase in the retail price of

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 45 non-perishables. The time period has Agriculture is a state subject under been specified — the prevailing price the Constitution; but food is a over the preceding 12 months or national market. This law enables average retail price over the preceding farmers to access that market while five years. Given the wastage of food remaining within the Constitutional produce, this amendment paves the confines of Union-State relations. way for cold chain infrastructure to The issue of Union-State control does come up. It enables food storage and not arise as the state AMPC laws and hurts none. infrastructure are not being touched; only a new enabling law has been The Farmers’ Produce Trade enacted. This law too grants greater and Commerce (Promotion and flexibility but changes nothing else, Facilitation) Act, 2020. This law hurts no farmer. beaks the monopsony of Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees The Farmers (Empowerment and (APMC), overseen by state Protection) Agreement on Price governments, and enables farmers to Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020. sell their produce to entities other than This law flows in a logical progression APMC — it does not exclude APMCs from the one above. It creates a legal — and prevents state governments framework of agreements within from levying any market fee, cess or which farmers can engage with levy outside APMC areas. Further, it companies and wholesalers that prevents state governments from buy in bulk and sell further. The law levying “market fee or cess or levy, aims to write into these agreements by whatever name called” on any pricing, transparency, payment farmer, trader or electronic trading mechanisms and manner of delivery. and transaction platform. It also sets It places compliances on quality and up a dispute resolution mechanism. standards — a power held by the middlemen in APMCs and to which the small farmer has no questioning recourse. At worst, competition The discourse between APMCs and companies will against India’s recent ensure a better price to the small farmer. In addition, as protection to agricultural reforms small farmers, it prohibits acquiring has been hijacked ownership rights of farmers at any by protests in the cost. It links the agreements with financial instruments like insurance name of poor small and credit. Finally, it creates a dispute farmers. The drivers settlement mechanism, including an of these protests appellant authority. are rich, large and Focus on farmers…

influential farmers Although procurement from and traders. This is farmers by the Food Corporation of one more example India (FCI) under the MSP will continue as it is, the performance data is not where politics of the encouraging. In the past 15 years past is attempting to (2003 and 2018), procurement by government agencies has been 26.8 prevent prosperity of percent for wheat (procurement of the future. 359 million tonnes versus production of 1,340 million tonnes) and 31.3

46 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers percent for rice (procurement of 488 million tonnes, production of 1,558 million tonnes). The numbers Competition are similar for last year (2018) — 31.3 between APMCs percent procurement of wheat, and companies will 32.7 percent for rice. Where does the balance go? According to the ensure a better price Sixty-Second Report of the Standing to the small farmer. Committee on Agriculture (2018- 2019) titled, ‘Agriculture Marketing In addition, as and Role of Weekly Gramin Haats’, protection to small presented to Parliament in January farmers, it prohibits 2019, the surplus is purchased by moneylenders and traders at very acquiring ownership low prices. The moneylender and rights of farmers traders buy independently or work as an agent of a bigger merchant of the at any cost. It links nearby mandi. Clearly, the balance of the agreements power is against small farmers. with financial The same story plays out in instruments like horticulture. In the picturesque hills insurance and credit. of Uttarakhand, for instance, small farmers leave their produce on the Finally, it creates a road in two to eight wooden boxes. dispute settlement The boxes lie there until a small truck mechanism, from one of the traders at the APMC in Haldwani drives past and picks it including an up. The farmer can see the price on appellant authority. his phone. But the traders pays less than the market price. His tools of cartelisation of traders, undue price cuts are size of the peaches deduction in the name of market fee, or the extent of ripeness, all as per or commission charges. On the last, his decision, which is opaque. The while the fees and charges are legally farmer has no recourse but to accept to be levied on traders, the cost is the price. Already reeling under the transferred to farmers by deducting weight of reduced water in rainfed the amount from their net proceeds. farms and warmer climes pushing In some states, these fees are levied more profitable apples northwards, even when sale of agriculture small farmers here have been produce takes place outside the reduced to becoming price takers, market yard. Despite the politics of the middlemen prices setters. With agriculture being located in states the change in laws, and competition and farmers there, successive state between middlemen and companies, governments have come and gone, the small farmer will definitely get a leaving the small farmers where chance at higher price. they were. These reforms could — the word ‘could’ rather than ‘will’ is being APMCs are not doing what they used because the best of intentions were supposed to; they are not and reforms can end up failing, as working in the interest of farmers. the repeated amendments to the Their monopsony status has entitled Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, the worst practices — limited numbers 2016 have shown — bring economic of traders, reducing competition, justice to small farmers.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 47 …but stop demonising middlemen. this institution by politicians, administration and middlemen. Having critiqued them above Once a corporatised structure enters in practice, the ongoing assault the farm market, several of these on the institution of middlemen problems could end. What the new is unwarranted. Bad practices, or institutions need to ensure is that twisting of an institution, does there is no transfer of old practices not render the institution inert. into this new structure. For instance, Middlemen provide an important state governments interfering with service. This service happens across and slowing down companies. The all economic activities, from auto latter may create new structures that sales (car showrooms) and real estate align themselves with the current (property brokers) to stock markets ones. This will be a work in progress. (stock brokers) and insurance The middlemen may stay, but their (agents). Without the stock broker, for extortive premiums and practices instance, there will be no liquidity in need to end. The three reform- stock markets. laws will ensure this happens. The transition will also have political The middlemen are market- implications, whose results will define makers. Over a period of time, the the outcomes of the 2024 elections. premium commanded for their services falls. Every time this has Ignore political rhetoric… happened in India, anti-reform voices have been raised, in the Lost in the ‘farmer-farmer’ din is name of investors or consumers. the farmer. Voiceless, powerless and Stock broking, for instance, carried a exploited, he has become a bystander commission of 5 percent in the pre- in the larger political wrestling in electronic trading days; today, it is a Parliament as well as on roads. In an statistically insignificant fraction of a amazing U-turn, the same political market size that is a multiple of what parties in whose manifesto these it was in the 1990s. The only area reforms have been written, is now where advantages have not reached fighting this reform. The ‘farmer’ has consumers in the corporatised- been devalued to a word, a lever for a institutionalised space is in insurance, politics that supports the entrenched where the regulator has been found and serves the powerful. The small deeply wanting — a sector crying for farmer has become incidental. reform. Remember, it is the larger farmers that have been hurt by MGNREGA, This problem of vested interests under which poorly-paid farm opposing a proven and prosperity labour shifted to a more dignified inducing reform is now happening and better paying social security in agriculture. The problem in this system. Then too, they resisted but agency structure in agriculture is not fell by the wayside as benefits to farm the agency but the lack of regulatory labour accumulated a momentum oversight over that agency. It is also that has now set in. But it took one the social structures of financing election cycle for these benefits to and credit — the middleman is also be communicated with on-ground the moneylender, even if the rates changes. These reforms too are likely are usury — an area that commercial to go the same way. banking has not been able to penetrate, but can by extending the …embrace prosperity economics. Jan Dhan Yojana. The last argument against these The market failure is the capture reforms is also a red herring — that

48 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers the Union government is selling farmers don’t pay taxes. If money out to corporations. The pathetic and corporations are evil and vile, slogan ‘suit-boot ki sarkar’ will now this celebration of taxpayer-funded find a new expression. That slogan entitlements must end — you can’t slowed down reforms in the current have the benefits and eat them too. government’s first term. Having learnt their lesson, these reforms must As far as intellectuals go, they not be stopped. The evidence that have been crying hoarse about economic reforms deliver political getting these reforms for decades. benefits is not clear. But the reform Now that they are happening, with instinct is in the right direction. Living every protection given to small in palatial, colonial bungalows that farmers, their sole argument seems are a startling contradiction to the to be a lack of trust in Prime Minister poverty of India in general and small Narendra Modi. That’s not the world farmers in particular, it is very easy of ideas, not the universe of thought. to say money is bad, properties are They would do better to join a political evil and prosperity for all a mirage. party and follow their dharma there Getting taxpayer-funded benefits for than to pretend to be independent life, law makers even had their taxes thought leaders. These reforms must being paid by taxpayers. The large not be stalled or stopped at any cost. farmers pretending to fight for small

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 49 The APMC conundrum: Rolling back this reform will encourage vested interests to strike down all reform

Arvind Panagariya Times of India 9th December, 2020

To appreciate the value of the recent determined by auction, but in reform of agricultural marketing, it is practice the process is opaque. important to first understand how Storage infrastructure at APMC yards the system has functioned for many being poor, a significant part of the decades. Under the Agricultural produce regularly rots. A variety of Produce Marketing Committee taxes and commission agents’ fees (APMC) Act, each state divides its get added to the final price. The entire area into several market presence of multiple intermediaries; areas with each area managed by the nexus among APMC members, an APMC. The state government commission agents and wholesalers; appoints the APMC and commission poor storage facilities at the yard; agents (“arhtiyas”) and wholesalers taxes by the state government; and responsible for selling and buying the fees of commission agents result in produce. The APMC manages market the consumer paying a high price yards and sub-yards (mandis) where and the farmer receiving a low price. wholesale trade in the produce of the entire market area takes place. It thus The purpose of the two recent has a monopoly over wholesale trade APMC laws enacted by the central in the entire area. government is to free up the farmer from this stranglehold of the APMC Commission agents typically send and be able to sell his produce village commission agents to collect directly to the highest bidder. One produce from farmers in villages can understand that the commission and bring it to the market yard. In agents who have guaranteed income the yard, commission agents sell from APMC transactions and the state the produce to wholesalers. The government, which collects taxes wholesalers sell it to sub-wholesalers on the sales in the yard, especially who sell it to retailers. Retailers finally procurement of grains paid for by the sell the produce to the consumer. central government and hence the Indian taxpayer, would be upset by The price at which market the reform. But for the farmer, there commission agents sell the produce is no downside and the upside is to wholesalers is supposed to be significant.

50 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers Therefore, it is not an accident that protests with the benefits that the the reform has had near unanimous vast majority of farmers would reap support of not just economists and from the reform. policy analysts but also all central governments since Prime Minister A more plausible explanation is Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The latter’s that richer farmers, especially from government first introduced the Punjab, see an opportunity in the reform via the Model APMC Act of protests to extract a legal guarantee 2003. During its ten years, the UPA for a lucrative minimum support government actively lobbied state price (MSP) on all sales whether to the chief ministers to adopt the model government or private agents. Quite act. While the present government likely, it is this intent that has led has finally implemented the reform them to allege that the real intent of using its powers under the concurrent the government behind the reform is list of the Constitution, the 2019 to eventually withdraw procurement Congress manifesto also supported it at MSP when in fact no such link has unequivocally stating, “Congress will ever existed. repeal the APMC Act and make trade in agricultural produce – including How should the government exports and inter-state trade – free respond to the protests? Ideally, from all restrictions.” it should not respond at all. Any rollback of the reform is bound to In view of this diagnosis, how do we encourage vested interests to rise up explain the current farmer protests? against other reforms. Guaranteeing To be sure, some commission agents the MSP on all purchases must be who double up as farmers can be especially resisted. Given that at MSP, expected to oppose it. One may the supply of grain would exceed further speculate that fearing the demand, the price guarantee would loss of tax revenue collected on large leave many farmers holding their volumes of procurement of grain sacks of grain in hand with no one to and paid by taxpayers in the rest of buy them. And it would surely not be India, governments in states such fair to expect the taxpayer to foot the as Punjab and Haryana might also bill by letting the government pick covertly or overtly encourage their up all the excess supply. farmers to join the protests. But these explanations are insufficient As a last resort, if the government to reconcile the massive scale of the must offer an olive branch, it should do

During its ten years, the UPA government actively lobbied state chief ministers to adopt the model act. While the present government has finally implemented the reform using its powers under the concurrent list of the Constitution, the 2019 Congress manifesto also supported it unequivocally stating, “Congress will repeal the APMC Act and make trade in agricultural produce – including exports and inter-state trade – free from all restrictions.”

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 51 so only after ensuring that protesting If Punjab chooses to live with laws farmers genuinely represent the view that hurt its own farmers, so be it. of the majority of the farmers of their Let the wiser states benefit from the respective states. In that case, it may reform and, like Bihar, which had allow the states to amend the new done away with its APMC Act in 2006, central laws as per local sentiment see their agricultural sectors flourish by passing amendments in the while that of Punjab languishes. legislatures and seeking the Centre’s permission for them.

52 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers Corporates can help expand market rather than driving out mandis

Arvind Panagriya survey even recommends allowing Times of India imports of agricultural commodities 18th December, 2020 in limited quantities.

That nearly all opposition parties Successor CEA Raghuram Rajan have joined the farmer protests made the same recommendation in against recent reforms of agricultural the Economic Survey 2012-13. This markets is not surprising. In survey states, “It is necessary that democracies, opposition parties are we evolve mechanisms for linking there to oppose, sometimes even wholesale processing, logistics and policy changes that they themselves retailing with farm-production championed when in power. activities so as to generate enhanced efficiency, better farm prices, etc. The What is surprising, however, is that private sector should be allowed to the present episode has seen even operate in developing these market some leading economists switch linkages… Recently the government sides. Specifically, the last two Chief allowed FDI in retail, which … can Economic Advisers (CEAs) under pave the way for investment in the United Progressive Alliance new technology and marketing of (UPA) government, who had both agricultural produce in India.” recommended reforms similar to those just enacted, have now come Both CEAs had thus endorsed down heavily on them. the entry of not just Indian private companies but also foreign multi- The Economic Survey 2011-12, brand retailers in agricultural which the then CEA Kaushik Basu marketing. Yet, both have now authored, states that any farmer “who argued that the new laws open the gets better prices and terms outside door to the exploitation of farmers by the Agricultural Produce Marketing private companies. It is possible that Committee (APMC) or at its farm gate they made the recommendations in should be allowed to do so.” It adds, the Economic Survey despite holding “Considering significant investment contrary views because this was gaps in post-harvest infrastructure of the government policy. But, to my agricultural produce, organised trade knowledge, neither has offered such in agriculture should be encouraged a clarification. and the FDI in multi-brand retail once implemented could be effectively Be that as it may, the substantive leveraged towards this end.” The question the critics must answer is

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 53 precisely how a private company and Hatsun have been buying milk would exploit the farmer rather than from hundreds of thousands of small serve as counterweight to the APMC milk producers side-by-side with commission agent who, in cahoots government cooperatives for years. with the wholesaler, fixes the price of Rather than exploit the producers, his produce without any consultation they have helped expand the demand with him while also charging a hefty for their milk by greatly expanding commission? markets for milk products.

It bears reminding that agricultural marketing reform is not as new as Some critics critics would have us believe. Prime compare the poverty Minister A B Vajpayee first initiated of Bihari farmers it through the Model APMC Act, 2003. With encouragement from all to the prosperity of subsequent central governments, to- Punjabi farmers to date, 20 states have amended their APMC Acts with 16 notifying rules argue that APMC and regulations implementing one reform hurt Bihar. or more features of the Model Act. Such comparison is Additionally, Bihar entirely did away with its APMC Act in 2006. Broadly wholly fatuous. Bihari speaking, states such as Andhra, farmers are poorer Bihar, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh that embraced the Model Act in than their Punjabi earnest have seen agriculture grow counterparts despite faster than other states. Between faster agricultural 2006-07 and 2018-19, the sector grew at annual average rates of 7.1%, growth in recent 5.3%, 3.9% and 6.8%, respectively, in years because they these states.

started out far The corresponding growth rate poorer. in Punjab was a paltry 1.8%. Some critics compare the poverty of Bihari farmers to the prosperity of Punjabi When reminded of this pitfall of farmers to argue that APMC reform their argument, critics switch to hurt Bihar. Such comparison is wholly arguing that the large corporations fatuous. Bihari farmers are poorer would simply drive out the APMC than their Punjabi counterparts mandi and then pick up the farmer’s despite faster agricultural growth in produce for a song. One wishes that recent years because they started out corporations had this kind of power far poorer. to drive the government out of an activity it chooses to undertake. Punjab, which had ranked 2nd Reform advocates would then be among all states in per-capita Net spared decades of effort to persuade State Domestic Product rankings till the central and state governments to 1992-93, fell to the 10th rank in 2018- exit many manufacturing activities in 19. which they persist. Some critics have argued that Economists Ramesh Chand and unlike the 1991 reforms, which Ashok Gulati further remind us that responded to a balance-of-payments Private corporations such as Nestle crisis, the present “big bang” reform

54 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers Private corporations such as Nestle and Hatsun have been buying milk from hundreds of thousands of small milk producers side-by-side with government cooperatives for years. Rather than exploit the producers, they have helped expand the demand for their milk by greatly expanding markets for milk products.

has been introduced without there A final criticism is that the reform being any crisis in agriculture. But is has been introduced without it not the case that India’s farmers sufficient prior groundwork. The flip are in perpetual crisis, partially due side here is that prior groundwork to poor realisation of price for their can become an excuse to deny the produce? And can the present reform farmer justice perpetually. None of be really characterised as big bang? telecom and airline reforms under In a large number of states, it has PMs Narasimha Rao and Vajpayee, been under implementation in some right to education reform under UPA form via the Model Act for a decade or and the Goods and Services tax under longer. Moreover, whereas the 1991 PM Narendra Modi’s government reforms had dismantled the licence- would have progressed to their permit machinery in one stroke, current stage had the respective the current reform leaves the APMC governments waited till the ground structure intact, allowing the farmer had been fully prepared. to continue to transact as before.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 55 shocks in the cereals segment.

Now, however, farmers and Farm Bills Are agricultural producers have diversified their product segments, cereals no Latest In The longer dominate production, and the old control mechanisms no longer Sequential hold sway. Connecting farmers directly to the market and consumers is increasing Liberalisation farmer incomes by 20-30 per cent, as demonstrated by more than 600 agri- tech companies that have validated Of Agricultural the value proposition over the last five-seven years. Harnessing the value of these trendlines requires a Sector forward-looking policy environment which the farm bills are the latest in TV Mohandas Pai and Nisha Holla implementing. Swarajya 20th October, 2020 In the last decade itself, India has witnessed tremendous change in the The farm bills are liberating GVA composition of the agri-sector. farmers at a pivotal juncture when The share of crops has decreased the composition of the gross value from 65.4 per cent in 2011-12 to 55.3 added (GVA) in the agricultural sector per cent in 2018-19, projected to is rapidly changing. Crops, specifically further fall to 45.6 per cent in 2024- cereals, once dominated the sector, 25. Within crops, only cereals are and multiple controls were placed to supported by MSP. ensure aggregation, distribution and supply. In the same period, value add of livestock and fishing and aquaculture The minimum support price (MSP) is steadily increasing, as are the total evolved as a mechanism to guard value outputs of sub-segments like farmers against supply and demand horticulture, milk and meat.

56 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers With differentiated production strategies that are less reliant on cereals and more on other segments, These bills endeavour farmers are accruing better incomes. to hand back agency By diversifying their produce, they are moving away from one-crop risks. to the Indian farmer. They enable farmers Three bills were recently passed to make farmers more independent the freedom to and to improve their earning ability diversify their crops — the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce Bill, Farmers Agreement and produce, which on Price Assurance and Farm Services reduces mono-crop Bill, and Essential Commodities dependence and (Amendment) Bill. increases income These bills endeavour to hand avenues. back agency to the Indian farmer. They enable farmers the freedom to diversify their crops and Modi government has been making produce, which reduces mono-crop sequential changes in the system. dependence and increases income avenues. It started with the introduction of the National Agriculture Market They can also now sell their (e-NAM) to facilitate online trading produce anywhere, to the highest of agri-produce. Then PM-KISAN was bidder across the country; no longer introduced to provide minimum are they required to go to the mandis income support to 9 crore marginal where they are subject to middlemen farmers at Rs 6,000 annually. and layers of bureaucracy. These beneficiaries don’t benefit Contract farming is now open from MSP, which applies only to 6 per to farmers, with a framework that cent of farmers, mainly in the legacy enables them to boost the value-add farming regions like Punjab and of their products via contracts and Haryana. The first instalment of PM- assured procurement by the food KISAN Rs 2,000 per farmer was front- processing industries. Retaining the ended during the Covid-lockdown to MSP system means the government protect the interests of the farmer. is underwriting the whole network This income support was crucial in for certain crops to ensure farmers harvesting the record rabi crop cycle receive assured income for those in April 2020 and sowing the kharif crops. Government of India has crops. Record procurement was also procured 5.73 lakh tonnes of paddy undertaken in April 2020. worth Rs 1,082 crore at MSP since the last week of September 2020. The last four months, in particular, have brought many changes and Structural changes were required in support schemes for farmers. The the agricultural system to improve the KISAN credit card with an allotment livelihoods of Indian farmers. Keeping of a total of Rs 2 lakh crore credit them dependent on subsidies and to maintain larger workforces and restricted by APMCs and acts like the implements during harvest season Essential Commodities Act wasn’t is helping farmers plan and organise in the nation’s long-term interests. their harvests better, leading to Recognising this, the Narendra increased production and incomes. It also enables farmers to build formal

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 57 credit histories linked to Aadhaar that continue while these bills are put can be capitalised on to avail credit into action, thus providing valuable for expansion and diversification support to farmers and ensuring strategies. continuity of relief as farmers pursue new strategies. An important announcement has been the Rs 1 lakh crore Agri Over time, this independence- Infrastructure Fund as part of with-support model will lead to Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan to increased incomes for farmers and focus on farm-gate and aggregation overall increased contribution of the points, agricultural entrepreneurs, agricultural sector to India’s gross agri-tech companies, disease control, domestic product (GDP), compared enhancing post-harvest management to the current 17 per cent. Crucially, capabilities like cold storage and it will liberate 43 per cent of the warehousing, and formalisation of national workforce that depends Micro Food Enterprises via a cluster- on agriculture for livelihood and based approach. sustenance.

Recognising the crucial differences This also gives India the long- in growth of sub-segments, targeted awaited opportunity to orient its programmes towards the various agriculture sector towards export sub-segments like fisheries, animal markets. By catering to just the husbandry, and dairy were also Indian economy, the exposure is launched along with long-awaited hardly $3 trillion (pre-Covid GDP); amendments to the Essential instead, export-orientation caters to Commodities Act 1955. an $82 trillion global economy (pre- Covid) – a 27x expansion. On the support of these sequential abutments to the agricultural Agri exports by the US in 2018 were industry, the three farmer bills enable valued at $140 billion whereas India’s farmers to pursue their own farming at $38.5 billion. and diversification strategies. India can comfortably triple this by The numerous protests against the providing infrastructure for grading, bills expose the political and vested sorting, and supply chain distribution interests in restricting the agency of which is now possible due to the the farmers. freedom given by the bills. The nation and farmers have a generational Meanwhile, the government of opportunity here to break out of a India has announced that the various 70-year sectoral stagnation and aim subsidies that farmers avail will bigger.

Contract farming is now open to farmers, with a framework that enables them to boost the value-add of their products via contracts and assured procurement by the food processing industries. Retaining the MSP system means the government is underwriting the whole network for certain crops to ensure farmers receive assured income for those crops.

58 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers APMC laws had shackled farmers, Modi govt’s ordinance makes them as free as other sectors

Ila Patnaik and Shubho Roy grown in India. The Print 3 July, 2020 Usually, when a farmer sows the crops, there is no fixed buyer. Only Of the three ordinances announced after the farmer harvests it does he by the government that create a legal go looking for a buyer. framework for agricultural markets, the third restricts the powers of the The ordinance governs these designated mandis — Agricultural transactions in three ways: Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs). (i) It limits the operation of APMC laws by states to the market yards; Along with the amendments to the Essential Commodities Act (ii) It allows private parties to set up and a new law on contract farming, online trading platforms for trading the ordinance attempts to free the in agricultural commodities; and Indian farmer. It allows farmers to perform inter-state and intra-state (iii) It sets up a dispute-resolution transactions freely. It does not do mechanism for buyers and farmers away with APMCs; it gives farmers the to be operated by a sub-divisional ability to sell outside these mandis. magistrate.

This ordinance is another milestone The principal feature of the in the path of freeing up Indian ordinance is that it does away with farmers from the licence-permit raj. the requirement for farmers to necessarily use APMCs. So far, while What the ordinance allows some states exempt farmers from using APMCs, they may still force While the ordinance on contract the farmer to trade with only APMC- farming allows farmers to enter into licenced traders and pay fees to the agreements to produce crops, the APMC. ordinance on APMCs governs the sale of crops produced by the farmer The ordinance clarifies that when without the need for a prior contract. a transaction is done outside the This covers the vast majority of crops physical limits of an APMC yard,

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 59 there will be no licencing or fee collect fees for their services. Existing requirements. Anyone will be able APMCs are entirely exempt from the to buy directly from the farmer and structure envisaged in the ordinance; not be required to pay any fees to the it merely introduces another choice APMC. for farmers to sell their produce.

The law also allows private entities to set up electronic trading platforms for farm produce, which can be inter- The difference or intra-state. The central government between the price may specify rules of operation, but that farmers get for there are no licencing requirements to set up markets. their produce and what consumers pay Finally, it sets up a dispute resolution system for buyers and is called the farm- farmers. However, instead of using to-fork mark-up. As normal judicial systems, disputes this Times of India are to be adjudged by executive magistrates in the district. report suggests, this may be as high as Impact on farmers 65 per cent for India, The law frees up farmers from compared to as low the clutches of APMCs, which have (as we have argued before) become as 10 per cent for cartels of traders. The law will allow Nordic countries farmers to sell their produce directly or 25 per cent for a to anyone they want. It will increase the competition between buyers and developing country provide better prices to the farmers. like Indonesia. The Without a legally mandated law may go a long intermediary, direct sales to way in reducing this consumers (like restaurants) become possible for farmers. This can reduce difference. the price that consumers pay for food. Objections that it violates The difference between the price Constitution that farmers get for their produce and what consumers pay is called The Punjab government and some the farm-to-fork mark-up. As this keen observers have objected to Times of India report suggests, this the ordinance on the ground that may be as high as 65 per cent for this violates the federal structure of India, compared to as low as 10 per India. The Constitution of India gives cent for Nordic countries or 25 per powers to regulate markets and fairs cent for a developing country like to the state legislatures (Entry 28 of Indonesia. The law may go a long way the State List of the Seventh Schedule in reducing this difference. to the Constitution). Therefore, they argue that since the APMCs regulate The ordinance does not prevent agricultural markets, the central intermediaries from operating. government should not interfere in APMCs can continue to operate them. under state government laws and

60 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers As we have discussed before, a farmer in a district or block has to go to a single APMC. It is analogous to saying an engineer from a district can only work in a licenced software company in the district. The second restriction is on fees. Even if the farmer does not use any APMC facilities, the farmer or trader must pay APMC fees. It is analogous to cooking one’s meal at home but still be required to pay money to the nearest restaurant.

This argument is flawed in two The second restriction is on fees. ways: The extent of APMC laws and Even if the farmer does not use any the restrictions they place on inter- APMC facilities, the farmer or trader state commerce. The states have must pay APMC fees. It is analogous extended the power of APMCs beyond to cooking one’s meal at home but what is considered reasonable law, still be required to pay money to the regulating markets through measures nearest restaurant. like market areas and mandated fees. As we have discussed before, a farmer The core of any market law is in a district or block has to go to a freedom. While the market may be single APMC. It is analogous to saying regulated, participation in a market an engineer from a district can only has to be free. Forcing people to pay work in a licenced software company fees or come to a specific market in the district. make APMC laws go way beyond a law governing markets and fairs should. The states themselves have been aware of this. The Indian farmer Part XIII of the Constitution of has, for too long, India guarantees freedom of trade been subjected to and commerce across India. No state cruel and unusual can enact laws restricting inter-state commerce without the approval laws. This ordinance of the President. Most APMC laws, is a step towards because of their restrictive provisions, impinge on this constitutional normalising farming freedom. States have approached in India, and the President for approval to enact allowing farmers to such laws [for example the West Bengal law mentions it has gained reap the benefits of the approval of the President under freedom that other Article 304(b)]. If these laws were mere regulation of markets and fairs, sectors in India take there would have been no need to for granted. approach the President.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 61 The Indian farmer has, for too long, allowing farmers to reap the benefits been subjected to cruel and unusual of freedom that other sectors in India laws. This ordinance is a step towards take for granted. normalising farming in India, and

62 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers Farmers Protest: Why Congress was right in 2019, and is wrong in 2020

GAURAV CHOUDHURY Money Control 2nd December, 2020

The farmers’ protest against the in their support and has asked the three farm laws that seek to liberalise government to give farmers their due. the market for agricultural produce and commodities entered Day 7 on The Congress that is opposing December 2, with senior Congress the laws was until 2019 in favour of leader Rahul Gandhi yet again taking changes in the farm sector, which the suit-boot jibe at the government badly needs modernisation in view and accusing it of being anti-farmer. of massive increases in agricultural output in the last two decades. The government had a day earlier held an inconclusive round of talks The processing and value-addition with protesters who rejected the of this output requires a radically offer of a panel to discuss the laws. different system where buyers and Farmers, most of them from Punjab, sellers interact seamlessly. The mandi want a rollback, fearing that the trade system that farmers are seeking to in rice and wheat in particular will preserve is all about intermediation, move away from the government’s an idea that has outlived its utility. control into the hands of private sector. How Did We Get Here

The two sides are to meet again Over the last two decades, a on December 3, but a breakthrough common thread has been running looks unlikely, with farmers hardening through most commentaries on their stand and the government firm India’s larger economy: agriculture on the new laws that it says will help remains the most unreformed sector. farmers get more money for their produce, choose what they want to For too long, the story of Indian grow and sell where they want. agriculture has been a tale of market distortions. These seemingly Farmers are camping along the insurmountable hurdles frustrated borders of Delhi and have said they successive policymakers whose won’t move until the laws are taken repeated counsel to dismantle back. The Congress, which is the these barriers often ran into political ruling party in Punjab, has come out resistance, like now.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 63 In May, when Finance Minister trade — free from all restrictions”. Nirmala Sitharaman announced a raft of measures, many saw these In 2013, the Committee of State as the Narendra Modi government’s Ministers, In-charge of Agriculture demonstration of its intent to walk Marketing to Promote Reforms, the talk on marshalling reforms that which the Congress-led ruling promised to tilt the terms in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) favour of farmers. had formed, also favoured enacting an “Agricultural Produce Inter-State Structurally, these moves were Trade and Commerce (Development predicated on legislative changes. & Regulation), Bill that may, to start These required an overhaul of with, be applied for a few perishable laws that, in many ways, provided agriculture commodities and it may the oxygen to vested interests — be expanded for other commodities unscrupulous middlemen to local depending upon the experience of its political strongmen — that kept these working”. regulations alive.

The three ordinances that the Centre promulgated on June The Indian National 5 — the Farmers’ Produce Trade Congress’ (INC’s) poll and Commerce (Promotion and manifesto, released Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020; Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) ahead of the 2019 Agreement on Price Assurance and Lok Sabha election, Farm Services Ordinance, 2020, and the Essential Commodities unequivocally said (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 — seek “Congress will repeal to facilitate barrier-free trade of farm the Agricultural produce outside the markets notified under the various state Agriculture Produce Market Produce Market Committees (APMC) Committees Act and laws. make the trade in They also define a framework for agricultural produce contract-farming and impose stock limits on agricultural produce only — including exports if there is a sharp increase in retail and inter-state prices. trade — free from all Experts have often blamed the restrictions”. APMCs for unfair trading, a line of thought that the Congress also The committee, led by explicitly believed in, at least on Harshvardhan Patil, minister of paper. cooperation and parliamentary affairs in the previous Congress- The Indian National Congress’ led government in Maharashtra, (INC’s) poll manifesto, released ahead said the APMC Act and Essential of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Commodities Act (ECA) “need to unequivocally said “Congress will be amended to ensure barrier- repeal the Agricultural Produce free storage and movement of Market Committees Act and make agricultural commodities across the the trade in agricultural produce — States as storage and movement are including exports and inter-state very important marketing functions

64 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers for maintaining regular supply and state list. The government, however, distribution of food products in the has said that though agriculture is country from the point of production part of the state list, the committee to the consumption centres”. was of the view that under item no. 42 of the Union List, the Centre Bigger Market is empowered to pass legislation regarding “Inter-State Trade and To regulate and develop a national Commerce” of agricultural produce at agricultural market and to provide the national level. The same was said the farmers access to such a market by the Harshvardhan committee in for better price realisation, the its report. committee said there was a need for a central legislation to deal with The APMCs, over the years, became “Inter-State Agricultural Marketing, barriers for farmers to get a fair price promotion of agribusiness, trade and for their produce, as they were forced commerce at national level”. to sell it through these committees, better known as mandis. The APMC This can be achieved even without regulations required farmers to creating any conflict with the only sell to licensed middlemen in provisions of existing state APMC notified markets, usually in the same Acts. area where farmers reside.

The Planning Commission, in the There is evidence to demonstrate 12th five year plan (2012-17), the that the middlemen or the buyers last before the institution ceased to behave like cartels. In December 2010, exist, came out in support of urgent the competition commission found reforms in the APMC system that was out that nearly 20 percent of that fraught with inefficiencies. month’s total onion trading at the Lasalgoan APMC, Asia’s largest onion “Reforming the Agricultural market in Maharashtra’s Nashik, was Produce Marketing Committee accounted for by one firm. (APMC) Acts should, therefore, have priority… The introduction of the This resulted in a large ‘price Model Act in 2003 was directed spread’, meaning many groups of towards allowing private market middlemen pocketed their share yards, direct buying and selling, and before it reached the final consumer, also to promote and regulate contract- leaving a yawning gap between the farming in high-value agriculture price the farmer received and the with a view to boost private sector eventual retail selling price. investment in developing new regularised markets, logistics and The government says the new warehouse receipt systems, and in law will enable farmers to sell their infrastructure (such as cold storage produce at attractive prices. It will facilities). This is particularly relevant also remove barriers in inter-state for the high-value segment that trade, allowing farmers from Uttar is currently hostage to high post- Pradesh, for instance, to sell to buyers harvest losses and weak farm-firm and merchants in Gujarat through an linkages,” the 12th Five Year Plan e-trading framework. document said. The argument in support of Critics have questioned the amending ECA is also similar: to government’s move to push through eliminate punitive measures such as a central legislation to govern preventive detention, confiscation agriculture — a subject that falls in the of vehicles and attachment of

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 65 properties of suspected hoarders and “Congress promises to replace black marketeers. the Act by an enabling law that can be invoked only in the case of The government’s view, it appears, emergencies,” the manifesto said. is broadly on the following lines. The removal of restrictions, based The agriculture reforms blueprint, on the recommendations of an which the government has laid expert panel, will enable merchants out, also includes the Farmers to directly purchase produce from (Empowerment and Protection) farmers in large quantities. This can Agreement on Price Assurance be particularly helpful in times of and Farm Services Bill, 2020, that bumper harvest, when farmers are is essentially aimed at creating a forced to dump produce in wholesale price signalling system, a move markets at throwaway prices. aimed at eliminating price-related uncertainties at the time of sowing.

It, however, has led to concerns that The government it could create corporate monopolies that could entrench India’s farm says the new law and agriculture economy through will enable farmers widespread contract farming.

to sell their produce There is a strand of thought at attractive prices. favouring the law, for instance, there’s It will also remove no way a tomato farmer can know the price of tomatoes when these barriers in inter- ripen and they are ready for sale. state trade, allowing This has been a major flaw in India’s agriculture market structure, where farmers from Uttar the producer, mainly of vegetables, Pradesh, for instance, have no certainty about what price to sell to buyers and the product will fetch. merchants in Gujarat In the case of paddy and wheat, through an e-trading the government’s minimum support price (MSP) serves as a proxy for framework. market prices. The MSP serves as an assured floor price that government procurement agencies such as the Previous rules limited the quantities Food Corporation of India (FCI) pay to traders could buy from farmers and farmers for paddy and wheat. hold as stock. If a trader could not buy or hold sufficient quantities of No such mechanism exists for grains for a certain profit margin, vegetables, leaving farmers to the they would not buy out surpluses fate of merchants and traders who that farmers may have to sell. This has mostly seek to hammer down prices been identified as one of the reasons to maximise their gains. why farm incomes have taken a hit. The new framework, the In its 2019 manifesto, the Congress government says, will ensure farmers promised to replace the ECA with a get to know about the indicative new law, terming the ECA 1955 as a market price of their produce at the legislation that belonged to the “to time of sowing. the age of controls”.

66 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers The Planning Commission, the The latest bill proposes a farming government’s think-tank until agreement that must provide for a 2014, repeatedly favoured creating conciliation board as well as a process conditions for contract farming to for settlement of disputes. boost farm income. Eventually, the success or otherwise The 11th five-year plan (2007- of the latest shot at reforming India’s 12) noted that “Contract farming, farm sector will depend on the extent which is being encouraged by many to which the new policies and laws States, also provides a mechanism for can give stronger bargaining power improving linkages between farmers to the millions of small and marginal and markets through the active farmers that form the backbone of involvement of the private sector, India’s food economy. which can also serve as a supplier of key inputs and extension advice”.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 67 Agriculture Reforms: There’s no wrong time to do the right thing

ANAND KOCHUKUDY Money Control 18th September, 2020

The farming community had with the Minimum Support Price been up in arms ever since the (MSP) regime, thus making farmers Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led vulnerable to the vagaries of the National Democratic Alliance fluctuating market. The farmers have (NDA) government’s issuance of largely been protesting The Farmers’ three ordinances pertaining to the Produce Trade and Commerce agriculture sector. On September 14, (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, three Bills — The Farmers’ Produce which is, in fact, a much-anticipated Trade and Commerce (Promotion reform that is set to transform the and Facilitation) Bill, The Farmers marketing of agricultural produce. (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and The monopolistic Agricultural Farm Services Bill, and The Essential Produce Market Committees Commodities (Amendment) Bill — (APMCs), which have been setting were tabled in Parliament to replace these ordinances. That the Left parties While the protests were sporadic would oppose these till last month, they have intensified in Haryana and Punjab after reforms was a September 14. Agitators in Haryana, foregone conclusion under the aegis of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), blocked the owing to their trade- Delhi-Chandigarh National Highway. unionist approach to On September 17 the Bills were issues, but the fact passed, following which Shiromani Akali Dal’s Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who that the Congress held the Food Processing portfolio in too would raise the Narendra Modi Cabinet, chose to tender her resignation in solidarity objections is rank with the protesting farmers. opportunism, as the APMC reforms The misgivings of the farmers seem to be on account of the impression have had bipartisan that has gained ground that these support for nearly reforms are a precursor to the Modi government’s move to do away two decades.

68 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers and controlling the prices of farmers’ produce through cartelisation, will cease to exert control over farmers The formalisation with this far-reaching reform. The of such contracts farmers will henceforth be free to sell would give a sense their produce at farm gates to any trader willing to buy it at a mutually of security to agreed price, bypassing the mandis. farmers, unlike the

The protests being witnessed in present situation, Punjab and Haryana seem to be which render them engineered by commission agents vulnerable to trading and middle-men, feeding on the insecurities of gullible farmers. That cartels and price the Left parties would oppose these fluctuations. reforms was a foregone conclusion owing to their trade-unionist and marginal farmers who are going approach to issues, but the fact to benefit the most out of these that the Congress too would raise two reforms as farmers with large objections is rank opportunism, as the landholdings already have some form APMC reforms have had bipartisan of protection by way of MSPs. support for nearly two decades. The possibility of forward contracts The Farmers (Empowerment and will also empower smaller farmers Protection) Agreement of Price to seek more profitable crops than Assurance and Farm Services Bill is go for the safest choices. This will an equally important reform which increase productivity, crop diversity would make it possible for farmers and lead to better demand-supply to get into formal contracts with outcomes. traders/businessmen before sowing and, which would assure them a The Essential Commodities guaranteed price for their produce. (Amendment) Bill warrants a closer inspection. Although it is an The formalisation of such contracts extension of the other two Bills, as would give a sense of security to the amendment would result in the farmers, unlike the present situation, development of cold chains and which render them vulnerable to storage facilities, the possibility of trading cartels and price fluctuations. hoarding and price manipulations For a country that is often witness need to be factored into. The Bill to farmers hitting the streets for does give the government powers government hand-outs, these Bills to impose restrictions in case of a would truly empower them to take 100 percent increase in the prices of informed decisions and be masters of non-perishables and 50 percent in their own destiny. perishables.

In fact, the long-term exploitation By and large, the only logical of farmers by various stakeholders, argument put forth by the Opposition including state governments through against these reforms pertain to the the arbitrary demarcation of APMCs powers of the Centre to enact such (often extending to an entire taluk or laws as agriculture and markets are even a district) and taxing farmers (as State subjects — entry 14 and 28 high as 8 percent in Punjab) on the respectively in List II. The Centre’s selling of their own produce was rank contention that trade and commerce exploitative. It is actually the small are part of the concurrent list would

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 69 The possibility of forward contracts will also empower smaller farmers to seek more profitable crops than go for the safest choices. This will increase productivity, crop diversity and lead to better demand-supply outcomes.

probably hold them in good stead if Conspiracy theorists suggest that these were to be judicially challenged. the timing of the introduction of the ordinances, followed by the Bills, The government will also have to is suspect, but then there is never a explain the under-allocation of funds wrong time to do the right thing. It to the Food Corporation of India (FCI), was high time that the government which is being extrapolated as a sign of concentrated on agricultural reforms the government’s lack of commitment in any case. to procure grains at MSP.

70 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 71 Farm Laws 2020: Correcting a Historical Wrong

Akhilesh Mishra 7th December, 2020 Organiser

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in anyone when told of such a system a speech in August earlier this year would be that of incredulous succinctly summed up the crux of the disbelief? Sure, some may argue, that issue bedwelling with the farming such systems existed in the medieval sector. He said, “Just as industries ages but do they still exist now? For have the freedom to fix the price of now, the argument would be, in the their produce and sell it anywhere modern times the entire systems in the country, why can’t farmers get have evolved everywhere in the world such a facility too?” and producers of goods, and indeed services, are free to sell their produce To understand what this means wherever they want and to whoever in practice, think of a world where a they want and at whatever price they producer of a good or service is told can command. Sounds logical right? that you put in your own money, Except that it was not so for Indian utilise your specialised know-how, farmers, who constitute more than put in your hard labour, create your India’s 50% workforce. own storage capacity and manage your own transport for producing and Roots of the Historical Wrong transporting the good that you want to market. One would think that is It is quite ironic that even 70 standard practice, right? That every years after Independence, India producer does precisely the same was continuing with a system in thing. agriculture which was not just medieval in method and practice but However, what would be your was actually first introduced in the reaction when you are then told that medieval period itself. Alauddin Khilji, the producer of such finished good the Turkic invader who ruled India has been told that where you sell, how in the 14th century, first introduced much you sell and at what price you the trade and price control policies sell will be decided not by you but by to support his large and marauding us, a group of people who are neither army and enrich the Turkic nobility. producers nor consumers but just a Later, East India Company during group of strong-arm middlemen who the late 18th and early 19th century are insisting on this way, because we further chained the freedom of the can. farmers by forcing them to grow Indigo and Opium and then sell it dirt Would not the first reaction of cheap rates. A few decades later, The

72 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers British, now ruling directly, followed for essential items. The intervening the same policy to procure cheap layers of middlemen, controlled by cotton for their mills in Manchester. politicians, were the big fat earners. In 1887, they even promulgated an act that has survived in one form or It is in this context that we need the other till recently. to understand the three reform bills passed by India Parliament The end result, the Indian farmers — that completely dismantled this who had created a prosperous nation unholy nexus. Let us understand that lasted more than multiple the background to these reforms, millennia — were impoverished the need for these reforms and the within a few centuries and the rural almost two-decade-long consultation economy completely decimated. A process for these reforms. country with no significant record of famine or deprivation during the dark Background of These Reforms – centuries of Europe was suddenly The Income Disparity facing a devastating famine every few decades! While the farmers have made India extremely productive with their sweat One would have thought that with and toil, the issue of profitability in India gaining Independence in 1947, the agriculture sector was always the first order of business would have being side-lined. The reforms in been to dismantle these destructive agriculture and agricultural markets policies. The reverse happened. The would upset cartels of middlemen 1887 British predatory law took and therefore were never attempted rebirth as the Essential Commodities with any serious attempt. Act (ECA), and the state-level Agricultural Produce Marketing Despite economic liberalisation Committee (APMC) Act in 1955. starting during the nineties, agriculture as a sector was left The ECA act was used to control out. What was the outcome of production, supply, trade, and storage this? Consider this data point. The of commodities arbitrarily deemed difference in the annual income of essential. The APMC act forced the Farmer and Non-Farm worker, which farmers to sell their produce only stood at Rs 25,398 in 1993-94 further through designed channels and widened to Rs 54,377 in 1999-2000 mandis (markets) and prevented and, in the next decade, it further trading outside their local area. So, increased to more than Rs 1.42 soon after Independence, while the lakh. Or consider that the dairy and nation had been politically integrated fisheries sector where government after great efforts by Sardar Patel, the intervention is minimal is growing at agriculture market was by design an annual rate of 4% to 10%, while the fragmented into a thousand pieces! growth in the food grain sector, where regulations have been excessive, has The net result of these policies, been at an average of 1.1% annually promulgated in a free India, were after 2011-12. Hence, it was always ironically the same that the policies known that the agriculture sector of Khilji had seven centuries ago. A too needed pro-farmer reforms, just small, connected group of middlemen like the reforms in other sectors, to emerged, who monopolised the increase the income of farmers. entire farm trade. The farmer got a pittance for his produce, since it was The Challenges for Farming Sector a monopoly buyer situation, while the consumer often faced high prices Due to the previous non-attempts

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 73 to fundamentally reform the much as Rs 90,000+ crore in 2014 agriculture sector, several challenges arose that held the sector back. Some 6. Restriction in Licensing: Entry of these challenges are: as a licensed agent was restricted, discouraging competition and 1. Fragmented Markets: Each encouraging cartelisation market functioned as a separate entity, hampering intra as well as 7. High Intermediation Costs: interstate trade. The fragmented system led to high intermediation costs, raising costs for 2. Insufficient Markets: At the same consumers, while depressing prices time, there were not enough markets received by farmers depressing prices to deal with growing produce. received by farmers

3. Market Fees & Charges: Taxes, 8. Information Asymmetry: Farmers various commissions raised the cost often lacked market information, of the final product, while reducing which traders & commission agents returns to farmers withheld from farmers

4. Inadequate Infrastructure: 9. Inadequate Credit Facilities: Despite market taxes, infrastructure Informal credit channels still in markets remained underdeveloped dominated formal channels. and not in tune with modern supply chains A Two Decade process of Consultation 5. Post-Harvest Losses: This inadequate infrastructure led to high Many ill-informed voices are post-harvest losses, estimated at as arguing that these bills were brought in haste without any consultation. The reality is, extensive consultation While the farmers has taken place since the last two decades and more in the run-up to have made India the enactment of these three farm extremely productive bills. The current bills are perhaps the only reforms in India for which more with their sweat than two decades of consultations and toil, the issue have taken place in various forms, and of profitability in under multiple governments, and all have been moving progressively in the agriculture the same direction. sector was always The process of consultation started being side-lined. when the then Ministry of Agriculture, The reforms in under the NDA government led by Prime Minister Vajpayee, appointed agriculture and an Expert Committee in December agricultural markets 2000 under the Chairmanship of would upset cartels Shankarlal Guru, to review and recommend measures to make of middlemen and the agriculture marketing system therefore were never more efficient and competitive. The Report of the Expert Committee on attempted with any Strengthening and Developing of serious attempt. Agriculture Marketing, 2001 said, “the

74 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers Many ill-informed voices are arguing that these bills were brought in haste without any consultation. The reality is, extensive consultation has taken place since the last two decades and more in the run-up to the enactment of these three farm bills. The current bills are perhaps the only reforms in India for which more than two decades of consultations have taken place in various forms, and under multiple governments, and all have been moving progressively in the same direction.

institution of regulated market, has, also made the recommendation however, achieved limited success. to “develop a National Single Over a period of time, these markets Market for agricultural produce, by have, however, acquired the status removing all the existing physical, of restrictive and regulated markets, legal, and statutory barriers”. It also providing no help in direct and free recommended a Central Legislation marketing…”. to deal with “Inter-State Agricultural Marketing, promotion of agribusiness, This process continued under the trade and commerce at the national UPA government when they followed level”. up with states to adopt the model 2004 APMC law and even framed new The NDA government, led by Prime rules and regulations in 2007. Other Minister Modi assumed office in 2014. forms of expert group consultations On states’ persistent request for were taking place simultaneously. some model template, the Ministry National Commission on Agriculture constituted Dalwai Committee to chaired by noted and respected formulate such a Model Act, with scientist M.S. Swaminathan members from the States of Odisha, submitted its report in 2006, which Bihar, Rajasthan, Telangana Uttar recommended promotion of Unified Pradesh. The Committee after National Market. extensive consultation recommended adoption of The Model APLM Act, In March 2010, then Minister for 2017 in April 2017. This Committee Agriculture in the UPA government, also recommended, among other Sharad Pawar, constituted an things, the promotion of the national Empowered Committee under market for agriculture produce. The the Chairmanship of Agriculture Adoption of this Model APLM Act, Minister of the Government of 2017 happened in West Bengal (TMC), Maharashtra and 10 State Ministers. Punjab (Congress), Uttar Pradesh, This Committee, in its report in 2013, Arunachal Pradesh and Haryana, suggested simplification of procedure pointing out the across the political of contract farming, barrier-free spectrum nature of the consensus. national markets, waiving off of market fee on fruits and vegetables, In order to protect the interests of among other things. The Committee farmers in Contract Farming, again

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 75 the Dalwai Committee was set up Permits online trading of which had representation from states farmers produce, allowing farmer of Punjab, Maharashtra, Odisha, organisations and private sector Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh. companies to set up their own electronic trading platforms. It is the process of this long and bipartisan consultation and Features of Farmers (Empowerment consensus, spread over two decades, and Protection) Agreement of Price and under various governments, that Assurance and Farm Services Act, finally led to the three new farm laws 2020 – The Contract Farming Bill passed earlier this year. Therefore, it is clear that the charge that these laws Farming agreements between were passed in a hurry, or without farmers and buyers are made consultation is patently untrue. possible, for production or rearing of any farm produce. At the outset, it is essential to note that these reforms do not dismantle The price of the produce will be the existing structure of State APMC clearly mentioned in the contract. Mandis. The Mandis will remain, and the farmers will be free to sell in the A specified dispute resolution existing Mandis as they currently do. mechanism, protecting the rights of The MSP structure is also not being both farmers and buyers. dismantled. The MSP system will continue and indeed, even after these Features of The Essential three reforms were announced, the Commodities (Amendment) Act, Modi government has increased MSP 2020 and then made record procurements at the newly increased rates. The Central Government may only invoke the provisions of the Essential Revolutionary Empowerment of Commodities Act, 1955 in an Farmers extraordinary situation (war, famine, extraordinary price rises and natural Features of Farmers’ Produce Trade calamities) and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 - The Creation Imposition of stock limits must of the National Market Bill· Intra and only be based on price rises, and Inter-State Trade of farmers produce can only be imposed if there is a beyond the physical premises of the 100% increase in the retail price of existing markets. horticultural produce and a 50% increase in the retail price of non- Trade can be conducted at any perishable produce place of convenience of the farmer, like: Impact of Reforms

DD APMC Mandi Modi government has set itself the goal of doubling farmers’ income DD Farm gate which necessitated initiatives and reforms must focus on creating more DD Factory premises income opportunities and better market access for farmers. The reforms DD Warehouses were undertaken in September 2020 ensure precisely that. DD Silos For every product and for every DD Cold storages producer, all of India is a single unified

76 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers development of better price discovery mechanisms for farmers, leading to a However, if farmers better price for their produce. want to sell within eNAM can finally fulfil its potential the APMC markets or of serving as the national platform at MSP, even that is for electronic trading in agriculture allowed. So, the MSP produce. acts as a safety net Contract farming can act as a form for farmers. of price assurance and will boost linkages with the food processing sector. market. Only farmers were denied this benefit of a massive market. These reforms will also boost investment in the agriculture sector, With these reforms, Indian farmers through better backward linkages, will now finally have the freedom to assured prices, and contracts for farm sell their produce to who they want services. and where they want, an option denied to them up until now. Bringing farmers together through Farmer Producer Organisations will APMC Market yards will now face enable bargaining capacity and competition from other markets. economies of scale for even small This competition to buy from farmers farmers. means farmers have the greater bargaining power to decide their The impact of these reforms will price. see India’s agriculture and food processing industries transformed. However, if farmers want to sell With India only processing 10% of within the APMC markets or at MSP, its produce and commanding a even that is allowed. So, the MSP acts share of 2.3% in global food exports, as a safety net for farmers. both these sectors will receive a much-needed fillip with a liberal If farmers find buyers willing to buy procurement regime. from them at their doorstep, they can sell to them. They also have a legal Private sector investments will framework protecting their rights pour in across the entire cold chain, when they do so. This provision saves reducing post-harvest losses and farmers the time, money and effort of ensuring better prices received by reaching markets.

Farmers will no longer be bound to pay a long list of market fees, taxes, For every product and cesses on their produce, thus, improving their returns. and for every producer, all of India Development of infrastructure close to the farm-gate will reduce is a single unified post-harvest losses, improve income market. Only farmers through grading & sorting and boost linkages to terminal markets in food were denied this processing, retail, and exports. benefit of a massive market. This will also lead to the

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 77 farmers. assurance for farmers. States had to take the lead in instituting these Better backward linkages will reforms. Yet, very little was done in ensure a better quality of produce, this direction in terms of meaningful leading India to capture a more action. significant share of global export markets. So, even the global markets These reforms were required to will open up for Indian farmers. fulfil these long-standing demands of farmers for which there was a clear Employment in the food processing bipartisan political consensus. sector will rise, especially for the rural youth, and this will put India on the For too long, farmers had been held path towards becoming the leading back by a restrictive regime. These food exporter in the world while reforms finally provide freedom to maintaining our food security. our farmers.

Most importantly, due to all of Myths vs Realities these effects, farming can become profitable even for small and marginal A lot of misinformation has farmers. been spread by vested interests around these bills. Not only are they For decades, it was clear that unjustified and in most cases are reforms were required to ensure diametrically opposite to what the better market access and price bills intend to do.

The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation), Bill, 2020 – Freedom to Sell Farm Produce Across India Act

Sl. No. Myth Reality 1 (a)“Farmers will not MSP system stays. get the MSP” In fact, the Modi government has (b)“It may eventually increased MSPs end MSP based multiple times and also procurement system” procured more from (c) “MSP operations farmers at MSP than will discontinue” any past government! The new law will not affect MSPs adversely. MSP purchase on agricultural produce is done through State Agencies and there is no change in this due to this law. MSP procurement from farmers is the top priority of the present Government and it will continue to be so.

78 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers For decades, it was clear that reforms were required to ensure better market access and price assurance for farmers. States had to take the lead in instituting these reforms. Yet, very little was done in this direction in terms of meaningful action.

Sl. No. Myth Reality 2 “Trade & Commerce This Bill is not intended Act will replace the to replace the State State APMC Act and APMC Act and do not affect the functioning affect the functioning of the APMCs” of the APMC Mandis. APMCs will continue to regulate the marketing of agricultural produce within the physical boundaries of market yards. They can levy market fee within physical mandi as per their regulations. The Act only provides farmers with additional marketing opportunities outside existing APMCs. Both the laws will co- exist for the common interest of farmers. 3 a)“Infringement into Inter-State trade the States powers of falls within Entry 42 making Legislation” of Union List of the Constitution of India.

Though intra-State (b)“Encroachment in trade falls within Entry State Powers” 26 of State List, the same is subject to Entry 33 of Concurrent List of Constitution of India. Central government is fully competent and empowered to legislate here Hence, no encroachment in State powers.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 79 Sl. No. Myth Reality 4 (a) safeguard is not Act provides sufficient provided to protect elaborate mechanism the interest of to protect the interest farmers” of farmers. (b)“Exploitation Simple, accessible, of farmers by quick and cost- Corporates” effective dispute resolution mechanism is prescribed for the farmers against traders to prevent and curb any unscrupulous acts. Payment has to be made to the farmers on the same day or within three working days. 5 “The Act doesn’t Payment has to be safeguard farmer made to the farmers on payments. the same day or within three working days. The commission agents under APMC Deterring penal are verified and provisions have payment is secured.” been put in place for traders to curb any malpractices. The penalty provision against trader will act as determent against any fraudulent motives.

6 “The Act doesn’t The State/ APMC will safeguard farmer continue to have payments. regulatory powers to impose mandi fees and The commission other charges within agents under APMC market yards/sub yards are verified and as per State Legislation. payment is secured.” State APMC Act and “Revenue loss of institutions established APMC mandis” under such statutes “The Act will block will continue to the ways for the state operate and are not to generate revenue affected in any way by from agriculture this reform ordinance. trade and will lead to But it allows for the the closure of APMCs development of private eventually giving mandi infrastructure corporates monopoly in the state and hence, on agriculture trade” improved market access for farmers.

80 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers Sl. No. Myth Reality The states with efficient services at APMC market premises will continue to attract farmers and generate revenue. It is a win-win situation for farmers with both government and private buyers lining up to buy from them.

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 – National Contract Farming Act

Sl. No. Myth Reality 1 Corporates will take Agreement will be for over farmers’ land crops and not for land. and farmers will The land of the farmer end up becoming will not be affected at laborers all. The law clearly disallows any transfer, including sale, lease and mortgage of the land or premises of the farmer. The law ensures that buyers/ sponsors/corporates are prohibited from acquiring ownership rights or making permanent modifications on farmer’s land. 2 The Act does not Clear dispute provide a legal safety resolution mechanism net for farmers outlined. Some farmers against corporates have already got due compensation by taking legal recourse against traders. No recovery of dues against farmers’ land. Farmer’s land is safe, no matter what the situation.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 81 Sl. No. Myth Reality 3 The Act does not The law clearly says provide any price that the price of guarantee for farmers farming produce may be mentioned in the farming agreement itself, which assures the price. It also says that, in case, such price is subject to variation, then, the agreement shall explicitly provide for a guaranteed price to be paid for such produce. If the buyer fails to honour the agreement and does not make payment to the farmer, penalty may extend to one and half times the amount due! Some farmers have already benefited from this 4 Big companies will The contract exploit farmers in the agreement will name of contract guarantee the farmers to get the fixed price. Farmer can withdraw from the contract at any point without any penalty 5 Such agreement- Punjab already has a based farming has contract farming law. never been tried in PepsiCo already works India with farmers of various states including Punjab through contracts, helping farmers realize better prices.

82 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers Modi’s Commitment to Indian his Prime Ministerial stint and the Farmer record in the last six years are proof of that same commitment. Some It is clear, therefore, that the three of the measures taken since 2014 farm bills passed by India Parliament, bear out that the farming sector has earlier this year have been passed always been the top focus for Modi after extensive consultations in, government and his push to double which all stakeholders were on farm incomes are not just statements board; the laws will finally free the but actual policy. Take budgetary farmers from the unfair restrictions allocations, for instance. How much imposed on them; and will create a you spend on a sector are the firmest unified national market which will proof of your intention. In the year increase competition and thereby 2013-14, the Budget allocation for income opportunities for the farmers. the Department of Agriculture was only Rs. 21,933.50 crore. In the year Prime Minister Modi has been one 2020-21, the Budget allocation has of the most consistent advocates of been increased by more than six farm reforms and his life journey, and times to Rs. 1,34,399.77 crore. experience first as Chief Minister of Gujarat and then as Prime Minister Or take the consistent focus of Modi of India are a testimony to this fact. government on not just increasing As Chief Minister of Gujarat, he led MSP but also procurement under the state in achieving double-digit MSP. MSP payment to farmers for growth in agriculture sector for paddy has risen by 2.4 times during successive years which created the the last five years in comparison to base of growth of the state. It was the period from 2009-10 to 2013-14. his record of understanding the MSP payment of Rs 4.95 lakh crore pulse of the farming sector that led has been made as against Rs 2.06 to him innovating many new policies lakh crore of the previous five years. that propelled the farming sector. He brings the same experience in MSP payment to farmers for wheat

Prime Minister Modi has been one of the most consistent advocates of farm reforms and his life journey, and experience first as Chief Minister of Gujarat and then as Prime Minister of India are a testimony to this fact. As Chief Minister of Gujarat, he led the state in achieving double-digit growth in agriculture sector for successive years which created the base of growth of the state. It was his record of understanding the pulse of the farming sector that led to him innovating many new policies that propelled the farming sector. He brings the same experience in his Prime Ministerial stint and the record in the last six years are proof of that same commitment.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 83 has increased by 1.77 times during but in fact a seven-century old cycle the last five years in comparison to of impoverishing India’s farmers and the period from 2009-10 to 2013-14. by consequence the rural economy. MSP payment of Rs 2.97 lakh crore has been made as against Rs 1.68 The agriculture reforms are lakh crore of the previous five years. significant not just for India but for MSP payment to farmers for pulses the larger world too. As free trade has increased by 75 times during the becomes a norm, income levels last five years in comparison to the will rise in rural India, a population period from 2009-10 to 2013-14. MSP zone of over 600 million, there will Payment of Rs 49,000 crore has been demand of all kinds of goods and made as against Rs 645 crore of the services. While this will undoubtedly previous five years. MSP payment to contribute to India’s GDP growth, it farmers for oilseeds and copra has will also be a significant opportunity increased by ten times during the for the producers of these goods and last five years in comparison to the services, across the world, to cater period from 2009-10 to 2013-14. MSP to an entirely new market hitherto Payment of Rs 2,5000 crore has been untouched. made as against Rs 2460 crore of the previous five years.

The provision of PM Kisan, which MSP payment to provides the direct benefit of Rs, farmers for paddy 6,000 per year to every farmer in has risen by 2.4 times India is another indicator of the deep understanding and sensitivity that during the last five the Prime Minister has towards our years in comparison farmers. The amount is beneficial for the marginal and small farmer and to the period from contributes as an extra income for 2009-10 to 2013- meeting many of his needs. 14. MSP payment of Future of Farming Sector Rs 4.95 lakh crore has been made as The latest reforms pushed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, unmindful against Rs 2.06 lakh of any short-term political blowback crore of the previous by vested lobbies, are thus genuinely historic. They reverse not just a seven- five years. decade-old stifling policy framework

84 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers Who Is Anti-farmer? Those Who Brought Farm Bills or Those Who Are Opposing the Bills?

The True Picture 18th September, 2020

In the ongoing parliament session, scaremongering with myths like, the opposition has gone into protest it will push farmers towards the mode over the two bills passed in exploitation of big corporates and the the Lok Sabha. In the din created existing market system along with by the opposition one can hear the the end of Minimum Support Price, over-use of a phrase, “anti-farmer can be heard. None of these have any law”. How are the two bills passed factual basis. Here is a quick look of in the Lok Sabha anti-farmer? Again, myths and reality in this regard.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 85 retailers for farm services and sale of future farming produce at a mutually Here comes the agreed remunerative price framework vague argument in a fair and transparent manner.

that farmers can Farmers with entrepreneurial spirit be cheated by the can explore such avenues. Staying rich corporates. But away from such agreements is anyway the choice that the farmers the law provides always have. Here comes the vague safeguards. Sale, argument that farmers can be cheated by the rich corporates. But lease or mortgage the law provides safeguards. Sale, of farmers’ land is lease or mortgage of farmers’ land totally prohibited is totally prohibited and farmers’ land is also protected against any and farmers’ land recovery. Effective dispute resolution is also protected mechanism has been provided for against any recovery. with clear time lines for redressal. Expert Opinion Two Bills in a Gist All the experts in the domain of The Farmers’ Produce Trade agriculture and economy do agree and Commerce (Promotion and that these reforms will strengthen Facilitation) Bill, 2020 simply ensures farmers. They are unanimous in freedom of selling for farmers. It claiming that the measures will opens up competitive alternative weed away the middlemen from trading channels to promote the agricultural market and the efficient, transparent and barrier- benefits will ease both farmers and free inter-State and intra-State trade consumers. and commerce of farmers’ produce outside physical premises of markets A long-time watcher of the or deemed markets notified under agriculture policy space and an expert various State agricultural produce in that domain, Ashok Gulati has market legislations. hailed the move when the measures were announced back in May. He Now what is “anti-farmer” here? wrote, “the proposed Central law to Farmers can sell their produce to allow farmers to sell to anyone outside anyone or they can still sell their the APMC yard will bring greater produce to APMC or any local competition amongst buyers, lower mandi. This is a pro-farmer step the mandi fee and the commission which provides the community with for arhatiyas (commission agents) and choices. reduce other cesses that many state governments have been imposing The Farmers (Empowerment and on APMC markets. Our farmers suffer Protection) Agreement of Price more in marketing their produce than Assurance and Farm Services Bill, during the production process. APMC 2020 brings a national framework markets have become monopsonistic on farming agreements that protects with high intermediation costs. The and empowers farmers to engage proposed law will open more choices with agri-business firms, processors, for the farmers and help them in wholesalers, exporters or large getting better prices.”

86 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers Back in 2018, economists Anirudh Then, Why Do the Political Parties Burman, Ila Patnaik, Shubho Roy, Oppose? Ajay Shah together wrote an article in which they highlighted, “Unlike So, if all the experts have for a long- other commodities, agricultural time batted for a unified national products cannot be transferred freely market in agriculture, why do many throughout the country without politicians oppose this move? being subject to state-specific restrictions. Markets in agricultural While the opposition for the sake food products are governed by legal of opposition is also playing its requirements or restrictions which role, it is also no secret that APMC were put in place with the intention administration has been a political of creating markets (such as APMCs) playfield for a long time. More often but have had the effect of keeping than not, it is the card-holders of markets non-competitive, segregated political parties who occupy and and localised.” control the middlemen and traders in the agricultural market. Sample Economist Sanjeev Sanyal these headlines from media by highlighted the problem in his article, themselves tell you the story of a “The APMC system, meanwhile, forced political economy in the name of farmers to sell their produce only farmers welfare. A headline from through designated channels and Hindustan Times from this year’s mandis. The combination led to an January reads, Cong-NCP alter APMC inefficient regime of licenses, permits election rules to regain control of and inspectors. The drawbacks of the cooperative sector, Another headline system were well documented over from Karnataka back in 2017 reads, decades and many economists had JD(S) backed candidates win APMC argued for change. Some attempts election in Kolar. were made to reform it piecemeal but the system had largely remained Natural that those who treat intact till now” agricultural markets like their political

While the opposition for the sake of opposition is also playing its role, it is also no secret that APMC administration has been a political playfield for a long time. More often than not, it is the card-holders of political parties who occupy and control the middlemen and traders in the agricultural market.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 87 fiefdom don’t want to lose control someone else did the much-needed over the system and that explains the reform. protest over this issue. This leaves us with the question- Glaring Hypocrisy of Congress who is anti-farmer after all? Is it a government that is actually freeing Congress in its 2019 general farmers from the restrictions? Or is election manifesto has promised it those who are opposing this move to repeal both APMC law and the and thereby not wanting freedom for Essential Commodity Act. The same farmers? Congress is now crying wolf when

88 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers Farmers’ protest is ‘about politics, not economics’, India’s IMF executive director Surjit Bhalla tells CNN-News18

Firstpost 12th December 2020 As the protests against the farm laws, and have staged a new farm laws entered 17th day, sustained protest at various border economist and India’s executive points of Delhi, amid the COVID-19 director at the International pandemic and a cold wave. Farmers Monetary Fund (IMF) Surjit Bhalla have raised concerns that the new said on Saturday that only a small laws will weaken the provision of percentage of Indian farmers are minimum support system (MSP) and against the new legislations. the mandi system.

He also caimed that the farmers’ However, in his interview with agitation that entered 17th day on CNN-News18’s Zakka Jacob, Bhalla Saturday is “not about economics, said that while it may seem like the but politics”. protest has garnered widespread support from other groups of people, A noted economist, Bhalla it could be possible that the people was appointed to the IMF by the protesting on-ground could have Appointments Committee of the political connections. Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in October “It is clear that the political 2019. Besides India, Bhalla also Opposition is out in force. To infer represets Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri from the demonstration that all Lanka at the IMF. the attendees are farmers, that is a stretch. The numbers are clear — Building on his column in The we know that there are around a Indian Express on Saturday, Bhalla hundred million farmers in India. spoke to CNN-News18 in the evening How many of them benefit from MSP, and said that the farmers that are APMC, etc? Wheat prices in India are protesting against the laws are “a 40-50 percent higher than world few politically connected, rich, and prices. pampered” farmers from “primarily two regions” of Punjab and Haryana. “So who’s benefiting? It’s not the 90 or 95 million farmers who don’t Thousands of farmers have produce for the market, they are remained firm on their demand for not getting the price that the MSP the withdrawal of the contentious guys are getting. Our stocks are

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 89 overflowing. This is a problem playing About the mandi system, he said out since the 1980s, when the PDS that the government should be able system was introduced,” he said. to acquire food for the PDS system from the marketplace instead of the “The reason for the protest which mandis. is primarily being run by the rich farmers in Punjab and Haryana, is that “Who will lose if we went away they think their unfair rich days are from the mandi system?” he asked. over,” said Bhalla, who has previously served as a part-time member of the Speaking about the concern that Economic Advisory Council to the the new laws will give rise to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM). The EAC-PM hoarding of food, Bhalla said, “The is an independent body constituted NFSA says that income transfers to advise the government of India, can substitute for the food. If we’re specifically the prime minister, on concerned for the poor, give them economic and other related issues. money; which is what the government is doing. So, you want to raise the Bhalla also criticised the reported incomes of the poor, you have to go demand of the farmers to set a “legal” through an elaborate system — first MSP like there is a minimum wage the government has to procure the rate in countries around the world. produce from the mandis at a price He said that the minimum wage rate to give to the poor. So, why not give and MSP are “not comparable”. the money directly to the poor? The best way to give income to the poor, “Where would you draw the line? can be with income transfers. Who What about tomatoes, pulses, onions, said poverty relief has to be through jowar — on all of them we’re going to food?” have a price to placate that small unit of farmers? Why are we listening to a Bhalla also claimed that there is very small minority of farmers in two crisis in Punjab and Haryana. “The regions of India? The total number people are being served less because of farmers in Punjab is one million,” of a few pampered, rich, politically Bhalla asked. connected farmers. That’s all there is to it,” he said. Bhalla also stated that the farmer protest is “political and has nothing On being asked about why to do with the economics”. economists like Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Raghuram Rajan, and “This is political or it’s like the Kaushik Basu haven’t supported the farmers are saying that ‘we are the new laws, Bhalla said, “They probably richest farmers in India, we are the have political goals, however, several least productive in India, please economists have come out in support subsidise us’.” of the laws.”

90 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers Maharashtra: FPCs in 4 districts make over Rs 10 crore in out- of-mandi trade since new farm laws

Parthasarathi Biswas Indian Express 1st December, 2020

Even as farmers, mostly from the laws were enacted in September, Punjab and Haryana, proceed to the FPCs in four districts have made national capital to protest the new worth Rs 10 crore from trade outside agriculture laws, soybean farmers mandis. in Maharashtra have benefited from them to get more out of APMC The Farmers’ Produce Trade deals. In the last three months, and Commerce (Promotion and MahaFPC, the umbrella body of Facilitation) Act, 2020, curtails farmer producing companies (FPC) the power of APMCs to regulate in Maharashtra, estimates that since agricultural marketing within the four walls of the markets. Earlier, any trade within the catchment area of APMCs was regulated by these In the last three cooperative bodies that had the months, MahaFPC, power to levy market cess and other the umbrella body taxes on such transactions. of farmer producing Since September, FPCs have companies (FPC) recorded an increased trade interest from edible oil solvent and extractors in Maharashtra, and animal feed manufacturers for estimates that directly procuring from their farmers. since the laws For farmers, this meant savings in terms of transportation cost while were enacted in companies benefited by not having September, FPCs in to pay for mandi cess. four districts have In the last three months, 19 FPCs, made worth Rs 10 mainly in Marathwada, have recorded 2,693.588 tonne out-of-mandi trade crore from trade with companies. Out of these, 13 outside mandis. FPCs in Latur have alone supplied

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 91 Since September, FPCs have recorded an increased trade interest from edible oil solvent and extractors and animal feed manufacturers for directly procuring from their farmers. For farmers, this meant savings in terms of transportation cost while companies benefited by not having to pay for mandi cess.

2,165.863 tonne mainly to ADM an orchard of custard apple over Agro Industries Private Ltd. Similarly, 8 acres along with turmeric and four FPCs in Osmanabad supplied banana growing over 2.5 acres of 412.327 tonne and one FPC each in his remaining holdings. Patil is also Hingoli and Nanded have supplied the head of the Nanded district unit 96.618 tonne and 18.78 tonne oilseed of the farmer union Swambhimani to companies. Shetkari Sanghatana, whose founder Raju Shetti has criticised the new Direct sale to corporates is not legislation. He said while the law new to Yuvraj Patil, who, for the past was not contentious to farmers, the five years, has been selling to the government should ensure that non- procurement centre of ADM near his MSP procurement did not happen village Shelgaon in Ardhrapur taluka outside mandis. “Also the grievance of Nanded. Patil, who cultivates the redress mechanism is weak,” he oilseed in over 17 of his 30 acres, said added. not only did it save transport cost but there were no questions about Yogesh Thorat, managing director weight in those centres. “However, of MahaFPC, said the present they stop procurement when market structure allows the farmer “choice prices fall below the government- to sell”. “We have seen farmers and declared minimum support price corporates honour commitments (MSP),” said Patil, who also maintains made to each other,” he said.

92 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers How new farm laws can benefit growers in a friendly market

India Today Bureau India Today 4th December, 2020

As a showdown between the farmers and the central government Ram Vilas Gurjar, continues in New Delhi, an India Today ground report found how the a soybean farmer, new laws can benefit growers in said he and several favourable market conditions. other growers sold While the protestors, mostly their crops at an growing wheat and rice, fear the ITC centre on a measures will destroy the price support mechanism -- the MSP premium. -- and leave them vulnerable to a volatile market, soybean and coconut “All farmers have farmers in central and southern India respectively have incurred handsome had good margins,” gains from the recent reforms. he said. “The new law will give greater The MSP regime covers 23 crops, of which the government mainly autonomy to procures wheat, rice, and some pulses farmers. They will and oilseeds, at minimum floor prices set seasonally. get better returns, with no brokers in FREE-MARKET SUCCESS STORIES between.” The MSP for soybean (yellow “All farmers have had good variety), for instance, is fixed at Rs margins,” he said. “The new law will 3,880 a quintal for this year. give greater autonomy to farmers. At Harda in Madhya Pradesh, an They will get better returns, with no India Today report found farmers brokers in between.” selling the produce as high as Rs Farmers at Dewas in Madhya 4,266 per quintal in the open market. Pradesh were as much satisfied. Ram Vilas Gurjar, a soybean farmer, Their soybean produce has also said he and several other growers earned them better remuneration in sold their crops at an ITC centre on the open market, over and above the a premium. MSP.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 93 Down south in Tamil Nadu, a state known for coconut farming, farmers say they have been able to sell their produce to private players at a price higher than this year’s MSP of Rs 2,700 a quintal of the de-husked variety. After the new laws, farmers here have organized weekly auctions of coconuts, a Madurai farmer, R Nallapan, told India Today. He found the free-market sale more profitable.

“The new amendments in the farm of private auction can help rice laws are beneficial for farmers,” said farmers. Kamal Patel after selling his soybean produce to a private institutional THE MSP/MANDI SYSTEM buyer. As of now, there are some 7,000 “In this competitive system, government-regulated mandis across farmers are getting better results the country. Punjab and Haryana with the ITC setting up its chaupal rank among the states with the most (buying facility) here. The centre robust mandi system has sitting arrangements for the farmers, drinking water facilities, Licensed commission agents, or and electronic weighing machines. arhtiyas, as they are called in the two Farmers have got rid of middlemen northern states, broker procurement. and are getting better returns,” he added. The MSP-based buying by the government has its origin in the Down south in Tamil Nadu, a state rationing system introduced by known for coconut farming, farmers the British during World War II. A say they have been able to sell their department of food came up in 1942. produce to private players at a price After Independence, it was upgraded higher than this year’s MSP of Rs into the ministry of food. 2,700 a quintal of the de-husked variety. Those were the times when India faced acute food shortages. When After the new laws, farmers here the Green Revolution started in the have organized weekly auctions 1960s, India was actively looking to of coconuts, a Madurai farmer, R shore up its food reserves and prevent Nallapan, told India Today. He found shortages. the free-market sale more profitable. The MSP system finally started in “We were selling coconuts at a loss 1966-67 for wheat and was expanded by giving away 150 coconuts for free. further to include other essential And now, after giving in the auction, food crops. This was then sold to the we are selling coconuts on profit. poor under subsidised rates under We thank the state government for the public distribution system. arranging this,” he said. The MSP, however, finds no Nallapan believes the same model mention in any law even if it has

94 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers been around for decades. While the In an interview to India Today this government does declare the MSP week, union agriculture minister twice a year, there is no law making Narendra Singh Tomar also said the MSP mandatory. MSP cannot be put into the new farm laws but vowed that the system, as it What this technically means is that works, is going to stay. the government, though it buys at MSP from farmers, is not obliged by “The opposition,” he said, “had been the law to do so. in power for many years. Why didn’t they include the MSP in the law? Why As a matter of fact, there is no law are they bringing this up now? There that says that the MSP can be imposed are some things which are decided on private traders as well. Earlier, the by the administration. We cannot Commission for Agricultural Costs make laws for everything.” and Prices recommended legislation to iron out a concrete MSP law for Asked about the RSS-affiliated farmers, but it was not accepted by Swadeshi Jagran Manch’s demand the centre. for amending the farm laws or giving

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 95 a guarantee on the MSP, the minister ENTERPRENEURIAL FARMING said, “Every organisation has its own view but the government has to take At a modern farm in Roorkee, a a holistic view. The centre’s priority is farmer entrepreneur, Manmohan farmers and their benefits. That’s why Bhardwaj, explained the benefits of PM Narendra Modi has increased the free-market from his own experience MSP and is trying that in the field of in farming mushrooms, a non- agriculture.” traditional cash crop outside of the MSP system. “The farmers should get funds from the government as well as policies “You’ll be able to sell your produce that help increase their production, anywhere in the country now -- Pune, harvest, and promote expensive Mumbai, anywhere,” he said. “This is crops in order to generate maximum a pro-farmer law. But the problem profits. Our government’s aim is is that there’s a lot of politics in our that farmers’ income should double country. Those in the opposition get by 2022. PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi united to downgrade those in power.” Yojna is this country’s first such policy where Rs 75,000 crore is transferred from the government to the farmers’ accounts,” he said.

At a modern farm in Roorkee, a farmer entrepreneur, Manmohan Bhardwaj, explained the benefits of free-market from his own experience in farming mushrooms, a non- traditional cash crop outside of the MSP system. “You’ll be able to sell your produce anywhere in the country now -- Pune, Mumbai, anywhere,” he said. “This is a pro-farmer law. But the problem is that there’s a lot of politics in our country. Those in the opposition get united to downgrade those in power.”

96 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers Farmers’ unions should consider Govt proposal; we are ready for further talks, says Tomar

PTI CNBC TV18 10th December, 2020

A day after protesting farmers “We are concerned about the rejected the government’s offer for a farmers protesting in cold weather written assurance on MSP and amend and during the prevailing COVID-19 few provisions in the new farm laws, pandemic. Farmers’ unions should Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh consider the government’s proposal Tomar on Thursday urged union at the earliest and then we can leaders to consider the proposals and mutually decide on the next meeting said he is ready for further discussions if required,” the minister said. with them. The government fad on Wednesday “The government is ready to proposed to give a “written assurance” consider with an open mind any that the existing Minimum Support provision in the new laws where Price (MSP) regime for procurement farmers have any issues and we want will continue. to clarify all their apprehensions,” Tomar said at a press conference However, the farmers’ unions here. rejected the proposal and said they would intensify their agitation “We kept waiting for suggestions until the government accepts their from farmers’ leaders to address demand for a complete repeal of the their concerns, but they are stuck three laws. on the repeal of laws,” he said, while virtually ruling out conceding to the The government has also proposed key demand with which thousands to make necessary amendments on of farmers are protesting on various at least seven issues, including one borders of the national capital for to allay fears about the weakening of nearly two weeks. the mandi system.

Tomar said the government has Tomar, who along with his cabinet always been ready for dialogue with colleague Piyush Goyal had met farmers and it remains so. senior party leader and Union Home

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 97 Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday The sixth round of talks between night, said the government is ready the government and farm union to provide all necessary clarifications leaders, which was scheduled for on their concerns about the new farm Wednesday morning, was also laws enacted in September, which cancelled. In the proposal, sent by he said were passed after detailed Agriculture Ministry Joint Secretary discussions in Parliament. Vivek Aggarwal, the government said is ready to consider with an open Goyal, who was also present at the heart the objections which farmers media briefing, said the new laws do have on the new farm laws. not affect the APMC and that would remain protected. Farmers are only “The government has tried to being given an additional option to address the concerns of farmers sell their produce at private mandis. with an open heart and with respect for the farming community of the The farmer leaders had said on country. The government appeals the Wednesday there was nothing new Kisan unions to end their agitation,” in the government proposal and they it said. will continue their protest. Shah, in a Tuesday night meeting with 13 union On farmers’ fears that mandis leaders, had said the government would weaken after the new laws, the would send a draft proposal on key government said an amendment can issues raised by the farmers regarding be made wherein state governments the three farm laws, even though the can register the traders operating meeting had failed to break the ice outside mandis. States can also with farm union leaders who are impose tax and cess as they used in insisting for repealing these laws. APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) mandis on them.

On concerns that farmers may On farmers’ fears be duped as anyone having just a pan card is allowed to trade outside that mandis would APMC mandis, the government said weaken after the to rule out such apprehensions, the new laws, the state governments can be given the power to register such traders and government said an make rules keeping in mind the local amendment can be situation of farmers.

made wherein state On the issue of farmers not getting governments can the right to appeal in civil courts for register the traders dispute resolution, the government said it is open to making an operating outside amendment to provide for an appeal mandis. States can in civil courts. Currently, the dispute also impose tax and resolution is at the SDM level. cess as they used in On fears that big corporates will take over farmlands, the government APMC (Agricultural said it has already been made clear in Produce Market the laws, but still, for clarity’s sake, it Committee) mandis can be written that no buyer can take loans against farmland nor any such on them. condition will be made to farmers.

98 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers On the issue of farmers not getting the right to appeal in civil courts for dispute resolution, the government said it is open to making an amendment to provide for an appeal in civil courts. Currently, the dispute resolution is at the SDM level. On fears that big corporates will take over farmlands, the government said it has already been made clear in the laws, but still, for clarity’s sake, it can be written that no buyer can take loans against farmland nor any such condition will be made to farmers.

On attaching farmland under ready to find an appropriate solution. contract farming, the government said the existing provision is clear On farmers’ demand to provide but still it can be clarified further if registration of farming contracts, required. the government said till state governments make an arrangement On fear about the scrapping of the for registration, an appropriate facility MSP regime and shifting of trade to will be provided at the SDM office private players, the government said wherein a copy of the contract can be it is ready to give a written assurance submitted 30 days after its signing. that the existing MSP will continue. On Constitutional validity of On demands to scrap the proposed farm laws, the ministers said it has Electricity Amendment bill 2020, the power under Entry 33 of the the government said there won’t be Concurrent List to pass laws on any change in the existing system of contract farming and intra- and inter- electricity bill payment for farmers. state trade, and prohibit states from imposing fees/cess outside APMC On farmers’ demand to scrap the areas. It had followed legal provisions Air Quality Management of NCR while enacting the laws and earlier Ordinance 2020, under which there for bringing ordinances, the ministers is the provision of penalty for stubble said. burning, the government said it is

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 99 Farmers’ Group in Support of New Laws Meets Agri Minister Tomar, Threatens to Protest if Repealed

News18 12th December, 2020

Amid an ongoing protest against political colour. Farmers will get real three farm laws, a delegation of freedom through these three laws.” 29 farmers from Haryana met This was the second group of farmers Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh from Haryana that met Tomar and Tomar on Saturday to extend their extended support to the farm laws. support to the new legislations and The first group had met the minister threatened to stage a protest if those on December 7. are repealed. The delegation, led by Bharatiya Kisan Union’s (Mann) No breakthrough has been Haryana state leader Guni Prakash, achieved during the six rounds submitted a “letter of support” to of talks between the Centre and Tomar on the farm laws passed the agitating farmers so far, as the by Parliament in September and farmers have stuck to their demand demanded the government to for a repeal of the laws, despite the continue with these legislations. government sending them a draft “We will also protest if the proposal to amend specific issues government repeals the laws. We have given a memorandum to all districts,” Prakash told reporters after Claiming that the the meeting. He also sought to know ongoing farmers’ why the previous government did not implement the recommendations of agitation is no the Swaminathan Commission till longer a peasant 2014. movement, the BKU “Everyone has a right to protest. leader said, “It has They have, so do we. We are in support of the three laws, but this protest taken a political is being led by Leftists and those colour. Farmers will who are violent,” he said. Claiming get real freedom that the ongoing farmers’ agitation is no longer a peasant movement, through these three the BKU leader said, “It has taken a laws.”

100 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers without abolishing the legislations. would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of Minimum The three laws have been presented Support Price (MSP) and scrap the by the government as major reforms mandis (wholesale markets), leaving in the agriculture sector that them at the mercy of big corporates. will remove the middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce The Centre has maintained that anywhere in the country. However, the MSP and the mandi system the protesting farmers have expressed would continue and would rather be apprehension that the new laws improved and strengthened further.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 101 Farm Bills will give India’s farmers more economic freedom

ABHINAV PRAKASH SINGH Money Control 22nd September, 2020

Food policy since Independence these objectives simultaneously has been trying to chase the did not force the rethink under chimaera of an impossible trinity of successive governments, but instead ensuring the supply of food grains to caused them to double down with the consumers at an affordable price, even more rules and regulation — ensuring a fair return to farmers, and and micromanagement. The result ensuring food security. was an agriculture sector where the worst form of license-permit raj Using the State apparatus to reigned supreme even as India was artificially ensure higher prices to progressively dismantling them in farmers benefits medium and large other sectors. farmers — the beneficiaries of the green revolution. Whereas the small The reason is not difficult to and marginal farmers, the majority, understand if we look at the rural are net buyers of foodgrains need politically economy spawned by support as the consumers. Higher decades of such policies. The control prices to benefit politically and over Agriculture Produce Market socially influential farmers hurt the Committees (APMCs), co-operative consumers, and this brings upon bank and other co-operatives, a counter political pressure on the fixation of higher MSP for specific government, especially from the crops are the sources of power for the urban populace. local elites. Moreover, for the political parties, these local semi-feudal elites Over the decades, the objective are the route to political power. of food security has resulted in unpredictable and ad-hoc policies It was, therefore, impossible to such as the essential commodities introduce any reforms that would Act, banning the exports of disturb the prevailing equilibrium agricultural products at the whims even though the need for it was of the government when farmers widely recognised in all policy circles. could have benefited from the higher It was impossible until a full-majority international prices. government decided to put its political capital at stake. That it is impossible to achieve

102 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers Neither are the APMCs abolished nor is the MSP discontinued. Instead, the absurdity of the farmer being the only producer without the right to fix the price of their produce is over. Contrary to the apprehensions, the MSP isn’t included in the legislation because it’s an administrative mechanism, not legislative so that it can have flexibility as per the requirement. Also, the farmers will only sell to the private player if they get a price above the MSP under the State procurement.

The Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Assurance and Farm Services Bill, Janata Party (BJP) government has 2020 allows contract farming. It succeeded in passing three farm enables farmers to enter into a Bills in the Lok Sabha and two in contract with agribusiness firms, Rajya Sabha. The Farmers’ Produce processors, wholesalers, exporters, Trade and Commerce (Promotion or large retailers. It will enable and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 ends the them to access credit, technology, monopoly of the APMCs and their and assured prices. The small and political overseers. It allows the marginal farmers can also benefit via farmer to sell their produce directly aggregation under contract with a anywhere in the country at any prices. single buyer.

Neither are the APMCs abolished The Essential Commodities nor is the MSP discontinued. Instead, (Amendment) Bill, 2020 removes the absurdity of the farmer being the cereals, pulses, and other products only producer without the right to from the essential commodities fix the price of their produce is over. list. It removes the imposition Contrary to the apprehensions, the of stock holding limits except in MSP isn’t included in the legislation situations like war. It will enable because it’s an administrative businesses to operate freely without mechanism, not legislative so that bureaucratic and regulatory hassles. it can have flexibility as per the In 2019, 76,000 raids were conducted requirement. Also, the farmers will under the Act with zero impact only sell to the private player if they on price volatility which actually get a price above the MSP under the increased. Hardly 2-3 percent cases State procurement. stand in the court, and the Act was used to harass traders and enabled It also seeks to promote barrier- rent-seeking by the officials. free inter-state and intra-state trade and commerce without any fee or The roots of the APMC goes back levy outside the physical premises to colonial rule with the aim of of markets notified under the State ensuring the cheap supply of raw Agricultural Produce Marketing cotton to mills in Britain. The basic legislation. idea of these policies could never produce prosperity or stability The Farmers (Empowerment and for the farmers no matter if they Protection) Agreement of Price were ‘adapted’ in the socialist era.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 103 Dismantling of these regimes will allow more economic freedom to the farmers. These reforms will These reforms will attract private attract private investment in rural infrastructure such investment in rural as cold storage, and transportation. It will enable modern agri-business infrastructure such tech companies and startups to enter as cold storage, and the market and provide innovative solutions while leveraging new transportation. It economic opportunities. The results will enable modern can only be beneficial both for the agri-business tech farmers and consumers as it reduces the ‘farm to table’ distance. companies and startups to enter the It will, however, require a robust legal and intuitional mechanism for market and provide fair play, protection of the farmers innovative solutions and reduce the time and cost of dispute resolution. The success, in while leveraging the end, will depend on the co- new economic ordination between the Centre and opportunities. states, unlike the politics of protests we see today.

104 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers Note To Eminent Intellectuals: Tortured Arguments Are Not A Substitute For Economics 101

Karan Bhasin Various studies have documented Swarajya the experience of cash transfers 4th December, 2020 and its transformational impact on communities and vulnerable groups. Recently, a certain public figure Economist Santiago Levy’s work on had expressed his views on farmer the subject are surely worth reading agitation, stating that Dr Ashok Gulati for those interested. and economists in general are wrong when it comes to this issue. Cash transfers are the most potent tool for poverty alleviation On any other issue, I would have and yet, Dreze had opposed them probably ignored the piece, let alone on numerous grounds. Available respond to it. However, the issue has evidence in 2020, however, points at become important as many people people preferring cash transfers — and are genuinely curious to know about I myself have studied the experience the new farm bills and what they of DBT-PDS (direct benefit transfer- mean – and for them, they can refer public distribution system) as a part to my previous articles on this issue. of a joint paper which documents the same. This article is solely for the purpose of providing a rebuttal to the This discussion is important arguments presented by the public as Yogendra Yadav invokes the figure as he disregards scholarly distinction drawn originally by Dreze expertise. The lapsed academic states between an economist who advises that Dr Ashok Gulati is mistaken the poor and an economist who and invokes the exchange between advises the government. economists Jean Dreze and Ashok Kotwal in response to the idea of He ends by stating the views of cash transfers instead of subsidised Jean Dreze which state that cash food grains. transfers would be the most efficient way to help the poor, but food grain That debate can be resurfaced delivery is the best real option. By and this time, there is significant now, we know that this assumption is literature that is available to support incorrect as cash transfers are better the hypothesis that cash transfers and often preferred by the poor that are not only efficient but are also the economist advises. preferred by households. The eminent thinker further states

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 105 that the assumptions made by the economist about the potential impact of the laws in terms of greater Further, with private economic freedom, improved price mandis coming realisation and competition in agriculture marketing are flawed and up due to greater that the ground realities are shaky. private sector investments in the Nothing can be farther from the truth as we do know that greater agricultural sector, economic freedom has benefitted we will see much Indian economy. The problem with Yogendra Yadav’s piece is that it better access to disregards the experience of India and markets for the of different parts of the world as they farmers which unshackle the regulatory regimes that leads to low productivity. will do away with the complaint of The fundamental point here is that Yogendra Yadav fails to recognise absence of mandis. that analyse the impact of these laws DD MSPs benefit only 6 per cent of than disciplined minds trained to farmers understand economics. The error here is that by this logic, a cancer patient DD APMCs are by themselves an should be better equipped to cure his extractive institution in itself illness than say an oncologist?

DD There are feudal production He suggests relying on relations in agriculture and anthropologists or activists to regulated markets further understand the impact of the laws on consolidate the same competition, functioning of markets and its subsequent outcomes Consider this, a market which is than economists who are trained restricted will always give greater rigorously to do the same. Perhaps, market power to some agents who by his logic, we should rely more on can then distort the price discovery. dentists to help us cure cancer? This happens a lot in our APMCs and opening up of parallel markets would The blatant disregard for genuine reduce the ability of large farmers to scholarship in his article suggests distort the markets and exploit the that he is trying to find evidence to small and marginal farmers. support his hypothesis even when there is no such evidence available. Moreover, even if there is government monopoly in terms of The issue is fundamentally one being the largest procurer, it cannot that pertains to economics and the procure the entire production of law is geared at ensuring better wheat which is well beyond our competition of the market which consumption. in itself is known to benefit the producers. Economic 101: When Further, Yogendra Yadav makes there are more markets and buyers another analytical mistake as he while the number of sellers remain states that a farmer who does not the same, there is better price understand economics is better to realisation. This is a stylised fact.

106 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers There are four main points that any local middlemen. Indeed, the author makes with regards to someone will have to aggregate, but assumptions versus reality. The first this process of aggregation, as it is is that three-fourth of Indian farmers already happening, would soon be sell outside the APMCs and that they outsourced to tech. need better operated mandis but not more mandis. Further, the agri-business in the middle would replace a series of He further adds that farmers other middlemen in the overall complain about the absence of supply chain as they would directly mandis and they do not complain sell to the consumer. Thus, in process about not being allowed to sell we will see that on one side farmers outside the mandis. Here is the will get better price realisation, point, if you want to ensure better consumers will get a lower price and functioning of mandis, you have to all of this as transaction costs, dead- subject them to competition which weight loss etc are reduced. forces them to reform and improve price realisation. The third point he makes about markets not operating in a fair This is precisely what the law manner. This point again reflects attempts to achieve as it allows for his lack of understanding how private markets to be set up — these competition drives markets towards private markets would force existing becoming fairer than compared to APMCs to become efficient and markets that allow for concentration compete in order to attract farmers of market power. to sell their produce there. The new bills as they are providing Further, with private mandis the farmer with a choice of whether coming up due to greater private to go through the APMC or the private sector investments in the agricultural mandis. Thus, the mandis and private sector, we will see much better access markets now have to compete to get to markets for the farmers which the farmer to sell their produce there. will do away with the complaint of If private markets give better price absence of mandis. Thus, the reason realisation, the farmer sells there or why he objects to the law is precisely else he sticks with the APMCs. the reason why the law is needed.

The second point he makes is that while the arhtiyas do cheat farmers, In many ways, having big businesses will not get rid of greater number of middlemen but will have the same arhtiyas. He further says that the buyers is a sure- new private mandi will have two shot way to ensure middlemen, the arhtiyas and the business. that the bargaining power of the farmer The point made by the author is increases and this yet another conjecture without any evidence available. Most existing is precisely what e-commerce companies have started the government procuring directly through farmers and selling it to the end consumers. is attempting to undertake. This procurement does not require

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 107 Overall systemic efficiency enables However, we should also recognise both APMCs and private markets to that these laws are not static and offer better prices to the farmers and should there be a need for further that leads to an improvement in their tweaking to make the process far incomes. Any collusion by private more efficient, government could traders is possible only when there bring in the necessary changes. are few traders in the market that can come together to collectively attempt The other point he makes is to fix prices — this is more possible about government pulling back under the APMC regime than one on its investment in agricultural where there are private markets with infrastructure and here too, he many buyers making collusion nearly makes a point that the move into impossible. an unregulated trade in agricultural would result in government pulling In many ways, having greater back on such support. number of buyers is a sure-shot way to ensure that the bargaining power Nothing can be farther from the of the farmer increases and this is truth as government has clarified precisely what the government is that it will continue with the existing attempting to undertake. framework of APMCs which means it will have to continue to invest in Further, on the dispute resolution developing warehousing etc, given mechanism which has been termed that it is the largest procurer of wheat by Yogendra Yada as a joke ignores and paddy. the fact that we are dealing with a perishable item produced by a farmer The point on unregulated trade who lacks the resources to hold on to is important as nearly most trade is the produce for long. unregulated across the country but subject to legal provisions that allow Thus, a speedy resolution is critical for such exchanges to happen. Be to ensure that the farmer is not it a sale of the airplane, or of a pen, forced to part with his commodity or a service being supplied. The lack at an unfair rate. This is precisely of a regulated markets for these the motivation behind the speedy has benefited the economy and has resolution mechanism proposed in allowed several sectors to grow over the law. the years.

The laws will benefit the Indian farmers and many protesting against them today were those who had asked for the same bills to be made into laws till fairly recently. That they oppose it now is purely political opportunism as there are economic reasons to undertake these reforms — and they would translate into rich political dividends once farmers reap the benefits of the same.

108 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers The only conclusion after reading farmers and many protesting against his article was that it was a series of them today were those who had errors in judgment made due to the asked for the same bills to be made lack of understanding of economics, into laws till fairly recently. That they markets and competition. This is oppose it now is purely political precisely why I had remarked earlier opportunism as there are economic that people like him should be kept reasons to undertake these reforms away from the discussions with — and they would translate into rich farmers as much as possible. political dividends once farmers reap the benefits of the same. The laws will benefit the Indian

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 109 Opposition’s support to farmers’ protest flies in the face of having previously backed similar reforms

Gunja Kapoor Firstpost 15 December, 2020

There is little point in taking it loan waivers — farmers were central pride about agriculture being to politics, but not their welfare. India’s largest employer when the sector accounts for 17 percent of There are several examples where the country’s GDP while engaging those who promised “freedom” to 57 percent of the population. The glaring inefficiency in the sector has been acknowledged by politicians, The Bhartiya policymakers and stakeholders alike. Kisan Union, in its However, the reluctance to remove ‘Kisan Manifesto’ the hurdles that drag the sector has been consistent too. in 2019 had asked for the abolition In 1991, when India decided to open its economy, it was hailed as a of the APMC Act watershed moment. Over a period of and the Essential 3 decades, the process of investment Commodities Act, in various sectors has been eased in order to facilitate market and for doing away development. However, agriculture with arhatiyas. The continued to operate in a restrictive regulatory regime. Ironically, no free same organisation market economist at the helm of now supports Punjab policymaking in ten years of the UPA chief minister regime showed the commitment to free agricultural markets from Amarinder Singh’s superfluous regulations andcall for rejecting inexplicable constraints. Politicians who admitted to the urgency of laws that intend to agricultural reforms in public scuttled free farmers from every such step in private. the clutches of Be it elections, be it the Budget, be middlemen.

110 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers In 2010, when reports suggested that one farmer commits suicide every 12 hours in India, Pawar advocated reforms to make agriculture financially viable and sustainable. He wrote a letter to the then Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, stating the need for private sector participation in the agriculture sector.

farmers are today protesting against 12 hours in India, Pawar advocated the very laws that will usher in a reforms to make agriculture new era for the agrarian economy. financially viable and sustainable. He Instead of endorsing better price wrote a letter to the then Delhi chief discovery through open markets, minister Sheila Dikshit, stating the self-proclaimed messiahs of farmers need for private sector participation want to contain them at ‘minimum in the agriculture sector. Not only support prices’. Let us look at some of this, Pawar was advocating changes these examples of hypocrisy: in the APMC Act, which is a recurring theme in the current protests. The Bhartiya Kisan Union, in its ‘Kisan Manifesto’ in 2019 had asked In November 2011, he wrote to for the abolition of the APMC Act Madhya Pradesh chief minister and the Essential Commodities Act, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, highlighting and for doing away with arhatiyas. the significance of private sector The same organisation now supports participation in the realm of Indian Punjab chief minister Amarinder agriculture. Singh’s call for rejecting laws that intend to free farmers from the Unfortunately, Pawar has decided clutches of middlemen. to forego his commitment to the constituency that pledged loyalty What could have changed in a year? to him throughout his political The commitment of BKU towards career. Warning the Centre that the farmers, or the fear of becoming farmer protest will extend to other redundant post the successful parts of the country, he has publicly implementation of farm laws? This is abandoned the cause that he had the same union that staged protests advocated in the past. in 2008 asking corporate players to be permitted to buy farm produce Similarly, earlier this year, directly from farmers. Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav had advocated for ‘free In 1993, Rakesh Tikait had market in agriculture’ as a member approached the then prime minister of the parliamentary standing PV Narsimha Rao seeking ‘One Nation committee on agriculture. One Market’ in agriculture. However, he is now demanding that these laws His son Akhilesh Yadav is now be repealed. vociferously opposing the Bills.

Similar is the case with former The Congress has also lived up to agriculture minister Sharad Pawar. In its politics of flip-flops opposing the 2010, when reports suggested that very reform that it mentioned in its one farmer commits suicide every 2019 election manifesto.

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 111 Rahul Gandhi has even called the new laws a “death sentence”. One P Chidambaram, in is unsure if his manifesto promised “death” or whether he irked by the his budget speech fact that these reforms are being in 2004, had called ushered by the Narendra Modi government. for a revamp of the APMC system. P Chidambaram, in his budget speech in 2004, had called for a More than a decade revamp of the APMC system. More and half later, he than a decade and half later, he finds himself on finds himself on the other side of the aisle, defending shallow politics of the other side of opportunism. the aisle, defending

Delhi chief minister Arvind shallow politics of Kejriwal‘s government had notified opportunism. the Central farm laws on 23 November, 2020, soon after Parliament had Assurance and Farm Services Bill, passed them. Kejriwal has since 2020 in the Lok Sabha with some taken to attacking the Centre for suggestions. However, party MP the passage of the laws and is now Sanjay Raut opposed these Bills in seen supervising arrangements at the the Upper House. protest sites on Delhi’s borders. Are farmers political ammunition The Shiv Sena had backed for a fraying Opposition? Perhaps so. The Farmers’ Produce Trade After all, this is the same Opposition and Commerce (Promotion and that did not shy from using Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and The students and women to create false Farmers (Empowerment and propaganda around the Citizenship Protection) Agreement of Price Amendment Act.

112 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 113 foi{kh nyksa ds Hkzetky esa Qalus ds ctk; fdlku [ksrh dks ykHknk;d cukus dh eqfge esa ih,e eksnh dk nsa lkFk

Shivraj Singh Chouhan dks vkxs c<+kus dh ,d ftn vkSj tquwu gS Jagran vkSj ;g fdlkuksa dh rjDdh ds fcuk laHko 15th December, 2020 ughaA blhfy, mUgksaus fdlkuksa ds fgr esa fdlkuksa dk nq[k&nnZ ns[kdj esjk fny cgqr cgqçrhf{kr lq/kkjksa dks ewrZ :i fn;kA mudk æfor gks mBrk gSA ;g nq[k rc vkSj c<+ ;g dguk Hkh ;Fkksfpr gS fd iqjkus dkuwuksa tkrk gS tc dqN jktuhfrd ny vius ds tfj;s ns’k dk iqufuZekZ.k ugha fd;k tk jktuhfrd LokFkksaZ dh iwfrZ ds fy, eklwe ldrkA ,sls esa bu —f”k dkuwuksa dk fojks/k fdlkuksa dks viuk eksgjk cukrs gSaA ;s ny dj jgs jktuhfrd nyksa ls esjk ç’u gS fd eksnh ljdkj ds ftu u, —f”k dkuwuksa ds buds tfj;s vxj eaMh ds vykok fdlkuksa fojks/k ij vkeknk gSa] dqN oSls gh dkuwu dks viuh mit cspus dh vktknh feys rks cukus dk mUgksaus pqukoh oknk Hkh fd;k FkkA mlesa D;k gtZ gS\ gekjs fdlku fgrS”kh ç/kkuea=h ujsaæ eksnh ,e,lih dk;e jgsxh] ,eih us tc fdlkuksa ds fgr esa ,sls dkuwu cuk esa eaMh ‘kqYd nks #i;s ls ?kVkdj fn, rks mUgsa D;k leL;k gS\ vc vpkud 50 iSls dj fn;k x;k ls D;k cny x;k gS\ njvly dkaxzsZl vkSj mlds tSls vU; nyksa ds ikl tc dksbZ eqík U;wure leFkZu ewY; ;kuh ,e,lih ij os ugha jgk rks os fdlkuksa dks Hkzfer dj ns’k nq”çpkj esa tqVs gSa] tcfd ,e,lih dk;e dk ekgkSy fcxkM+us ij rqys gSaA jgsxhA blh rjg eafM;ksa ds fo”k; esa Hkh os >wB QSyk jgs gSa fd eafM;ksa dks [kRe fd;k ge çn’kZudkjh fdlkuksa ds lHkh tk jgk gSA ,slk fcYdqy Hkh ugha gks jgkA lansg nwj djus ds fy, çfrc) gSa ge rks eafM;ksa dh O;oLFkk esa vkSj lq/kkj gh çn’kZudkjh fdlku Hkh gekjs vius gSaA muds dj jgs gSaA e/; çns’k esa geus eaMh ‘kqYd fy, gekjs }kj ges’kk [kqys gSaA dsaæ ljdkj nks #i;s ls ?kVkdj 50 iSls dj fn;k gSA us muls dbZ nkSj dh okrkZ Hkh dh gSA ge ge nwljs fodYi Hkh fdlkuksa dks ns jgs gSaA muds lHkh lansg nwj djus ds fy, çfrc) eafM;ka dk;e jgsaxh] futh eafM;ka gSaA fdlku HkkbZ ;kn j[ksa fd ç/kkuea=h vkSj futh O;kikfj;ksa ds vkus ls eksnh dHkh Hkh mudk vfgr ugha gksus nsaxsA fdlkuksa ds fy, fodYi c<+saxs eSa Hkh ,d fdlku gwa] blfy, nkos ds lkFk dgrk gwa fd ;s rhuksa —f”k dkuwu fdlkuksa ds eafM;ka rks dk;e jgsaxh] ogha futh fgr esa gSaA blds fy, gesa ç/kkuea=h ujsaæ eafM;ka vkSj futh O;kikfj;ksa ds eksnh dk vfHkuanu djuk pkfg,] ftuesa ns’k vkus ls fdlkuksa ds fy, fodYi

114 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers c<+saxsA oSls Hkh ;fn dksbZ fdlku u, —f”k dkuwuksa dk y{; —f”k eaMh ds vykok fdlh m|eh ;k mit ds mfpr nke fnykuk fu;kZrd dks lh/ks Qly cspuk rhljk mik; —f”k mit ds mfpr nke pkgrk gS rks mlesa vkf[kj D;k fnykus ls tqM+k gSA u, —f”k dkuwuksa dk fnDdr gS\ blesa fcpkSfy;s D;ksa ;gh y{; Hkh gSA bl dM+h esa pkSFkk mik; chp esa vk,a\ m|eh vkSj fdlku çk—frd vkink ;k fdlh vU; fLFkfr esa ds chp lkSnk Hkh vkilh lgefr mit dks gq, uqdlku esa fdlku dks i;kZIr ls gh gksxkA dksbZ O;kikjh fdlh Hkh {kfriwfrZ nsuk gSA ç/kkuea=h Qly chek çdkj ls fdlku ij ncko ugha cuk ;kstuk esa ;gh lqfuf’pr djus dk ç;kl ldrk gSA okLro esa u, dkuwuksa ls gks jgk gSA blds ckn ikapoka vkSj lcls iwjh O;oLFkk vkSj çfrLi/khZ cusxhA Økafrdkjh ç;kl gS fdlkuksa dks çfrLi/ khZ njsa feysaA blhfy, ,ih,elh dk ekWMy blls eafM;ka Hkh csgrjh ds fy, ,DV ykxw djus dk fu.kZ; fy;k x;kA dqy ç;kl djsaxhA feykdj ljdkjh ç;klksa dk y{; gS fdlku dkaVªSDV QkfeaZx esa fdlkuksa dks çfrLi/kkZ esa fVddj l{ke cu ldsaA blh T;knk nke feyus ij vuqca/k ls fn’kk esa eksnh ljdkj ç/kkuea=h fdlku ckgj vkus dh NwV lEeku fuf/k tSlh ;kstuk ysdj vkbZA geus e/; çns’k esa blds rgr 4]000 #i;s dh ogha dkaVªSDV QkfeaZx esa fdlkuksa dks T;knk jkf’k vkSj tksM+h gSA ;kuh jkT; esa blds nke feyus ij vuqca/k ls ckgj vkus dh varxZr fdlkuksa dks lkykuk 10]000 #i;s NwV gS] tcfd O;kikjh ds fy, vuqca/k rksM+us feysaxsA geus ,sls reke dne mBk, x, ij dkjZokbZ dk çko/kku gSA u, dkuwuksa ls gSa] ftuls fdlkuksa dh ftanxh cny tk,xhA —f”k esa fuos’k c<+sxkA fdlku ubZ rduhdksa ls tqM+saxsA HkaMkj.k O;oLFkk lq–<+ gksxh] mit fdlkuksa dk Qly chek çhfe;e dh cckZnh #dsxh] [ksrh&fdlkuh esa ubZ tku u Hkjus okyh dkaxzsl fdlku fgr vk,xh] os;j gkml cusaxs] dksYM LVksjst dh uhfr dk dj jgh fojks/k psu rS;kj gksxhA okLro esa ;s dkuwu ns’k ds —f”k bfrgkl esa Økafrdkjh cnyko yk,axsA bu dneksa dk fojks/k dj jgh ge fdlkuksa ds gj ,d oxZ ds fgrksa dk dkaxzsl ogh ikVhZ gS] ftldh ljdkj /;ku j[k jgs gSaA mu fdlkuksa dk Hkh tks us e/; çns’k esa fdlkuksa dk viuh vkokt mBkus esa l{ke ugha gSaA geus Qly chek çhfe;e rd ugha Hkjk dbZ ,slh ;kstuk,a cukbZ gSa] ftuesa lHkh ds FkkA lÙkk esa vkrs gh geus rqjar fgrksa dk /;ku j[kk x;k gSA çhfe;e tek djkdj dkaxzsZl dh [ksrh dks ykHkçn cukus ds Hkwy dks lq/kkjkA fy, ih,e eksnh us pkSrjQk ç;kl bruk gh ugha ykWdMkmu dh fodV fLFkfr ‘kq: dj fn, esa Hkh geus 16 yk[k fdlkuksa ls 1 djksM+ 29 yk[k Vu xsgwa [kjhn dj muds [kkrksa esa [ksrh dks ykHkçn cukus vkSj fdlkuksa dh 27 gtkj djksM+ #i;s ls vf/kd dh jkf’k vk; nksxquh djus ds fy, ç/kkuea=h eksnh gLrkarfjr dhA ge ‘kwU; C;kt nj ij _.k us pkSrjQk ç;kl ‘kq: dj fn, gSaA bl fn’kk ;kstuk dk;e j[ks gq, gSaA esa pkj mik; egRoiw.kZ gksaxsA ,d rks gesa mRiknu c<+kuk iM+sxk] ftlds fy, dsaæ vkSj lgdkjh cSdksa dh fLFkfr lq/kkjus ds jkT; ljdkj reke mik; dj jgh gSaA nwljk fy, 800 djksM+ #i;s fn, mRiknu dh ykxr de djuh iM+sxhA blds lgdkjh cSdksa dh fLFkfr lq/kkjus ds fy, fy, Hkh eksnh th e`nk ijh{k.k vkSj vuqdwy 800 djksM+ #i;s fn, gSaA eujsxk ds rgr [kkn tSlh dbZ lqfo/kk,a yk, gSaA buls ykxr —f”k laca/kh dk;ksaZ dks cM+s iSekus ij ‘kkfey ?kVkus esa enn feyh gSA fd;k gSA —f”k v/kkslajpuk fodkl QaM esa Hkh

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 115 eç vxz.kh gSA gky esa 8]000 djksM+ #i;s ljdkj us fiNys Ng o”kksaZ esa vkSj e/; dh lkr flapkbZ ifj;kstukvksa dks eatwjh nh çns’k esa foxr 15 o”kksaZ esa fdlkuksa dks gSA geus vkRefuHkZj e/; çns’k jksMeSi esa eq[;/kkjk esa ykus dk ç;kl geus fd;k gSA —f”k dks Hkh ‘kkfey fd;k gSA —f”k tksf[ke ge fdlku dks l’kä vkSj le`) cukuk esa deh ykus vkSj mRikndrk ,oa Qly pkgrs gSaA eksnh th ds vkRefuHkZj Hkkjr esa fofo/khdj.k dks csgrj cukus dh fn’kk esa Hkh fdlku Hkh vkRefuHkZj cusxkA mUufr ds u, ge ç;kljr gSaA }kj [kqysaxsA blhfy, fdlkuksa ls esjk fouez fuosnu gS fd os fdlh Hkzetky esa u QalsaA Lora=rk ds ckn Hkktik us gh os fdlkuksa dh vkenuh nksxquh djus vkSj fdlkuksa ds fgr esa dk;Z fd;k [ksrh dks fQj ls Qk;nsean cukus dh eksnh Lora=rk ds ckn ;fn fdlh ikVhZ us th dh eqfge esa mudk lkFk nsaA fdlkuksa ds fgr esa dk;Z fd;k gS rks og Hkktik gh gSA eksnh th ds usr`Ro esa dsaæ

116 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers —f”k lq/kkjksa dks ysdj eksnh ljdkj ges’kk fdlkuksa ds laidZ esa jgh

Amitabh Sinha laxBuksa ls eqykdkr Hkh dh vkSj mudh News 18 ‘kadkvksa dks nwj djus dk ç;kl Hkh fd;k 12th December, 2020 gS- blds vykos xkao ds Lrj ij gtkjksa NksVh —f”k fcyksa dh okilh dh ekax dks ysdj cM+h cSBdsa vk;ksftr dh x;ha rkfd fdlkuksa fnYyh dh lhekvksa ij cSBs fdlku okil dks vius xkaoksa esa cSBs cSBs gh u, dkuwuksa ds ykSVus dks rS;kj ugha gS- dbZ nkSj dh ckrphr ckjs esa tkudkjh fey lds- ds ckn Hkh jkLrk fudyus dk uke ugha ys PM eksnh yxkrkj djrs jgs —f”k jgk gS- vkf[kj dkj.k D;k gS\ D;k ljdkj dkuwuksa dk ftØ ls dksbZ pwd gqbZ gS\ D;k lans’k ;s tkrk gS fd eksnh ljdkj us bl fcy dks ysdj ‘kq#vkr vxj ih,e eksnh dh igy ls djsa fdlkuksa rd igqapus dh e’kDdr ugha dh- rks ljdkjh lw= crkrs gSa fd os vc rd ,slh jk; cukus dh dksf’k’k bl fdlku fdlku dkuwu ij vkSj mlds çko/kkuksa ij vkanksyu ds ek/;e ls dh x;h gS- ysfdu vkSj bu lq/kkjksa ds ckjs esa yxHkx 30 ckj rF; dk vkadyu djsa rks fLFkfr;ka fcydqy cksy pqds gSa- ;kuh bl eqís ij gj lIrkg gh foifjr gSa- ftl rjg ls ih,e eksnh esa mUgksaus de ls de ,d ckj ns’k ds lesr ljdkj ds reke ea=h —f”k fcyksa fdlkuksa dks lacksf/kr fd;k gS- bu lq/kkjksa ds Qk;ns fxukus ds fy, turk ds chp ds ckjs esa mUgksaus Lora=rk fnol ij yky ckj&ckj tk jgs gSa mlls ;s ckr rks lkQ fdys ls lacks/ku esa Hkh dgk vkSj fcgkj dh gks tkrh gS fd nks n’kdksa ls ftu —f”k pquko jSfy;ksa esa Hkh bldk [kwc ftØ fd;k lq/kkjksa dk jkx reke ljdkjsa vykirh jgha] vkSj fcgkj dh turk us ,uMh, dks vk’khokZn mls veyh tkek igukus ds igys vkSj ckn fn;k- ns’k ds fdlkuksa dks ugha irk fd Hkh fdlkuksa rd viuh ckr j[kus esa ljdkj fcgkj esa fdlkuksa dk gky ckdh fgLlksa ls ihNs ugha jgh gS- eksnh ljdkj tkurh gS fd csgky gh gS vkSj uhrh’k ljdkj us 2006 bl fcy ds Qk;ns D;k gSa vkSj fdlkuksa dks esa gh ,ih,elh dkuwuksa dks fujLr dj fn;k rkdr nsus esa ;s dkuwu tjk Hkh de ugha Fkk- blfy, fcgkj ds fdlkuksa dk vk’khokZn lkfcr gksxkA ;s lkfcr dj nsrk gS fd fdlku fcy ij eksnh ljdkj dh igy xjhc fdlkuksa dks ljdkjh lw=ksa ds eqrkfcd ljdkj [kklk Hkk x;h gS- ih,e eksnh us vius lHkh us dkuwu ykus ls igys vkSj ykus lans’kksa esa bl fcy ls tqMh reke vk’kadkvksa ds ckn Hkh dbZ Lrjksa ij fdlku vkSj Qk;nksa ij yxkrkj cksyrs jgs gSa vkSj laxBuksa vkSj muds çfrfuf/k;ksa ls fdlkuksa dks le>krs Hkh jgs fd ;s lq/kkj yxkrkj ckrphr dh gS rkfd dkuwu fdlkuksa ds fgr esa gksxk- mUgksaus [ksrh ls tqM+s esa t:jr iM+us ij lq/kkj fd, tk gj oxZ vkSj {ks=ksa esa dke dj jgs yksxksa ls ldsa- laokn fd;k ftuesa xkaoksa esa jg jgk fdlku rks Fkk gh ysfdu lkFk esa varjkZ”Vªh; fuos’kdksa [kqn ç/kkuea=h ujsaæ eksnh us bu dkuwuksa ds ds lkeus Hkh ;gh ckrsa nksgjkbZa- vius eu ckjs esa tkx#drk QSykus dk dke vius dh ckr dk;ZØe esa Hkh ih,e eksnh ,sls gkFkksa esa fy;k- blds ckn gh —f”k ea=h dbZ fdlkuksa ds mnkgj.k ysdj lkeus vk, vkSj reke vf/kdkjh us fdlkuksa ds fofHkUu

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 117 ftUgksaus ç;ksx fd;k vkSj ns’k ds lkeus ,d ckrphr tkjh jgh- 14 vDVwcj dks dsaæh; mnkgj.k cu dj lkeus vk,- —f”k lfpo lat; vxzoky us iatkc ds 29 fdlku laxBuksa ds lkFk cSBd dhA lq/kkjksa ds ,syku ls igys —f”k 13 uoacj dks ujsaæ flag rksej] ih;w”k xks;y ea=ky; fofHkUu fo’ks”kKksa vkSj iwoZ vkSj lkse çdk’k us fdlku laxBuksa ls ppkZ vf/kdkfj;ksa ls yxkrkj ppkZ djrk dh- ;g cSBd nks fnlacj dks Hkh gqbZ- rhu jgk- tc rd fcy dks vafre #i fnlacj dks Hkh —f”k ea=ky; ds vf/kdkfj;ksa ugha fn;k x;k dsUæh; —f”k ea=ky; ds lkFk ppkZ dh xbZ- ikap fnlacj dks ,d fofHkUu jkT;ksa ds —f”k foHkkxksa ckj fQj ujsUæ flag rksej] ih;w”k xks;y ds laidZ esa jgk- ea=ky; us vkSj lkse çdk’k dh iatkc vkSj /kjus ij cSBs egRoiw.kZ fdlku laxBuksa vkSj —f”k fdlku laxBuksa ds lkFk cSBd gqbZA eafM;ksa esa dke dj jgs vf/kdkfj;ksa tkfgj gS fd dsUæ ljdkj vkSj —f”k ea=ky; ls ppkZ Hkh dh ij ;s vkjksi ugha yxk;k tk ldrk fd —f”k ea=ky; ds lw= crkrs gSa fd ns’k ds mUgksaus fdlkuksa vkSj muds laxBuksa ls ,d cM+s vkSj tkus ekus —f”k ;wfu;u ls ppkZ ckrphr fd, fcuk gh ;s dkuwu cuk fn;kA ds ckn vkSj muds QhMcSd ds vk/kkj ij fdlku vkanksyu dh vkM esa ;s jk; cukus vius v/;kns’k esa cnyko Hkh fd;k- lq/kkjksa dh dksf’k’k ljdkj ds eqrkfcd csekuh gSA ds ,syku ds ckn —f”k ea=h rksej us jkT;ksa blfy, vc Hkh iwjh dh iwjh ljdkj yxh gS ds —f”k eaf=;ksa] fofHkUu fdlku laxBuksa] fdlkuksa dks bl dkuwu ds Qk;ns fxukus esaA jktuhfrd nyksa] vk<+fr;k lewgksa vkSj m|ksx lewgksa ls ppkZ dh rFkk —f”k foKku dsaæksa ds odZ’kkWi esa fgLlk fy;kA iatkc ds 29 laxBuksa ds lkFk dh xbZ Fkh cSBd dsaæ ljdkj us fdlkuksa ls Hkh laidZ fd;k vkSj mUgsa oschukj rFkk Vªsfuax ds tfj, bu lq/kkjksa ds ckjs esa tkudkjh nhA twu vkSj uoacj 2020 ds chp dqy 1]37]054 oschukj ds tfj, 92]42]376 fdlkuksa ls laidZ lk/kk x;kA buds vykok vDVwcj eghus esa 2-23 djksM+ SM lans’k Hksts x,A fcy ykus ds ckn Hkh fdlku laxBuksa ls

118 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers tkrh gSa] ;k fQj Hkze dk ,slk dqgklk iSnk fd;k tkrk gS] tgka lR; vks>y gks tkrk u, —f”k dkuwuksa gS- dguk u gksxk fd rhuksa —f”k dkuwuksa dks ysdj dqgklk dqN T;knk gh gS] mudh dks ysdj Hkze dk gdhdr dh tkudkjh de gh yksxksa dks gS- ;g ckr Nqih gqbZ ugha gS fd ujsaæ eksnh us dqgklk iSnk fd;k vius igys pquko vfHk;ku esa lky 2022 rd fdlkuksa dh vk; nksxquh djus dk oknk fd;k Fkk- blds rgr eksnh ljdkj us dbZ x;k gS dne mBk,] ftlesa Qly chek ;kstuk] fdlku ØsfMV dkMZ] fdlku lEeku fuf/k vkfn ;kstuk,a ykxw dha- ;g loky mB Umesh Chaturvedi News18 ldrk gS fd ;s ;kstuk,a fdl gn rd tehuh gdhdr cu ldha\ 13th December, 2020 gkykafd gj fo’ys”kd dks ;g Hkh /;ku j[kuk —f”k lq/kkjksa dh fn’kk esa laln }kjk eatwj pkfg, fd gj ;kstuk dks tehuh gdhdr rhu —f”k dkuwuksa dks ysdj 18 fnuksa ls cukus okyh e’khujh ogh gS] tks vaxzstksa fdlku laxBuksa }kjk jkt/kkuh fnYyh dk }kjk LFkkfir dh xbZ Fkh] ftldh lksp vrhr ?ksjko tkjh gS- fdlku laxBuksa dh ekax ds dh ljdkjksa ds nkSjku ,d [kkl rjg ds qdus ds lans’k Hkh fn,- esa fodflr gksrh jgh gS- ftlesa Hkz”Vkpkj dh og dkuwuksa esa fdafpr la’kks/ku ds fy, rS;kj xqatkb’k cukbZ xbZ] ftldh fgLlsnkjh uhps Hkh gqbZ] ysfdu fdlku laxBuksa dks la’kks/ku ls ysdj mij rd igqaprh jgh gS- bl pØ eatwj ugha gSa] cfYd os gj gkyr esa rhuksa dh tM+sa bruh xgjha gSa fd mUgsa vklkuh dkuwuksa dh okilh ij vM+s gq, gSa- ysfdu ls rksM+ ikuk Hkh dfBu gS- dHkh laoS/kkfud ljdkj dh ea’kk vc >qdus dh ugha yxrh- rks dHkh dkuwuh O;oLFkk vkM+s vk tkrh gS dkjksckfj;ksa ds laxBu fQDdh ds dk;ZØe rks dHkh ljdkjh deZpkjh vkSj vf/kdkjh ds dk mn~?kkVu dk ekSdk gks ;k fQj laln ds dkuwuh vf/kdkj- tc Hkh dksbZ ubZ ;kstuk u, Hkou ds f’kykU;kl dk ekSdk] ç/kkuea=h ykxw gksrh gS] mldk fojks/k gksrk gS vkSj bl ujsaæ eksnh us fdlkuksa ls —f”k dkuwuksa dks nkSjku dqgklk QSykus dh iqjtksj dksf’k’k gksrh le>us vkSj mlds tfj, Hkfo”; esa fdlkuksa gS vkSj mlds ihNs vrhr ls pyh vk jgh ds fy, gksus okys Qk;nksa dh gh ckr dh gS- O;oLFkk dh [kkfe;ka usiF; esa pyh tkrh ç/kkuea=h ds Loj esa rq’khZ rks ugha gS- ysfdu gSa- gdhdr rks oSls gh ihNs jg tkrh gSA dSfcusV ds eaf=;ksa us ftl rjg fdlkuksa dks cgdkus okys jktuhfrd nyksa dks fu’kkus ij vkb, tkurs gSa fd D;k laln }kjk ysuk ‘kq: fd;k gS] mlls Li”V gS fd ljdkj ikfjr rhuksa gh —f”k dkuwu fdrus fdlku dqN la’kks/ku Hkys gh dj ns] dkuwu rks okil fojks/kh gSa vkSj fdrus fdlku leFkZd- laln ugha ysus tk jgh- }kjk ikfjr —”kd mit O;kikj vkSj okf.kT; ¼lao/kZu o ljyhdj.k½ dkuwu&2020 ns’k esa [kkldj 2014 ds ckn ftl rjg ds f[kykQ tedj rdZ fn, tk jgs gSa- tjk dk jktuhfrd ekgkSy cuk gS] mlesa dbZ bl dkuwu ds çko/kkuksa dks tkurs gSaA rF;kRed ckrsa Hkh ;k rks xqe dj nh

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 119 bl dkuwu ds rgr fdlkuksa vkSj dh lQkbZ] NaVkbZ o Bsdk vkfn- eafM;ksa dh —f”k mit ds dkjksckfj;ksa dks vkenuh bu vk<+fr;ksa ls olwyh xbZ Qhl mu —f”k mRikn cktkj lfefr;ksa gksrh gS- oSls fcgkj] dsjy] ef.kiqj] y{k}hi] ls ckgj Hkh [ksrh dh iSnkokj ds vaMeku ,oa fudksckj }hi lewg rFkk neu dkjksckj dh NwV nh xbZ gS- ljdkj ,oa nho esa ;g eaMh O;oLFkk ugha gSa- dk dguk gS fd bl O;oLFkk dk bl dkuwu dks ysdj vkanksyujr fdlku edln mit ds O;kikj o ifjogu laxBuksa dk vkjksi gS fd vxj ;g O;oLFkk ykxr dks de djuk vkSj blds ykxw gksxh rks ,e,lih ij [kjhn&fcØh O;oLFkk [kRe gks tk,xh] ftlls varr% tfj, vUunkrkvksa dks mudh mit dkjksckfj;ksa dk mit ds dkjksckj ij dCtk vkSj iSnkokj dh csgrj dher gks tk,xk- fdlku laxBuksa dk nkok gS fd gkfly djus dk ekgkSy nsus ds blls bZ&VªsfMax Hkh [kRe gks tk,xh-rhuksa lkFk gh baVjusV ds tfj, dkjksckj dkuwuksa dks çLrqr djrs oä gh dsaæ ljdkj dk ra= Hkh cukuk gSA lkQ dj fn;k Fkk fd u rks ljdkjh eafM;ka fnYyh dks ?ksjs cSBs iatkc vkSj gfj;k.kk ds can gksaxh] u gh ,e,lih ç.kkyh [kRe gksus fdlku laxBuksa vkSj muds usrkvksa dk nkok tk jgh gS- fdlku laxBuksa dh ekax ij gS fd vxj bl dkuwu dks iwjh rjg ykxw ljdkj bldk fyf[kr vk’oklu Hkh nsus dks fd;k x;k rks fdlku ljdkjh eafM;ksa ls rS;kj gS- ljdkj dk rdZ gS fd pwafd iqjkuh ckgj viuh mit cspus dks etcwj gksaxsA O;oLFkk ds lkFk ubZ O;oLFkk Hkh cuk;h ftlls jkT;ksa dks jktLo dk uqdlku gksxkA tk jgh gS] fygktk çfr;ksfxrk c<+sxh vkSj D;ksafd jkT;ksa dks eafM;ksa ds tfj, gksus okyh fdlkuksa dks gh Qk;nk gksxk- os viuh mit [kjhn&fcØh esa fu/kkZfjr jktLo feyrk gSA dks csgrj nke ij csp ldsaxs- eafM;ksa dh lPpkbZ ;g gS fd buesa [kjhn laln us tks nwljk dkuwu ikfjr fd;k gS] og fcØh fcpkSfy;ksa ds tfj, dh tkrh gSA ftUgsa gS vko’;d oLrq ¼la’kks/ku½ dkuwu &2020- deh’ku ,tsaV dgk tkrk gSA ;g ,d rjg vko’;d oLrq vf/kfu;e ;wih, ljdkj us [kk| fuxe dks lky 1955 esa la’kks/ku gS- blds rgr dqN çeq[k 2005 esa —f”k mit dh [kjhn&fcØh ds vuktksa elyu xsgwa] pkoy] nky] frygu] fy, deh’ku ,tsaV cukus dk vkns’k fn;k I;kt o vkyw dks vko’;d oLrq dh lwph Fkk- blds rgr lky 2007 ls eafM;ksa ls gVk fn;k x;k gS- igys dkjksckfj;ksa ds esa deh’ku ,tsaV dke dj jgs gSa] ftudk fy, buds HkaMkj.k dh lhek r; Fkh] ysfdu dkaVªSDV iaæg lky ;kuh lky 2022 rd vc ;q) tSls vioknksa dks NksM+dj bu mitksa ds fy, gS- gdhdr rks ;g gS fd eafM;ksa ds ds laxzg.k dh lhek r; ugha jgsxh- fdlku tfj, U;wure leFkZu ewY; ;kuh ,e,lih laxBuksa us vius vkanksyu ds fy, e/; ij Hkkjr esa gksus okyh —f”k mit dk flQZ oxZ dks vk/kkj cukus ds fy, rdZ fn;k gS Ng Qhln gh [kjhnk&cspk tkrk gS- blesa Hkh fd blls dkjksckjh bu vko’;d oLrqvksa iatkc vkSj gfj;k.kk tSls jkT; igys uacj dh HkaMkj.k dh r; dh xbZ dher dh ij gSa- tkfgj gS fd ;gha jktLo dh dekbZ lhek bruh vf/kd gksxh] ftldk bLrseky T;knk gS vkSj ;gha deh’ku ,tsaV Hkh gS- dkjksckjh dkykcktkjh ds fy, djsaxs- rc bu ,d vkadM+s ds eqrkfcd vdsys iatkc esa gh t:jh vkSj nSfud vko’;drk okyh mitksa dsaæh; ,tsafl;ka vukt [kjhn ds fy, 52 dh egaxkbZ c<+sxh- fdlku laxBuksa dk vkjksi gtkj djksM+ [kpZ dj pqdh gSa- ;gh otg gS gS fd blls cM+h daifu;ka vkSj dkjksckjh fd ekuk tk jgk gS fd tks fdlku vkanksyu vko’;d oLrqvksa dk HkaMkj.k c<+kdj fdlkuksa gks jgk gS] mlesa ;s deh’ku ,tsaV gh T;knk dks vxyh ckj viuh mit vkSus&ikSus nke gSa- iatkc&gfj;k.kk esa bUgsa vk<+rh dgk tkrk ij [kjhnus ds fy, ncko cuk,axh- gS- eafM;ksa esa fdlkuksa dh mit dh fcØh ;g Hkh lp gS fd HkaMkj.k dh mfpr ls feyh dqy jde ls Ms<+ ls rhu Qhln O;oLFkk u gksus vkSj dksYM LVksj deh’ku dh dVkSrh djrs gSa- fnypLi ;g gS fd bldh otg crkbZ tkrh gS] mit ds lkFk gh [kk| çlaLdj.k dh

120 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers deh ds pyrs ns’k esa vukt vkSj iwathifr vkSj dkjiksjsV ?kjkus gM+i ysaxs- u, lfCt;ksa dk ,d cMk fgLlk gj —f”k dkuwuksa dks T;knkrj fdlku rQlhy lky cckZn gks tkrk gSA ljdkj dk ls ugha tkurs- ysfdu fdlkuksa dks lcls rdZ gS fd bl dkuwu ls tgka futh T;knk mudh tehusa gM+ius vkSj —f”k laL—fr dks [kRe djus dk gh Mj fn[kk;k tk jgk fuos’kd HkaMkj.k {kerk c<+kus ds gS- gkykafd bl dkuwu esa lkQ çko/kku gS lkFk gh dksYM LVksjst cukus ds fy, fd fdlku tc pkgsa daiuh ;k dkjksckjh ls vkxs vk,axs] ogha [kk| çlaLdj.k djkj rksM+ ldrs gSa] ysfdu v/kchp esa gh m|ksx esa Hkh fuos’k c<+sxkA blls vxj daifu;ka djkj rksM+saxh rks mUgsa bldk mit cckZn ugha gksaxs] vkyw o I;kt [kkfe;ktk tqekZus ds rkSj ij Hkqxruk gksxk- tSlh tYn [kjkc gksus okyh mitksa vxj fookn ugha Fkek rks budk fucVkjk Hkh dh Hkh T;knk [kjhn gks ldsxhA r; fe;kn esa gh iwjk gksxk- HkaMkj.k O;oLFkk] dksYM LVksjst c<+us ls [kjhn bl dkuwu esa Li”V fd;k x;k gS fd gj esa dEihfV’ku gksxk] ftlls varr% fdlkuksa gky esa [ksr vkSj Qly nksuksa dk ekfyd gj dks Qk;nk gksxk- pwafd —f”k m|ksx esa fuos’k fLFkfr esa fdlku gh jgsxk- ljdkj dk nkok c<+sxk] fygktk jkstxkj Hkh c<+saxs- fQj ljdkj gS fd blls fdlkuksa dks igys dh rjg gks dk dguk gS fd vxj vukt dh dhersa jgh dkaVªSDV [ksrh ls NqVdkjk feysxk] ftlesa T;knk c<+ha rks og HkaMkj.k dh lhek Hkh r; fdlkuksa ds fy, fLFkfr;ka Bhd ugha Fkha- igys djsxh- fdlku jkT; ljdkj dh —f”k mRikn Bsdk [ksrh dk rjhdk vfyf[kr Fkk- ftlds cktkj lfefr;ksa ¼,ih,elh½ ;kuh eafM;ksa esa rgr ns’k ds dbZ bykdksa esa vkyw] dqN vU; vius mRikn csprs Fks- ftl rhljs dkuwu ls lfCt;ka] xUuk] dikl] pk;] dkWQh vkSj fdlku laxBuksa dks vkifÙk gS] og gS —”kd Qwyksa dh [ksrh dk gh vuqca/k gksrk Fkk- oSls ¼l’kähdj.k o laj{k.k½ ewY; vk’oklu vkSj dqN jkT;ksa us blds fy, fu;e cuk, gSa- —f”k lsok djkj dkuwu&2020- bl dkuwu cgjgky ljdkj dk nkok gS fd bl dkuwu ds tfj, fdlkuksa dks —f”k dkjksckj djus ls —f”k {ks= esa ‘kks/k ds futh {ks= ds Hkh okyh daifu;ksa] [kk| çlaLdj.k bdkb;ksa] yksx vk,axs- pwafd NksVh tksr okys fdlkuksa Fkksd dkjksckfj;ksa ] fu;kZrdksa o laxfBr dh vk; de gS] fygktk os vk/kqfud [ksrh [kqnjk dkjksckfj;ksa foØsrkvksa ls lh/ks tksM+us ds fy, midj.k vkfn dh [kjhn ugha dj dh O;oLFkk dh xbZ gS- bl dkuwu ds tfj, ikrs Fks- vuqca/k ds rgr mUgsa csgrj mit ljdkj dk ç;kl mit dk cqokbZ ds igys gkfly djus ds fy, lacaf/kr dkjksckjh ;k gh dkjksckfj;ksa ls r; dher ij djkj djkus daiuh bldh lgwfy;r Hkh miyC/k djk dk gS- bl dkuwu ds tfj, ljdkj dh ik,xh- blds vykok oSf’od eafM;ksa esa dksf’k’k NksVh tksr okys fdlkuksa dks lkewfgd viuh mit dks cspus ds fy, fdlku dks vkSj Bsdk vk/kkfjd [ksrh djus dk Qk;nk viuh mit dh xq.koÙkk dh tkap djkus] igqapkuk gS- oSls Hkh ns’k ds djhc 86 Qhln mldh xzsfMax djkus ds lkFk gh ifjogu fdlkuksa ds ikl nks ,dM+ ;kuh ikap gsDVs;j vkfn dh leL;k ls NqVdkjk feysxk- ls de tksr gS- bl dkuwu ds rgr ikap gsDVs;j ls de [ksr okys fdlkuksa dks lewg o vuqcaf/kr —f”k dk Qk;nk fnykuk gS- fdlku laxBuksa dk vkjksi gS fd bl dkuwu ds ykxw gksus ls Bsdk [ksrh ds djkj esa fdlkuksa dh gkyr [kjkc gksxh vkSj os eksyHkko ugha dj ik,axs- fdlku laxBuksa dk vkjksi gS fd blls cM+h daifu;ka] fu;kZrd] Fkksd dkjksckjh ds lkFk gh [kk| çlaLdj.k okyh bdkb;ksa dks gh Qk;nk gksxk- os fdlkuksa dks nck,axh vkSj varr% fdlkuksa dh tehusa

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 121 rhu n’kd igys gh iM+ xbZ Fkh —f”k dkuwu dh uhao] eksnh ljdkj cl vey esa ykbZ

tkus dh otg ls gh vkt fdlkuksa dh ;g Ravi Parashar gkyr gqbZ gS- tc lHkh is’kksa esa vkenuh 13th December 2020 esa csgrk’kk btkQk gks pqdk gS] rc fdlkuksa News18 dh vk; mlh vuqikr esa D;ksa ugha c<+h- lky 2014 esa dsaæ esa ç/kkuea=h ujsaæ eksnh ;g vge loky gS vkSj bldk tokc lHkh ds usr`Ro esa cuh ljdkj us cgqr ls ,sls jktuSfrd ikfVZ;ksa dks nsuk pkfg,- tks dkaxzsl eqíksa ij nks Vwd QSlys fd, gSa] ftUgsa Nwuk fdlkuksa ls tqM+s dkuwuksa dks okil ysus dh rd nwljh ljdkjsa csgn tks[kfe dk dke ekax dj jgh gS] D;k djhc 55 lky rd ekurh jgh gSa- pkgs uksVcanh dk QSlyk gks mldh dsaæ ljdkjksa us ns’k ij ‘kklu ugha ;k fQj ihvksds esa lftZdy LVªkbd dk fd;k gS\ ,e,lih dh ç’kklfud O;oLFkk fu.kZ; ;k ikfdLrku esa vkradh fBdkuksa ij dks laoS/kkfud tkek igukus dk dke dkaxzsl lh/ks geys dk ekeyk gks- Hkkjr us eksnh vkSj nwljh xSj&chtsih ikfVZ;ksa us D;ksa ugha dky esa QSlys ysus esa nsj ugha yxkbZ- vc fd;k\ —f”k lq/kkj dkuwu cukuk Hkh eksnh ljdkj vly esa tks —f”k dkuwu vHkh cuk, x, gSa] dk ,slk gh lkgl Hkjk dne dgk tk ldrk mudh flQkfj’k rhu n’kd igys dh xbZ Fkh- gS- iatkc lesr dbZ jkT;ksa ds fdlku fnYyh rF; ;g gS fd 26 tqykbZ] 1990 dks ,d dks ?ksj dj vkanksyu dj jgs gSa vkSj dsaæ mPpkf/kdkj laiUu lfefr us ;gh flQkfj’ksa ljdkj us Hkh dkuwuksa esa fdlkuksa dh ekaxksa dh Fkha- rc fo’oukFk çrki flag ç/kkuea=h ds fglkc ls mfpr la’kks/ku dk oknk dj Fks vkSj pkS/kjh nsohyky mi&ç/kkuea=h Fks- yphyk #[k v[kf~r;kj dj fy;k gS] fQj muds ikl dsaæh; —f”k ea=h dk Hkh dk;ZHkkj Hkh fdlku —f”k lq/kkj dkuwuksa dks jí djus Fkk- pkS/kjh lkgc rks fdlku gh Fks] ysfdu ij gh vM+s gSa- blls ;s le> esa vk jgk rRdkyhu ljdkj dh fgEer mu flQkfj’kksa gS fd foi{kh ikfVZ;ka flQZ vkSj flQZ eksnh dks ykxw djus ds fy, dkuwu cukus dh fojks/k esa fdlkuksa ds bl vkanksyu dks gok ugha gqbZ] rks blds ewy esa ;gh Mj Fkk fd nsus esa tqVh gSa- vxj ;s dkuwu cuk fn, x,] rks dqN jkT;ksa Hkkjr —f”k ç/kku ns’k gS- ,sls esa fiNys ds lk/ku laiUu fdlku ukjkt gks ldrs gSa- lkr n’kd esa vxj gekjs ns’k esa fdlkuksa vxj 1990 esa ;k mlds dqN o”kZ ckn —f”k dh gkyr ugha lq/kjh gS] rks blds fy, lq/kkj dkuwu ykxw dj fn, x, gksrs] rks jktuSfrd bPNk’kfä dh deh dks gh ftEesnkj vkt gkykr dqN vkSj gh gksrs- iwoZ dsaæh; Bgjk;k tkuk pkfg,- lgh gS fd vkS|ksxhdj.k —f”k ea=h lkseiky ‘kkL=h Hkh ekurs gSa fd vkSj vk/kqfudhdj.k le; dh ekax gksrh eksnh ljdkj tks dkuwu ysdj vkbZ gS] mldh gS] ysfdu [ksrh ij mfpr /;ku ugha fn, vo/kkj.kk cgqr iqjkuh gS-

122 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers ‘kkL=h ds eqrkfcd 1990 ls ysdj djhc fQj ls fopkj ugha fd;k tkuk pkfg,\ D;k nks ntZu ckj ml le; dh xbZ flQkfj’kksa fefJr [ksrh dh iqjkuh ç.kkyh dks nksckjk ij lalnh; lefr;ksa vkSj nwljh lfefr;ksa ykxw djus ds fy, fdlku laxBu fdlkuksa us fopkj fd;k] ysfdu dksbZ ljdkj dkuwu dks euk ik,axs\ tehu ds uhps ikuh dk cukus dk lkgl ugha tqVk ldh- ns’k esa Lrj ?kVrk tk jgk gS] ekulwu dh ckfj’k vk<+rh ç.kkyh ;kuh fcpkSfy;ksa okyh O;oLFkk vfuf’p; dh tehu ij cjlus yxh gS vkSj dh tM+sa jktuhfr esa bruh xgjh gSa] [kkldj IykfLVd dh otg ls ukfy;ka&ukys tke iatkc esa fdlh ljdkj us —f”k lq/kkj ds gksus dh otg ls ckfj’k dk cs’kdherh ikuh tfj;s fdlkuksa dh vkenuh c<+kus ds fy, tehu esa u tkdj cckZn gks jgk gS] D;k lkFkZd dne ugha mBk,A ,sls fo”k;ksa ij O;kid tkx:d foe’kZ [kM+k ugha fd;k tkuk pkfg,\ fdlku laxBuksa vc eksnh ljdkj us lkgl Hkjk dks pkfg, fd vxj ns’k ds vUunkrk dks QSlyk fd;k gS] rks viuk otwn [kq’kgky cukuk gS] rks cqfu;knh Lrj ij ryk’k jgs foi{k dks mls ?ksjus dke de ls de vc rks ‘kq: djsa- dk ,d vkSj cgkuk fey x;k gS- ljdkjsa rks dkuwu cuk ldrh gSa] ysfdu ysfdu ns’k Hkj esa gM+rky djkus ls mudk ikyu rks ns’k ds ukxfjdksa dks gh ;k fQj fnYyh&,ulhvkj ds yksxksa djuk gS- tc dksbZ Økafrdkjh dne mBk;k dh nSfud fnup;kZ ij xzg.k yxk tkrk gS] rc mldk fojks/k ekuoh; LoHkko nsus ls lgh ckr dks lgh ugha dgk gSA tkuk pkfg,\ ljdkj fdlkuksa ls ckrphr djus dk bjknk j[krh gS] ns’k esa tc daI;wVj Økafr dk dj Hkh jgh gS] ysfdu mudk ,d lw=ikr gqvk] rc fdlh Jfed lqj ugha gksus dh otg ls dksbZ laxBu us [kq’kh tkfgj ugha dh- urhtk vHkh rd ugha fudyk gS- lHkh Jfed laxBuksa dks vk’kadk Fkh ,sls esa D;k gksxk\ fd daI;wVj vkus ds ckn csjkstxkjh c<+ tk,xh- ysfdu D;k ,slk gqvk\ ns’k esa fdlkuksa ds djhc 500 laxBu gSa- gjfxt ugha gqvk] cfYd vc rks D;k dksbZ jktuSfrd ikVhZ bl loky dk mfpr tokc ns ldrh gS fd brus laxBu daI;wVj dk Kku u gksuk jkstxkj esa D;ksa [kM+s gks x,\ tkfgj gS fd fdlkuksa dks ck/kd gSA oksV cSad ;k mudh esgur ds cwrs viuh vc vxj eksnh ljdkj us o”kZ 2022 rd tscsa Hkjus okys rcdksa us viuk mYyw lh/kk fdlkuksa dh vk; nksxquh djus ds vius okns djus ds fy, fdlku laxBuksa dk tky cqu dks fuHkkus ds fy, dqN dM+s QSlys muds j[kk gS- t~;knkrj fdlku laxBuksa us fdlkuksa fgr esa g, gSa] rks mUgsa ykxw gksus nhft,- dh cqfu;knh leL;kvksa dks ysdj dHkh cM+s ljdkj rks vkt Hkh fdlkuksa dh ekaxksa ds vkanksyu ugha fd,- ;s laxBu lgh fn’kk vuqlkj dkuwuksa dks u;k Lo:i nsus dks esa dne c<+krs] rks vkt fdlkuksa dh ,slk rS;kj gS- Hkfo”; esa Hkh lafo/kku la’kks/ku gkyr ugha gksrhA dh lqifjHkkf”kr çfØ;k gS gh- fygktk Mjus tSlh dksbZ ckr gh ugha gS- —i;k vjktd vkt ugha rks dy ekStwnk fdlku vkanksyu er cfu,- eksnh ljdkj ds lkglh QSlys Hkh [kRe gks tk,xkA eksnh ljdkj fdlkuksa dks la’kksf/kr :i esa ykxw rks gksus nhft,A dh ekStwnk ekaxsa tl dh rl eku Hkh ldrh gS ;k fQj fdlku dkuwuksa esa la’kks/ku ds dsaæ ljdkj ds joS;s ij lger Hkh gks ldrs gSa] ysfdu D;k flQZ ,e,lih dks dkuwuh ntkZ nsus ls iwjs ns’k ds fdlkuksa dh leL;kvksa dk var gks tk,xk\ D;k —f”k lq/kkj dks ysdj ns’k esa lkFkZd cgl u, fljs ls ugha ‘kq: gksuh pkfg,\ D;k dS’k ØkWIl ds dkWUlsIV ij

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 123 vkanksyu dk fgLlk cuus dk volj u nsa] ysfdu ;g ekuus ds vPNs&Hkys dkj.k gSa fd —f”k dkuwuksa ds vc ;g fdlkuksa dk vkanksyu ek= ugha jg x;k gSA pwafd blesa os yksx gkoh gks x, gSa f[kykQ fdlku ftudk yksdra= vkSj laokn esa fo’okl lafnX/k gS blfy, vkanksyu dh vkM+ esa ,d vyx vkanksyu ds tfj;s ,tsaMs dks iwjk djus dh dksf’k’k dh tk jgh gSA bldh iqf”V blls Hkh gksrh gS fd xfrjks/k nwj djus ds fy, ljdkj ds gj çLrko dks jktuhfrd ny u dsoy [kkfjt fd;k tk jgk gS] cfYd fojks/k ds uke ij ,sls rkSj&rjhds viukus dh ladh.kZ fgrksa dks /kedh nh tk jgh gS tks vyksdrkaf=d vkSj O;oLFkk Hkax djus okys gSaA ,sls rkSj&rjhds oSpkfjd vfrokn dh fu’kkuh gSaA ;g vfrokn iwjk djus dh ,d pquh gqbZ ljdkj ds ‘kklu djus ds vf/kdkj dks Hkh Lohdkj ugha dj ik jgk fQjkd esa gSA vc ;g lkQ gS fd bl vkanksyu ds tfj;s jktuhfrd ny Hkh vius ladh.kZ fgrksa Editorial dks iwjk djus dh fQjkd esa gSa vkSj okeiaFkh Jagran vfrokn&uDlyokn ls çsfjr laxBu HkhA 13th December, 2020 iatkc ds fdlkuksa dk #[k rhu u, —f”k dkuwuksa ds f[kykQ fnYyh dh fojks/kkHkklh lhekvksa ij py jgk fdlkuksa dk vkanksyu vc tks :i ys pqdk gS mlls ;g ugha bl vkanksyu dks ysdj iatkc ds fdlkuksa yxrk fd fdlku laxBu viuh ekaxksa dks dk #[k fofp= vkSj fojks/kkHkklh gSA ;g og ysdj xaHkhj gSaA vc rks mudh vxaHkhjrk dk jkT; gS ftlus gfjr Økafr esa lcls vf/kd ifjp; blls Hkh fey jgk gS fd dqN laxBu ;ksxnku fn;k vkSj vkt jktuhfrd mdlkos Hkhek&dksjsxkao esa fgalk ds lkFk&lkFk fnYyh ij ;gha ds fdlku ,d vkSj gfjr Økafr esa naxksa ds vkjksfirksa ds cpko esa mrj vk, gSa ck/kd cu jgs gSaA iatkc dh dkaxzsl ljdkj vkSj og Hkh ;g tkurs gq, fd bu lc ij vkSj vdkyh ny us u dsoy jktuhfrd ykHk brus xaHkhj vkjksi gSa fd vnkyrksa us mUgsa ds fy, fdlkuksa dks lM+dksa ij mrkjk] cfYd tekur nsus ls Hkh ijgst fd;k gSA vkf[kj os mUgsa mdlk Hkh jgs gSaA iatkc esa dkaVªSDV bl rjg ds yksxksa dk leFkZu dj ;k leFkZu QkfeaZx 2006 ls gh ykxw gSA blls ;gka ds ysdj fdlku laxBu D;k gkfly djuk pkgrs fdlku ykHkkfUor Hkh gq, gSa vkSj vc tc gSa vkSj ns’k dks D;k lans’k nsuk pkgrs gSa\ blh O;oLFkk dks u, dkuwuksa dk vax cuk;k [ksrh&fdlkuh dk naxksa vkSj fgalk ds vkjksfirksa x;k gS rks dsoy ;g Mj fn[kkdj mldk ls D;k laca/k gS\ D;k yksdra= vkSj fojks/k fojks/k fd;k tk jgk gS fd dkWjiksjsV txr ds vf/kdkj dk ;gh vFkZ gS\ fdlkuksa dh tehu gfFk;k ysxkA ;g gkSok rc [kM+k fd;k tk jgk gS tc ,slk ,d Hkh —f”k ea=h us fdlkuksa ls dgk& ekeyk lkeus ugha vk;k tc fdlh fdlku vlkekftd rRoksa dks vius vkanksyu dh tehu dkWjiksjsV us gfFk;k yh gksA fdlku dk fgLlk cuus dk volj u nsa ,d rjQ dkWjiksjsV txr dk gkSok [kM+k dj ;g mfpr gS fd dsaæh; —f”k ea=h ujsaæ flag jgs gSa vkSj nwljh rjQ mu vk<+fr;ksa ds fgrksa rksej us ftn ij vM+s fdlku laxBuksa dks ;g dh fpark djds lM+dksa ij mrjs gq, gSa tks [kqn ulhgr nh fd os vlkekftd rRoksa dks vius Hkh O;kikjh gh gSaA dqN fdlku laxBu ;g

124 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers Hkh ns[kus&le>us ls bUdkj dj jgs gSa fd os vk/kkjghu mu yksxksa ds gkFkksa dk f[kykSuk cuus dk dke dj jgs gSa tks bl ekeys dk varjjk”Vªh;dj.k foi{kh nyksa dk ;g rdZ vk/kkjghu gS fd djus ij rqys gq, gSaA u, —f”k dkuwuksa ij laln esa cgl ugha gqbZA rF; ;g gS fd ekulwu l= esa tc buls u, —f”k dkuwuksa ds fojks/k esa lacaf/kr fo/ks;d laln esa yk, x, Fks rc mu fdlku laxBu euekuh ij vkeknk ij 12 ?kaVs cgl gqbZ FkhA ;g ckr vyx gS u, —f”k dkuwuksa ds fojks/k esa fdlku laxBu fd foi{kh nyksa dh fnypLih eksnh ljdkj vkSj mudk lkFk ns jgs yksx fdl rjg dks dkslus esa FkhA euekuh ij vkeknk gSa] bldk çek.k dbZ U;wure leFkZu ewY; ;kuh ,e,lih nkSj dh okrkZ dh ukdkeh rks gS gh] fdlkuksa lekIr gksus dk Mj fn[kkus esa gj dh vrZfkdd ekaxsa Hkh gSaA igys mudk fojks/k foi{kh ny vkxs FkkA foi{kh nyksa us dsoy u, dkuwuksa ij dsafær Fkk] ysfdu vc ;g #[k rc viuk;k tc os vPNh mUgksaus çnw”k.k dh jksdFkke ds fy, çLrkfor rjg tkurs gSa fd ,e,lih dks dkuwu esa ijkyh tykus ij naM ds çko/kku dks okil ysus vkSj fctyh lfClMh esa lq/ dkuwuh :i ugha fn;k tk ldrk] kkj ds f[kykQ Hkh ftn idM+ yh gSA fdlku D;ksafd dsaæ ljdkj ns’k Hkj dk laxBu ;g Hkh le>us ds fy, rS;kj ugha [kk|kUu ugha [kjhn ldrhA fd eaMh dkuwu ij jkT; QSlyk ysus ds fy, cgqer okyh eksnh ljdkj dks Lora= gSaA laoS/kkfud nk;js esa QSlys djus ls —f”k esa iwath fuos’k] ubZ rduhd dksbZ jksd ugha ldrk vkSj m|ksxhdj.k le; dh ekax fdlku vkanksyu esa tSls rRoksa dh ?kqliSB gks vius ns’k dh yxHkx 70 çfr’kr pqdh gS mlds ckn eksnh ljdkj ds fy, ;g vkcknh bl le; —f”k ls tqM+h gqbZ vko’;d gks tkrk gS fd og u rks fdlh ncko dks Lohdkj djs vkSj u gh ,sls dksbZ gSA vxj bruh cM+h vkcknh dh ladsr ns fd og pan yksxksa dh euekuh ds vk; ugha c<+sxh vkSj og l’kä ugha vkxs >qdus ds fy, rS;kj gSA ;g blfy, gksxh rks D;k ns’k dk fodkl laHko vko’;d gS] D;ksafd dksbZ Hkh u rks ,d gS\ D;k —f”k esa iwath fuos’k] ubZ cgqer okyh ljdkj dks laoS/kkfud nk;js esa rduhd vkSj m|ksxhdj.k le; dh QSlys djus ls jksd ldrk gS vkSj u gh ekax ugha gS\ D;k futh fuos’kd fnYyh esa ,d vkSj ‘kkghu ckx cukus dh bl vk’oklu ds fcuk fuos’k ds btktr nh tk ldrh gSA ;g Lohdkj ugha fy, jkth gksaxs fd os vius fglkc fd;k tk ldrk fd ls —f”k esa mRiknu djk ldsa\ tks ny vFkok laxBu Hkktik vkSj fdlku laxBuksa dks ;g le>uk pkfg, fd ç/kkuea=h eksnh dk jktuhfrd :i —f”k esa futh fuos’k dh Hkkxhnkjh ek= nks ls lkeuk ugha dj ik jgs gSa os çfr’kr gS vkSj ;g {ks= rc rd çxfr ugha vjktdrk ds lgkjs vius ealwcs dj ldrk tc rd blesa u, fuos’kd ugha iwjs djus dh dksf’k’k djsa vkSj ,slk vk,axsA ;g Li”V gS fd fdlku laxBuksa dks djrs gq, yksdra= dh nqgkbZ Hkh nsaA mdlkus vkSj HkM+dkus dk dke os laxBu jsyos VªSd jksduk] lM+dsa ckf/kr djuk dj jgs gSa tks fopkj/kkjk ds Lrj ij futh fuos’k ds f[kykQ gSa vkSj ;g ekurs gSa fd vkSj fdlh çfr”Bku ij rksM+QksM+ dh lc dqN ljdkj ds Lrj ij gh fd;k tkuk vihy djuk fojks/k ds yksdrkaf=d pkfg,A eqä cktkj okyh vFkZO;oLFkk mUgsa rkSj&rjhds ugha gSaA ,sls rkSj&rjhdksa Lohdkj ughaA dks u rks turk dh lgkuqHkwfr vkSj leFkZu fey ldrk gS vkSj u gh u, —f”k dkuwuksa ij laln esa cgl ljdkj dh gennhZA dks ysdj foi{kh nyksa dk rdZ

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 125 mfpr :i ls ykxw gq, rks [ksrh dk dk;kdYi djus okys gSa eksnh ljdkj ds ;s rhuksa —f”k dkuwu Ashok Gulati ;kuh ,ih,elh ls tqM+s dkuwu esa la’kks/ku Hkh Jagran le; dh ekax gSA 11th December] 2020 vki ns’k dh fdlh Hkh eaMh esa —f”k {ks= esa lq/kkj ds fy, eksnh ljdkj ds tkdj ns[k ldrs gSa fd dSls u, dkuwuksa dk fdlkuksa ds ,d oxZ }kjk iy Hkj esa fdlkuksa dh mit dk rh[kk fojks/k tkjh gSA bu fdlkuksa ds eu euekus nkeksa ij lkSnk gks tkrk esa ‘kadk gS fd u, —f”k dkuwuksa ls mudh vkenuh [krjs esa iM+ ldrh gSA ;g fLFkfr gSA blls deh’ku ,tsaVksa dks rks rc gS tc ç/kkuea=h ujsaæ cf<+;k Qk;nk fey tkrk gS] ysfdu fdlku visf{kr ykHk ls oafpr jg eksnh Hkjkslk fnyk pqds gSa fd u tkrs gSaA ,sls esa ,ih,elh dkuwu esa rks U;wure leFkZu ewY; ;kuh lq/kkj ls fdlkuksa ds fy, vko’;d ,e,lih O;oLFkk lekIr gksus tk fodYiksa dk c<+uk r; gS vkSj blls jgh gS vkSj u gh eaMh O;oLFkkA [kjhnkjksa ds chp çfrLi/kkZ Hkh c<+sxhA blls fdlkuksa dks vk’oLr gksuk blh rjg vuqca/k [ksrh ls tqM+s dkuwu Hkh pkfg,] ysfdu os myVs vkØksf’kr fdlkuksa dks jkgr igqapk,axsA veweu fdlku gks jgs gSaA dqN jktuhfrd ny bu fiNyh Qly ds nke ns[kdj gh vxyh fdlkuksa dk Hkze vkSj c<+k jgs gSaA Qly dh rS;kjh djrs gSa] ysfdu vuqca/k dsaæ us tks rhu —f”k dkuwu cuk, gSa] mudh —f”k ds tfj;s os Hkfo”; dh Qly dh de yacs vlsZ ls çrh{kk dh tk jgh FkhA tSls ls de tksf[ke ds lkFk csgrj ;kstuk cuk vko’;d oLrq vf/kfu;e dh O;oLFkk rc ldrs gSaA ;g rF; fdlh ls fNik ugha fd cukbZ xbZ Fkh] tc ge viuh vkcknh dk isV fdlkuksa dks Qly mxkus ls vf/kd mls cspus Hkjus esa gh l{ke ugha FksA blds myV vkt esa dgha T;knk eqf’dy gksrh gSA ;s dkuwu ,sls vf/k’ks”k dh fLFkfr gS fd Hkkjrh; [kk| dkQh gn rd bl leL;k dk lek/kku fuxe ;kuh ,Qlhvkb ds xksnkeksa esa vukt djus esa l{ke gSaA blh rjg vkiwfrZ ‘k`a[kyk j[kus ds fy, i;kZIr txg gh ughaA ,sls esa csgrj gksus ls miHkksäkvksa dk Hkh Hkyk gksxkA Hkkjr dks [kk|kUu ds ekspsZ ij vdky ls ;s rhuksa dkuwu ;fn mfpr :i ls ykxw gq, vf/k’ks”k dh fLFkfr dk ykHk mBkus dh fn’kk rks buesa Hkkjrh; —f”k vkSj fdlkuksa dh esa vxzlj gksuk gh gksxkA blh dkj.k ljdkj dk;kiyV djus dh iwjh {kerk gSA us vko’;d oLrq vf/kfu;e esa la’kks/ku dk isp Qalkdj ugha gksus okyk dqN Hkh mfpr QSlyk fd;k gSA gkfly iy Hkj esa fdlkuksa dh mit dk blds ckotwn bu dkuwuksa dk fojks/k le> euekus nkeksa ij gks tkrk gS lkSnk ls ijs gSA bl fojks/k esa ,d Li”V #>ku blh rjg —f”k mRiknu ,oa foi.ku lfefr Hkh fn[k jgk gS fd ;g eq[; :i ls iatkc

126 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers ds fdlkuksa }kjk fd;k tk jgk gSA bldh Hkkjrh; çfrLi/kkZ vk;ksx tSlh iM+rky djsa rks ;gh ik,axs fd iatkc esa laLFkk dks fd;k tk ldrk gS ,Qlhvkb cM+s iSekus ij [kjhn djrk gSA lfØ; ,sls esa ogka ds fdlkuksa dks yxrk gS fd eaMh O;oLFkk muds fy, iwjh rjg mi;qä ljdkj us lq/kkjksa dh fn’kk esa dne vo’; gSA fQj vk<+fr;ksa ds vkfFkZd fgr vkSj jkT; c<+k, gSa] ysfdu dqN dfe;ka Hkh NksM+ nh ljdkj dks feyus okys djhc 5]000 djksM+ gSaA tSls dqN oLrqvksa dh dherksa esa 50 #i;s ds jktLo dk Hkh igyw gSA ,sls esa ls 100 çfr’kr c<+ksrjh dh fLFkfr esa vk<+fr;ksa vkSj jkT; ljdkj dks ;s vius gkFk vko’;d oLrq vf/kfu;e ykxw djus dk ls fQlyrk fn[k jgk gSA mudh ;s fpark,a çko/kku ‘ks”k gSA tcfd vko’;d oLrq vf/ dqN gn rd okftc Hkh gSaA ,sls esa mUgsa dqN kfu;e dks iwjh rjg [kRe dj nsuk pkfg,A o”kksaZ ds fy, bldh {kfriwfrZ nh tk ldrh flQZ ;q) ;k çk—frd vkink dh fLFkfr gSA ;k fQj futh {ks= ds fy, [kjhn dh esa gh bldk lgkjk fy;k tk,A ;fn dksbZ ,d lhek fu/kkZfjr dh tk ldrh gSA bl i{k dherksa dks —f=e :i ls c<+k&p<+kdj xfrjks/k dk lkFkZd laokn ;k ,sls gh fdlh cktkj dks fo:fir djus dk ç;kl djrk gS e/;ekxZ ds tfj;s gy fudkyk tk ldrk rks ml fLFkfr ls fuiVus ds fy, Hkkjrh; gS] exj bl ij isp Qalkdj dqN gkfly çfrLi/kkZ vk;ksx tSlh laLFkk dks lfØ; ugha gksus okykA lkFk gh iatkc ds fdlkuksa fd;k tk ldrk gSA dks viuh vkenuh c<+kus ds fy, xsgwa vkSj okLro esa —f”k {ks= esa ,sls lq/kkjksa /kku tSls fodYiksa ls brj Hkh ns[kuk gksxkA dh çrh{kk rks yacs le; ls dh tk lq/kkjksa dks ewrZ :i nsus ds fy, jgh Fkh] ysfdu elyk laosnu’khy futh fuos’k gksxk vko’;d gksus ds dkj.k dksbZ ljdkj bUgsa çn’kZudkjh fdlku ftl ,e,lih dks ysdj vkxs ugha c<+k ikbZA ç/kkuea=h eksnh vM+s gSa] og O;oLFkk Hkh 1965 ds nkSj esa us lkgfld QSlys ysus dh viuh rc dh xbZ Fkh] tc ns’k [kk|kUu ds ekspsZ fof’k”V ‘kSyh esa bu lq/kkjksa ij ij [kLrkgky FkkA vkt fLFkfr ,slh gS fd dne c<+k, gSaA mRikfnr [kk|kUu ds HkaMkj.k ds fy, i;kZIr mudh ljdkj ij tYnckth esa ;s dkuwu LFkku dk vHkko gSA Li”V gS fd ge vrhr cukus dk vkjksi Hkh lgh ugha gS] D;ksafd bu dh uhfr;ksa ds tfj;s ugha py ldrsA ;s lq/kkjksa ij foe’kZ dh ‘kq#vkr o”kZ 2003 —f”k lq/kkj bUgh xM+cfM+;ksa dks lq/kkjus ds esa oktis;h ljdkj ds le; ls gh ‘kq: gks fy, x, gSaA bu lq/kkjksa dks ewrZ :i nsus ds xbZ FkhA dkaxzsl ds usr`Ro okys laçx dh fy, futh fuos’k vko’;d gksxkA cktkj dh ljdkj esa Hkh bu ij ;nkdnk ppkZ gksrh Hkwfedk Hkh egRoiw.kZ gksxhA jghA ;gka rd fd o”kZ 2019 ds vke pquko —f”k lq/kkjksa dk fojks/k djus esa dkaxzsl us vius ?kks”k.kki= esa bu ekaxksa okyksa dks ;g Hkh le>uk gksxk dk mYys[k vius ?kks”k.kki= esa Hkh fd;k Fkk fd ekStwnk O;oLFkk dks jkrksajkr vkSj vc og bldk fojks/k dj jgh gSA eksnh ljdkj us vHkh rd –<+rk ls bu lq/kkjksa dk ugha cnyk tk ldrkA bl leFkZu fd;k gSA mls fdlkuksa }kjk cuk, laØe.k vof/k esa os futh {ks= tk jgs ncko ds vkxs ugha >qduk pkfg,A ds f[kykfM+;ksa ls eqdkcyk djus ;fn eksnh ,sls fdlh ncko ds pyrs —f”k ds fy, viuh {kerk,a csgrj dj lq/kkjksa ij dne ihNs [khaprs gSa rks Hkfo”; ldrs gSaA blls gksus okyh çfrLi/ esa fdlh Hkh ljdkj ds fy, bu lq/kkjksa ij kkZ dk ykHk mRiknd vkSj miHkksäk dne vkxs c<+k ikuk vlaHko ugha rks csgn nksuksa dks feysxkA eqf’dy t:j gksxkA

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 127 tkrs gSa- ;g gekjh [kk| mRiknu ç.kkyh dh lcls egRoiw.kZ J`a[kyk dks çHkkfor djrk gS- xjhc fdlku] bldk eryc ;s lh/ks fdlkuksa dks çHkkfor djrk gS- NksVs tehankj vkSj fdlkuksa dh vkthfodk muds [ksrksa esa gksus okys mit ls tqM+h gS] ysfdu os vius vukt mit dk ladV% ds mRiknu dks vko’;d iSekus ij c<+kus esa foQy jgs- muesa ls vf/kdka’k fdlku ns’k dks l[r xjhc gSa vkSj muds ikl cgqr de [ksrh gS- ,sls fdlku bl ns’k dh flapkbZ rduhd esa fuos’k ugha dj ldrs gSa tgka e‚ulwu —f”k lq/kkjksa dh ds ek/;e ls gksus okyh ekSleh ckfj’k dbZ ckj Qlyksa ds fy, vuqdwy le; ij vko’;drk D;ksa\ ugha gksrh gS- os viuh mit dks c<+kus ds fy, vko’;d —f”k&çkS|ksfxdh vkSj oSKkfud Santosh Chaubey rjhdksa ls fuos’k ugha dj ldrs gSa- News18 Hindi GDP 15 December 2020 1950 esa ns’k dh esa —f”k {ks= dk ;ksxnku 50% ls T;knk Fkk Hkkjr esa tc —f”k dh ckr vkrh gS Hkkjr esa —f”k ,d ,slk {ks= gS ftlls ns’k rks ns’k fojks/kkHkklksa dh Hkwfe gS- dh tula[;k dk cM+k fgLlk tqM+k gqvk gS- ,sls fojks/kkHkkl tks —f”k xfrfof/k esa yxs ;s dguk xyr ugha gksxk fd ;s {ks= lcls yk[kksa fdlkuksa ds thou dks çHkkfor djrs T;knk yksxksa ;k fdlkuksa dh Hkj.k iks”k.k dk gSa- vc mUgsa thou ds bu rjhdksa ls ckgj lk/ku gS- gkykafd ;g {ks= vko’;d fodkl fudyus dh t:jr gS] tks mUgsa yacs le; nj gkfly djus esa foQy jgrk gS- 1950 ls çHkkfor djrs vk, gSa- geus gj lky ds n’kd esa] —f”k Hkkjrh; vFkZO;oLFkk dk gtkjksa fdlkuksa dks vkRegR;k djrs ns[kk gS eq[; vk/kkj Fkk] ftldk ns’k dh thMhih vkSj o”kZ 1995 ls ¼tc ls jk”Vªh; vijk/k esa 50% ls vf/kd dk ;ksxnku Fkk- Hkkjr fjdkWMZ C;wjks ¼NCRB½ us viuk MsVk tkjh dk 70% odZQkslZ —f”k esa yxk gqvk Fkk- djuk ‘kq: fd;k-½ blds vkf/kdkfjd fjdkWMZ orZeku le; esa blesa deh vkbZ gS- bl gSa- {ks= esa Hkkjh fxjkoV ns[kh xbZ gS- o”kZ 2019&2000 esa ns’k dh thMhih esa —f”k bl ns’k ds fdlkuksa dks —f”k lq/ {ks= dk ;ksxnku yxHkx 17 Qhlnh Fkk- kkjksa dh l[r vko’;drk gS vkSj rhu —f”k fcyksa ds ek/;e ls is’k vHkh Hkh —f”k {ks= ns’k ds 55 Qhlnh ls T;knk yksxksa ds jkstxkj dk lk/ku gS- ftlls fd, x, u, —f”k dkuwu bl fn’kk dbZ rjg ds loky Hkh mBrs gSa- bl {ks= esa lgh dne gSa] ftls ljdkj us esa fxjkoV D;ksa gS tc ns’k dk lcls cM+k vPNh rjg ls ykxw fd;k gS odZQkslZ vkSj lalk/ku bl {ks= esa yxs gSa\ Hkkjr nqfu;k esa dbZ Qlyksa ds ‘kh”kZ dHkh ;g Hkkjrh; vFkZO;oLFkk dk eq[; mRikndksa esa ls ,d gS] ysfdu tc mRikndrk vk/kkj Fkk\ vkf[kj gfjr Økafr dh Hkkjh ekudksa dh ckr vkrh gS] ;kuh çfr ;wfuV lQyrk ds ckotwn ,slk D;ksa gS ftlus Hkwfe ij mRikfnr Qly] rc ge fiNM+ Hkkjr dks u dsoy vkRe&fuHkZj cuk;k gS

128 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers cfYd mit esa ‘kh”kZ Lrj dk fu;kZrd Hkh jkT; vesfjdk vkSj phu ls ihNs gSa- Hkkjr cuk;k gS\ dk [kk|kUu mRiknu y{;] T;knkrj xsgwa 1971 esa 3-6 djksM+ yksxksa ds ikl vkSj pkoy ds fy,] 2020&21 ds fy,] % yxHkx 300 fefy;u Vu gS- tcfd phu ns’k dh 68 —f”k Hkwfe Fkh ds fy, ;g yxHkx 350 fefy;u Vu gS- ‘kq#vkr esa geus crk;k gS fd ge viuh vesfjdk us 2019&20 esa yxHkx 430 mit dks ,Mokal cukus esa l{ke ugha gks fefy;u Vu vukt dk mRiknu fd;k- ik, vkSj blfy, ge vukt dk mRiknu [kk| vkSj —f”k laxBu ¼,Q,vks½ 2014 c<+kus esa lQy ugha gq,- ns’k esa fiNys dqN ds vkadM+ksa ds vuqlkj] Hkkjr Qly vkSj o”kksaZ ls c<+rh vkcknh ds lkFk gh —f”k ;ksX; Qfy;ka mit esa oSf’od vkSlr ls dkQh Hkwfe Hkh /khjs&/khjs NksVs {ks=ksa esa [kafMr gks uhps gS- Hkkjr vkSlru 2]391 fdyksxzke xbZ gS- —f”k tux.kuk 2011 vkSj 2019 çfr gsDVs;j pkoy dk mRiknu djrk gS] ds vkadM+ksa ds vuqlkj] Hkkjr esa 1971 ds tcfd oSf’od vkSlr 3]026 fdyksxzke nkSjku 3-6 djksM+ yksxksa ds ikl —f”k Hkwfe çfr gsDVs;j gS- xsgwa mRiknu esa oSf’od Fkh- 2016 esa ;g c<+dj 10 djksM+ ls vf/ vkSlr 3]289 fdyksxzke çfr gsDVs;j gS] kd gks x;k- tks dqy gksfYMax dk 68% Fkh- % tcfd Hkkjr esa ;g 2]750 fdyksxzke çfr Hkkjr ds 82 fdlku vHkh Hkh de Hkwfe gsDVs;j gS- ge eDdk mRiknu esa Hkh 2]632 okys vkSj xjhc gSa- fdyksxzke çfr gsDVs;j ds lkFk cgqr uhps ftldk ifj.kke ;g gS fd fdlkuksa dh vk; gSa- tcfd bldk oSf’od vkSlr 5]664 çfr dk Lrj de gks jgs Hkwfe ds vkdkj esa gsDVs;j gS- deh ds dkj.k vko’;d vuqikr esa ugha c<+ Hkkjr pkoy dk nwljk lcls cM+k mRiknd ldrk Fkk vkSj os mUur e’khuhdj.k vkSj gksus ds ckotwn vHkh rd vesfjdk] phu vkSj flapkbZ rduhdksa dks viukus esa vleFkZ Fks- czkthy ls ihNs gS- ge xsgwa mRiknu esa phu Hkkjr dh de Qly mit ladV dk ;g ds ckn nwljs lcls cM+s ns’k gSa- vHkh rd ge çeq[k dkj.k gS- nygu ds lcls cM+s mRiknd gSa ysfdu lHkh ;w,l ft;ksykWftdy losZ }kjk eSi ,ukyfll Qlyksa ds mRiknu ds ekeys esa ge la;qä ds vuqlkj] nqfu;k dh lcls T;knk —f”k jkT; vesfjdk] phu vkSj czkthy ds ckn ;ksX; Hkwfe Hkkjr esa gS- 2017 esa tkjh fd, pkSFks LFkku ij gSa- ;s lHkh dkjd Hkkjrh; x, ekufp= esa fn[kk;k x;k gS fd Hkkjr esa fdlkuksa ds ladV dks n’kkZrk gS- 179-8 fefy;u gsDVs;j esa Qly gS] tks ,d xjhc] vkRefuHkZj fdlku mRiknu dh la;qä jkT; vesfjdk ds 167-8 fefy;u lw{erk dks ugha le> dj ldrk gS tksfd gsDVs;j vkSj phu ds 165-2 fefy;u vkfFkZd :i ls mUur vkSj de vkcknh gsDVs;j ls vf/kd gS- tcfd nf{k.k ,f’k;k okys ns’kksa tSls fd la;qä jkT; vesfjdk ds dks nqfu;k dh —f”k jkt/kkuh dgk tkrk gS- fdlkuksa esa ns[kk tkrk gS- ogha] vxj phu ns’k ds yxHkx 20% [ksr dk mi;ksx la;qä dks ns[k ysa rks og Hkkjr dh rqyuk esa vf/kd jkT; vesfjdk vkSj phu esa Qly mRiknu vkcknh okyk gS] ysfdu ogka —f”k mRiknu esa ds fy, fd;k tkrk gS- dbZ n’kd ls —f”k lq/kkj ns[ks x, gSa- ogka] T;knk —f”k Hkwfe gksus ds ckotwn —f”k&çkS|ksfxdh dh ‘kq:vkr dkQh vPNh ge mRiknu esa vesfjdk] phu ls rjg ls dh xbZ gS- ,sls esa Hkkjrh; fdlkuksa ihNs ds ikl D;k jkLrk gS\ gkykafd] tc —f”k mit ;k Hkwfe dh çfr Hkkjrh; fdlkuksa dks lgkjs dh ;wfuV mRikfnr Qly dh ek=k dh ckr t:jr vkrh gS] rks ge vHkh Hkh vU; çeq[k Qly Hkkjrh; fdlkuksa dks viuh —f”k mit mRiknd ns’kksa ls fiNM+ tkrs gSa- Hkkjr esa c<+kus ds fy, csgrj flapkbZ lqfo/kkvksa vkSj nqfu;k dh lcls T;knk —f”k ;ksX; Hkwfe gksus mUur —f”k rduhdksa ds fy, lg;ksx dh ds ckotwn ge vukt mRiknu esa la;qä t:jr gS- mls —f”k&çkS|ksfxdh rd igqap dh

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 129 vko’;drk gS- mls vf/kd ykHk çkIr djus Hkh tkjh jgsxh vkSj ,e,lih dks pj.kc) ds fy, lh/ks O;kikj djus dh vko’;drk fd;k tk,xk- gS vkSj mls ,d ,slh ç.kkyh dh vko’;drk gksrh gS tks mldh vkfFkZd :i ls enn dj orZeku —f”k dkuwu ekStwnk cktkj lds D;ksafd cgqr vf/kd vko’;drk,a mldh ç.kkyh dks gVkus ds fy, ugha gSA lhekvksa ls ijs gSa- ;g dkuwu ,ih,elh eafM;ksa dks gVkus ds fy, ugha gS- ysfdu ;g ,sls esa u, —f”k dkuwu vko’;d fdlkuksa dks laHkkfor [kjhnkjksa ds —f”k lq/kkj esa mi;ksxh gks ldrs gSa- lkFk lh/ks ckrphr djus ds fy, u, —f”k dkuwu esa vuqca/k [ksrh dks ,d O;kid fodYi ns jgk gSA vuqefr nh xbZ gS] ftlls fdlku lh/ks —f”k O;olkf;;ksa ds lkFk tqM+saA ;g dkuwu tc eq[; /kkjk esa vk tk,xk rc lhekar vkSj NksVs fdlkuksa dks lh/ks u, dkuwu ;g lqfuf’pr djrs gSa enn feysxh- NksVs vkSj lhekar fdlku Hkh fd fdlkuksa dks mUur rduhd çkIr laHkkfor [kjhnkjksa ls çHkkoh :i ls eksyHkko djus vkSj Qly mRiknu ds vU; dj ldrs gSa- vxj bls çHkkoh

130 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers dSls —f”k dkuwuksa dk xyr eryc fudky jgs gSa fdlku laxBu\

Kailash Adhikari 16 December 2020 jk”Vªh; rkus&ckus dks [khaps tkus News18 Hindi ij fdlku lkekftd vkSj /kkfeZd lhekvksa dks dkV nsrs gSa- blfy, Hkkjr esa lq/kkj ykuk ,d dfBu dk;Z muls tqM+s fdlh Hkh eqís dks lekt gS- ljdkj ds dHkh foi{k vkSj fofHkUu ds lHkh {ks=ksa ls leFkZu vkSj fgr/kkjdksa ls erHksn gksrs gSa] rks dHkh lHkh /;ku fey tkrk gS- mnkgj.k ds ,der gks tkrs gSa- erHksn dh fLFkfr esa bls tkfgj djus ds fy, vDlj lM+dksa ij rkSj ij 2009 esa lÙkk esa okilh çn’kZu fd;k tkrk gS- ns’k esa fofHkUu lq/kkjksa ds ckn ;wih, dks fdlkuksa ds _.k ds dk;kZUo;u esa nsjh dk ;s ,d çkFkfed dh ekQh ds fy, çeq[k :i ls dkj.k jgk gSA ftEesnkj Bgjk;k x;k Fkk u, —f”k dkuwuksa dks ysdj chrs dqN fnuksa u, —f”k dkuwuksa ij ç/kkuea=h }kjk dbZ ls fnYyh esa tks mFky&iqFky eph gqbZ gS] ;s lkoZtfud eapksa ls fdlkuksa dks vk’oklu bldk lcls vPNk mnkgj.k gS- blesa fufgr fn, x,- x`gea=h vkSj —f”k ea=h Hkh fdlkuksa LokFkZ okys lewg fdlkuksa dks xqejkg dj dks dbZ ckj le>kus dh dksf’k’k dj pqds jgs gSa vkSj mUgsa foæksg djus ds fy, mdlk gSa fd u, dkuwu lksp&le>dj cuk, x, jgs gSa- ,sls yksx fdlku vkanksyu ds tfj, gSa- blls fdlh dk vfgr ugha gksxk- exj vius [kks, gq, jktuhfrd vk/kkj dks fQj ls fdlkuksa dk vkanksyu tkjh gS vkSj oks viuh LFkkfir dj jgs gSa- fdlku leqnk; ls csgrj ekaxksa dks ysdj vM+s gq, gSa- dsaæ ljdkj vkSj fdlh Hkh ikVhZ ds fy, dksbZ nwljk rq#i dk fdlku ;wfu;uksa ds chp xfrjks/k tkjh gS] iÙkk ugha gSA D;ksafd ljdkj ds lkFk dbZ nkSj dh ppkZ,a foQy jgh gSaA Farmers Protest- ckWMZj ij fdlkuksa dk vkanksyu lgh ;k xyr\ lqçhe Hkkjr ,d —f”k ç/kku vFkZO;oLFkk gS] tgka yxHkx nks&frgkbZ vkcknh çR;{k ;k vçR;{k dksVZ esa vkt lquokbZ :i ls —f”k xfrfof/k;ksa esa yxh gqbZ gSA dksfoM egkekjh ds nkSjku ?kj ykSV jgs çoklh etnwjksa vkSj Jfedksa dh nqn’kkZ dks tksj&’kksj fo’ks”kKksa vkSj çeq[k fgr/kkjdksa us ls mBkus] vkj{k.k ds eq~ís dks nksckjk mBkus —f”k ç.kkyh esa le;≤ ij vkSj ukxfjdrk la’kks/ku dkuwu dks ysdj lq/kkj ykus ds fy, dbZ ekaxksa dks foi{k ds ykecan gksus rd--- fiNys dqN o”kksaZ mBk;k gS- ;s uohure —f”k lq/kkj esa ns’k us fofHkUu fojks/kksa dks ns[kk gS- muesa fdlkuksa ds l’kähdj.k vkSj mudh ls vf/kdka’k ç/kkuea=h vkSj fodkl ls lacaf/ lkekftd&vkfFkZd fLFkfr dks lq/kkjus kr mudh igy ds lkeus likV gks x, dh fn’kk esa gS- rhu u, dkuwuksa dk gSa- ljdkj ls eqdkcyk djus ds fy, foi{k vk/kkj ^^ou bafM;k] ou ,xzhdYpj fur u, rjhds vkSj jkLrs [kkstrs gSa- turk ekdsZV** ds fopkj ij vk/kkfjr gS] ls leFkZu ekaxrs gSaA ftldk mís’; fdlkuksa vkSj dkWiksZjsV

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 131 ds chp voljksa dks vf/kdre djus J`a[kyk ds nksuksa fljksa dks ykHkkfUor djsaxs- vkSj fcpkSfy;ksa dks de djus ds ;kuh fdlkuksa vkSj miHkksäkvksa nksuksa dks bu fy, rkyesy cukuk gSA dkuwuksa ls Qk;nk gh gksxk- bu dkuwuksa ls u dsoy —f”k&lq/kkj esa lq/ blds vykok Hk; vkSj vk’kadkvksa dks QSyus kkj gksxk] cfYd jkstxkj ds cM+s volj iSnk dks /;ku esa j[krs gq, ljdkj fdlkuksa gksaxs- vkfFkZd fodkl vkSj xzkeh.k fodkl laxBuksa ds lq>koksa dks dkuwu esa ‘kkfey esa ldkjkRed ;ksxnku gksxk- lkFk gh djus ij lger gqbZ gS- iqjkus dkuwuksa ds vf/kd Lora=rk ds lkFk fdlkuksa dh nqnZ’kk dkj.k fdlkuksa dks yacs le; rd Lora= :i esa lq/kkj gksxk- ls O;kikj djus ds vius vf/kdkj ls oafpr fd;k x;k gS- vc —f”k lq/kkjksa ds dkj.k] cs’kd fdlku ,e,lih dks ysdj dqN dqN jktuhfrd laxBuksa ds lkFk fu”Bk j[kus vk’kafdr gSa- ysfdu bls ljdkj le>kus okys fcpkSfy;ksa dh ykWch ?kcjk jgh gS vkSj dh iwjh dksf’k’k dj jgh gS- fdlkuksa dks Mj v’kkafr iSnk dj jgh gS- ;s vkanksyu blh gS fd ,e,lih [kRe dj nh tk,xh vkSj ?kcjkgV dk urhtk dgk tk ldrk gSA eafM;ksa dks can fd;k tk jgk gS- ysfdu u, —f”k dkuwu esa ,slk dksbZ çko/kku ugha gS- fdlkuksa dks Hkzfer djus dh fdlkuksa dh chp QSykbZ tk jgh ckrsa rF;ksa lkft’k] ljdkj ‘kadk nwj djus ds ij vk/kkfjr ugha gSA fy, 24 ?kaVs rS;kj% PM eksnh ,e,lih vkSj eafM;ka fdlkuksa dks bl ekeys esa gkjus okyk og gS tks var pquus ds fy, miyC/k vfrfjä esa dsaæ ds f[kykQ yM+kbZ yM+us ds fy, ,d fodYiksa ds lkFk&lkFk mlh rjg ls midj.k ds :i esa bLrseky fd;k tk jgk dke djuk tkjh j[ksaxh- dkWUVªSDV gS- fcyksa dks fdlkuksa ds fojks/kh ds :i esa ns[kk tk jgk gS vkSj muds eu esa vk’kadk,a QkfeaZx] ftls ,d nkuo ds :i iSnk dh tk jgh gSa- tks fd ljklj xyr gS- esa fpf=r fd;k x;k gS tks NksVs ;g le; gS fd ljdkj dks c<+rh tula[;k fdlkuksa dks [kk,xk vkSj mudh ds lkFk —f”k lq/kkjksa esa ;w&VuZ ugha ysuk tehu dkWiksZjsV dks csph tk,xh- pkfg,- tks yksx ifjorZu dk fojks/k dj jgs u, dkuwuksa esa ,slk Hkh dqN ugha gSa] os bl rF; dks ipkus ds fy, rS;kj ugha gS- gkykafd] ;g lkekU; Kku gS gSa fd fdlku Lora= :i ls O;kikj vkSj fd Qlysa HkaMkj.k vkSj xksnkeksa esa dk;Z dj ldrs gSaA lM+ tkrh gSa] ftlds ifj.kkeLo:i Hkkstu dh cckZnh gksrh gS vkSj ljdkjh [ktkus dks uqdlku gksrk gS- ljdkj us blls cpus ds fy, dbZ çko/kku fd, gSaA ,xzh&baÝk fodflr djus ls tqM+s de fuos’k dk çkFkfed dkj.k vko’;d oLrq vf/kfu;e ds dkj.k Fkk- vc u, dkuwuksa ls HkaMkj.k] forj.k vkSj —f”k {ks= esa vf/kd fuos’k dks c<+kok feysxk- ifjorZu varr% ewY;

132 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers QkWpwZu jkbl fyfeVsM daiuh dks ysuk gksxk vuqca/k ewY; ij /kku MPInfo.org ds Mk;jsDVj Jh vt; HkyksfV;k us tcko 11th December, 2020 çLrqr fd, tkus ij —”kd ¼l’kfädj.k ,oa laj{k.k½ vuqca/k ewY; vk’oklu vkSj —f”k gks’kaxkckn ftys ds fdlkuksa ls lsok vf/kfu;e&2020 dh /kkjk&14 ¼2½ vuqca/k ds ckotwn QkWpwZu jkbl ds rgr dkWU’kqys’ku cksMZ dk xBu fd;kA fy- fnYyh }kjk /kku ugh dkWU’kqys’ku cksMZ ds le{k daiuh us fnukad [kjhnh tkus ds çdj.k esa ftyk 9 fnlacj ds mPpre nj ij /kku Ø; djuk ç’kklu }kjk rRijrkiwoZd dkjZokbZ Lohdkj fd;kA dh xbZA uohu —f”k dkuwu ^fdlku cksMZ dh vuq’kalk ds vk/kkj ij ¼l’kfädj.k vkSj laj{k.k½ vuqca/k U;k;ky; vuqfoHkkxh; naMkf/kdkjh ewY; vk’oklu vkSj —f”k lsok fiifj;k us vuqcaf/kr —”kdks vf/kfu;e 2020 ds çko/kku ls : 2950+50 : cksul dqy vuqlkj dkjZokb dh xbZ gSA 3 gtkj #i;s çfr fDoaVy dh nj fdlkuksa dks 24 ?kaVs esa U;k; fnyok;k x;k /kku [kjhnus gsrq vknsf’kr fd;kA gSA ,lMh,e fiifj;k fufru Vkys us crk;k fd —”kdksa ls eaMh ds mPpre ewY; ij /kku bl çdkj u;s —”kd dkuwu dk ç;ksx djrs [kjhnh ds vuqca/k 3 twu] 2020 ds ckotwn gq, f’kdk;r çkIr gksus ds 24 ?kaVs ds vanj QkWpwZu jkbl fy- daiuh }kjk 9 fnlEcj dks —”kdksa dks vuqca/k vuqlkj mPpre cktkj eaMh esa mPp foØ; ewY; gksus ij /kku ugh fnyk;s tkus dh dkjZokbZ dh xbZA mä vf/ [kjhnh xbZA mä çdj.k esa 10 fnlEcj] kfu;e ds rgr fy, x, QSlys ls fdlkuksa 2020 dks xzke HkkS[ksMh ds —”kd iq”ijkt esa g”kZ O;kIr gSA fdlkuksa }kjk crk;k x;k iVsy ,oa czts’k iVsy }kjk ,lMh,e fufru fd daiuh }kjk dkWUVªSDV ds ckotwn /kku Vkys dks f’kdk;r dh xbZA —”kdks us ppkZ [kjhnh ugha fd, tkus ls gesa cgqr vf/ es crk;k fd QkWpwZu jkbl fyfeVsM fnYyh } kd vkfFkZd uqdlku mBkuk iM+rkA fdlku kjk 3 twu] 2020 dks mPpre cktkj ewY; fgrS”kh u;k —f”k dkuwu gekjs fy, vk’kk dh ij /kku [kjhnh dk vuqca/k fd;k Fkk] daiuh fdj.k ysdj vk;k gSA fdlkuksa ds fgr esa }kjk yxkrkj vuqca/k vuqlkj [kjhnh dh fy, x, bl QSlys ls vc ge vuqca/k ds tkrh jgh fdarq 3 gtkj #i;s çfr fDoaVy vuqlkj viuh mit daiuh dks csp ik,axsA /kku ds Hkko gksus ij daiuh ds deZpkfj;ks us [kjhnh can dj fdlkuksa ls lEidZ lekIr dj fn;kA mä çdj.k dh tkudkjh ftyk ç’kklu dks çkIr gksus ij rRijrkiwoZd dkjZokbZ dj U;k;ky; vuqfoHkkxh; naMkf/kdkjh fiifj;k us leu tkjh dj QkWpwZu jkbl fyfeVsM ds vf/ k—r çfrfuf/k dks 24 ?kaVs es le{k es tcko çLrqr djus ds funsZ’k fn;sA ,lMh,e dksVZ }kjk tkjh leu ij QkWpwZu jkbl fyfeVsM

134 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers IMF ds dk;Zdkjh funs’kd lqjthr HkYyk cksys& eaMh O;oLFkk çklafxd ugha] APMC ds fy, yM+ jgs vehj fdlku

News18 us ,ih,elh dks tkjh j[kk] 1991 esa 12th December, 2020 baMLVªh dh csfM+;ka [kksy nh xbZa] ysfdu [ksrh vktkn ugha gqbZ- u, lq/kkjksa ls fdlkuksa dks varjjk”Vªh; eqæk dks”k ds dk;Zdkjh funs’kd viuh mit eaMh ds ckgj cspus dh vktknh lqjthr HkYyk us ‘kfuokj dks CNN News18 ls feysxhA ,DlDywflo ckrphr esa dgk fd —f”k dkuwu ds f[kykQ fdlkuksa ds çn’kZu ls Li”V gS vkadM+ksa dk gokyk nsrs gq, HkYyk us fd jktuhfrd foi{k [kqydj lkeus vk x;k dgk fd ljdkjh [kjhn ,ih,elh gS- iatkc vkSj gfj;k.kk ds vehj fdlkuksa ekdsZV ds tfj, gksrh gS- fQj dks yxrk gS fd muds vuqfpr vehjh Hkjs Hkh flQZ 6 Qhlnh fdlku gh fnu vc [kRe gks x, gSa- HkYyk us nks Vwd ,ih,elh ds tfj, viuh Qlysa dgk fd eaMh O;oLFkk vc çklafxd ugha gS vkSj blls uqdlku fdldk gS\ D;k vkidks csp ikrs gSaA VkbijkbVjksa ls f’kdk;r gSA buesa ls T;knkrj iatkc vkSj gfj;k.kk ds fdlku gSa- bu 6 Qhlnh fdlkuksa ls 60 HkYyk us dgk fd cgqr lkjs vFkZ’kkfL=;ksa çfr’kr xsgwa dh [kjhn gksrh gSA us lq/kkjksa dk leFkZu fd;k gS- gks ldrk gS fd fdlkuksa ds çn’kZu dk jktuhfr ls dksbZ mUgksaus dgk fd vxj lHkh fdlku çn’kZu dusD’ku gksA dj jgs gSa] rks vehj fdlku flQZ ,ih,elh APMC Agricultural O;oLFkk dks cpkus ds fy, çn’kZu dj mUgksaus dgk fd ¼ jgs gSaA lcdks —f”k dkuwu ds T;knkrj Produce Market Committee ½ çko/kku irk gSa] ysfdu vehj fdlku viuh O;oLFkk 150 lky igys vfLrRo /kuk<îrk xaokuk ugha pkgrs] [kklrkSj ij esa vkbZ- ,ih,elh dks eSupsLVj ds tc ;s vuqfpr gSA dkj[kkuksa esa dikl dh lIykbZ ds HkYyk us dgk fd iatkc vkSj gfj;k.kk gfjr fy, LFkkfir fd;k x;k Fkk rkfd Økafr ds tud jgs gSa- nksuksa jkT; vehj fdlkuksa dks etcwj fd;k tk lds jkT; gSa] ysfdu mRikndrk ds Lrj ij fd os jsxqysVsM ekdsZV ds tfj, uhps gSa- nwljs jkT;ksa esa mRiknu iatkc vkSj mifuos’kh ‘kkldksa dks vius mRikn gfj;k.kk ds eqdkcys nksxquh gSA cspsaA mUgksaus dgk fd vehj fdlkuksa dk leFkZu djuk vkSifuosf’kd fu;e&dkuwuksa dks cuk, j[kuk gS- ckotwn blds fd lHkh ikfVZ;ksa

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 135 —f”k dkuwu ij okjk.klh esa cksys fo’ks”kK & ^u;k —f”k dkuwu ykxw gksus ls fdlkuksa dks gksxk vf/kd equkQk*

Jagran ewY; ij viuh mit cspus dh Lora=rk 15th December, 2020 nsrk gSA funs’kd M‚ flag dk dguk gS fd vkt Hkkjr —f”k mRiknu esa vkRefuHkZj bl cnyko ds tfj, fdlkuksa dh mit dh vkSj çeq[k —f”k fu;kZrd ns’k Hkh cu x;k fcØh vkSj [kjhn ls lacaf/kr vktknh feysxh] gSA bldk Js; gfjr Økafr dh mUur —f”k ftlls vPNk ekgkSy iSnk gksxk vkSj nke rduhd ¼ckSuh] ladj fdLesa] [kkn] flpkbZ Hkh csgrj feysaxsA lkFk gh bl v/;kns’k ls çca/ku vkfn½] esgurd’k fdlku vkSj nwjn’khZ fdlku viuh mit ns’k esa dgha Hkh] fdlh —f”k lq/kkj dks tkrk gS] ftlls fctyh] Hkh O;fä ;k laLFkk dks csp ldrs gSaA ikuh] cht] [kkn] Qlyksa dh ykHkdkjh fdlku viuh mit dh dher r; leFkZu ewY; ij fcØh vkSj foi.ku] HkaMkj.k] dj ldsaxs vkSj fdlku ds vf/ forj.k O;oLFkk dh lqfo/kk fdlkuksa vkSj kdkjksa esa btkQk gksxk vkSj cktkj xjhcksa dks feyhA esa çfr;ksfxrk Hkh c<+sxhA fdlku okjk.klh fLFkr Hkkjrh; lCth dks mldh Qly dh xq.koÙkk ds vuqla/kku laLFkku ds funs’kd vuqlkj ewY; fu/kkZj.k dh Lora=rk Mk- txnh’k flag dgrs gSaa fd dsaæ feysxhA vuqcaf/kr [ksrh ls fdlku ljdkj }kjk yk, x, u, dkuwuksa dks Qly dh cqokbZ ls igys gh ls ^,d ns’k&,d nke^ dk fl) viuh Qly dks r; ekudksa vkSj kar iwjs ns’k esa ykxw gksxkA blls r; dher ds vuqlkj cspus dh fdlku dks nksxqus ls T;knk dk lqfo/kk feysxkA ykHk gksxkA lkFk gh ;g Qly dkWUVªSDV QkfeaZx ls fdlku dk tksf[ke de fofo/khdj.k esa Hkh lgk;d gksxkA gksxkA nwljs] [kjhnkj

136 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers dh mit nqfu;kHkj ds cktkjksa rd [ksrh vuqca/k ij dj jgs gSaA dbZ eYVhus’kuy igqapsxhA —f”k {ks= esa futh fuos’k daifu;ksa ds lkFk djkj dj mudh mit c<+sxhA vuqca/k [ksrh ;kuh dkWUVªSDV vkt nwljs ns’kksa esa Hkh tkrh gSA ,sls esa QkZex ls fdlkuksa dh vfZFkd gkyr dkjksckj djksM+ #i;s ls T;knk igqap x;k gSA Mk- flag vius vuqHko ds vk/kkj ij vuqca/k esa Hkh lq/kkj gksxkA dh [ksrh dks Qk;ns dk lkSnk ekurs gSaA igys ljdkj }kjk fu/kkZfjr ,tsaV gh Qly dkUVªSDV QkfeaZx ls lkjh lqfo/kk,a feyrh gSa] [kjhn ldrs FksA ysfdu vc ,slk ugha gksxkA dgha ls yksu ugha ysuk iM+rk gSA u lkgwdkj Qly dksbZ Hkh [kjhn ldrk gSA ,sls esa ls u fdlku ØsfMV dkMZ lsA blds vykok fdlku dks vf/kd fodYi feyk gSA igys tc mldh mit gksrh gS rks dgha HkVduk ugha Qly cspus dk fodYi u gksus ds pyrs iM+rkA cktkj Hkko ls T;knk dher feyrh gS] fdlkuksa dks vf/kd ijs’kkuh vk jgh FkhA vc blds vykok daiuh ls lVfQdsV feyrk gS] fdlku ds ikl dbZ fodYi gksaxsA fdlku rks fdlku dks Qk;nk gh gSAPp~ lHkh fdlkuksa eaMh esa cspus ds vykok ckgj Hkh Qly csp dks mfpr çf’k{k.k Hkh feyrk gSA fuf’pr :i ldrk gSA lCth Qlyksa tSls fepZ] gjh eVj] ls d‚UVªSDV Qkex fdlkuksa ds fy, csgrj cSxu] VekVj] chal] iÙksnkj lfCt;ka vkSj xSj fodYi gSA fdlku ds [ksr ls eafM;ksa dh nwjh] ijaijkxr vYi nksfgr lCth Qlyksa dh [ksrh cktkj dk vHkko] dksYM psu dh fnDdrksa ds viukdj Qlyksa dk fofof/kdj.k dj viuh pyrs gj lky ns’k esa 20 gtkj djksM+ ls vk; esa c<+ksrjh dj ldrs gSaA vkt dsoy vf/kd dh dh Qy&lfCt;ka cckZn gksrh gSaA ijaijkxr [ksrh Qk;ns dk lkSnk ugha jghA vukt ds lkFk lCth] Qy&Qwy vkfn ls Hkh Mk- flag dk dguk gS dkaVªSDV Qkex vPNh vkenuh dh tk ldrh gSA ds ckn daifu;ka xkao igqapsxh] ogka viuk fuos’k dj dksYMpsu vkSj vc [ksrh ds rjhdksa ds lkFk Qlyksa lIykbZ psu Bhd djsaxh] ftlls dks Hkh cnyus dh t:jr gSA Qlyksa fdlkuksa dks Qk;nk gksxk] Qlyksa dh ds fofo/khdj.k ds lkFk tSfod [ksrh cckZnh #dsxhA esa Hkh Hkfo”; fNik gSA Qlyksa d fofof/kdj.k ls tehu dh moZjk ‘kfä bl fo/ks;d ds varxZr fdlku tc pkgs dkjksckjh&daiuh VªsMj ds lkFk le>kSrk rksM+ dks okil yk;k tk ldrk gSA ldrk gS] ysfdu vxj daiuh djrh gS rks [ksrh dk jdck fnuksa&fnu de gks jgk gS] rks mls fdlku dks oks fuf’pr jde tks fdlku fdlku vius [ksr esa dksbZ cM+k fuos’k ugha ls r; gks pqdh gS mldk Hkqxrku djuk gh dj ikrkA vkSj dkjksckjh&daiuh fdlku rd gksxkA u, lq/kkjksa ls —f”k {ks= esa fuos’k ugha igqap ikrkA ,sls esa dbZ ckj NksVs fdlku c<+sxk] fdlkuksa dks vk/kqfud VsDuksy‚th ds ikl bruk de mRiknu gksrk gS fd vxj feysxh] lkFk gh muds mRikn vkSj vklkuh oks eaMh ys tk, rks fdjk;k Hkh ugha fudyrk ls varjkZ”Vªh; cktkj esa igqapsaxsA vkt iwokaZpy gSA ,sls esa vxj NksVs fdlku feydj lCth ds fofHkUu ftyksa esa fdlku lewgksa esa fofHkUu Qlyksa dh [ksrh djsaxs vkSj ,d= gksdj cspsaxs lCth Qlyksa tSls gjh fepZ] djsyk] gjh rks mUgsaa vo’; gh Qk;nk gksxkA dkaVªSDV eVj dh [ksrh lQyrk iwoZd dj jgs gS vkSj Qkex esa djkj flQZ Qly dk gksxk] tehu LFkkuh; ekax dh iwr ds vykok fons’kksa dks dk ughaA fdlku gh tehu dk ekfyd jgsxkA Hkh Hkst jgs gSA vf/kd mÙiknu dh fLFkrh esa vuqca/k [ksrh esa vkus okyh —f”k mit dks ewY; lao/kZu dj Åit ls vkSj Hkh vf/kd jkT; ds mu lHkh dkuwuksa ls NwV feysxh tks equkQk dek ldrs gSA u, —f”k dkuwuksa ls —f”k mit dh fcØh vkSj [kjhn ij ykxw ckxokuh Qlyksa dh [ksrh dks c

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 137 x, gSaA blls —f”k {ks= esa xzksFk c<+us dh mEehn gSA Qlyksa dks jk”Vªh; o oSf’od cktkj vkyw csYV esa rd igqapkus esa enn feysxhA fdlkuksa dks Hkk jgk jkeçdk’k ;kno] fuoklh xkao uxyk eVhyk fcpkSfy;ksa ls eqfä ds vklkj —f”k fo/ks;d c<+s Jagran fdlkuksa dh rjDdh ds chp nhokj 6th December, 2020 cudj [kM+s fcpkSfy;s njfdukj gksaxsA ftys esa fdlkuksa dh igpku vkyw dh ge viuh Qlyksa dks lh/ks tgka lokZf/kd iSnkokj djus ds fy, gksrh gSA cM+s pkgsa csp ldsaxsA igys eaMh ds ckgj fdlku lh/ks nwljs çns’kksa dh eafM;ksa ds fy, Qly cspus ij deZpkjh ?ksjkcanh [ksr ls vkyw dh yksfMx djrs gSaA dqN yksx djrs FksA tqekZuk Hkh yxrk FkkA vc ;gka eaMh esa Hkh vkyw csprs gSaA dsaæ ljdkj ,slk ugha gks ik,xkA }kjk ikl fd, x, —f”k fo/ks;d dk fojks/k eqds’k pkSgku] fuoklh xkao i[kuk Hkys gh fn[kkbZ ns jgk gks] ysfdu ;gka ds le>us ls irk pysxh fcy dh fdlkuksa dks fo/ks;d esa Qk;ns utj vkrs gSaA fdlkuksa ds fy, Hkfo”; esa fgrdj gksxk gdhdr fo/ks;d [ksrh fdlkuh ls tqM+s gj O;fä dks —f”k fcy i<+uk vkSj le>uk pkfg,A rHkh ge fcy ds & —f”k fo/ks;d fdlkuksa ds fy, Qk;ns vkSj uqdlku ds ckjs esa le> ldsaxsA Hkfo”; esa fgrdj lkfcr gksxkA igys lquh lqukbZ ckr ls fdlkuksa dks ykHk gksus vkyw dh yksfMx djus ij eaMh VSDl okyk ugha gSA gesa ljdkj dh fu;r esa [kksV dk Hkqxrku djuk gksrk FkkA vc ugha fn[krhA ;fn eaMh ds ckgj ls yksfMx gksxh rks dksbZ VSDl ns; ugha gSA blds jkds’k oekZ] fuoklh xkao iquikyiqj nwjxkeh ifj.kke fudysaxsA vkod de gksrs gh vkyw Hkko esa mNky eukst dqekj prqosZnh] fuoklh xkao ,d lIrkg ls lkruiqj eaMh esa vkyw dh lafdlk gesa rks fo/ks;d esa ugha vkod c<+ xbZ FkhA blls Hkko esa dkQh yxrh dksbZ [kksV fxjkoV vk xbZ FkhA jfookj dks ,dk,d & —f”k fo/ks;d ds ckjs esa lekpkj i=ksa esa vken vk/kh ls Hkh de jg xbZA ftlds pyrs i<+k gSA blls çkbosV lsDVj esa baosLVesaV dh Hkko esa mNky vk x;kA jfookj dks vkyw enn ls ,xzhdYpj baÝkLVªDpj rS;kj djus esa 1600 ls 1900 #i;s çfr fDoaVy ds Hkko enn feysxhA Qlyksa ds fy, lIykbZ psu Hkh ls fcdkA vkyw ds Hkko esa fxjkoV tkjh jgus csgrj gksxhA fcy ds laca/k esa fdlkuksa dks ls fdlkuksa us ‘kfuokj dks ,dk,d [kksnkbZ tkx:d gksus dh t:jr gSA blesa mUgsa dksbZ jksd nh vkSj bartkj djuk mfpr le>kA [kksV utj ugha vkrhA ftlls ek= 45 Vªd vkyw gh fcØh ds fy, eaMh esa vk;kA NÙkhlx<+] fcgkj] vlkse o dkS’kysaæ feJ] fuoklh xkao esjkiqj çns’k ds iwohZ ftyksa ls vPNh ekax vkbZA blds —f”k {ks= esa xzksFk dh j¶rkj c<+us pyrs Hkko c<+dj 1600 ls 1900 #i;s dh mEehn çfr fDoaVy rd igqap x;kA tcfd ‘kfuokj —f”k fo/ks;d ij xkSj djsa rks yxrk gS fd dks djhc 125 Vªd vkyw yksM gqvk Fkk vkSj ljdkj fdlkuksa dh leL;k,a tkurh gSA mls 1500 #i;s ls 1700 #i;s çfr fDoaVy /;ku esa j[krs gq, —f”k fcy esa çko/kku fd, rd jgk FkkA 138 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers vykok dgha vkSj Hkh cspus dh vktknh gksxhA fdlkuksa dks lky 1991 esa T;knkrj lsDVlZ ls jsX;qys’kUl gVus ds ckn Hkh —f”k fu;eksa dh csfM+;ksa {ks= esa ljdkj dk dkQh n[ky Fkk- bu u, dkuwuksa ds tfj, ljdkj us ls vktkn djkus fdlkuksa dks ;g vkfFkZd gd fn;k gS fd os [kqn gh r; djsaxs fd mUgsa ds fy, gSa u, viuk vukt dgka cspuk gSA vkykspd ,elih dks ysdj Hkh ckr djrs gSa- u, dkuwuksa ds rgr fdlku ,elih ij gh dkuwu] fQj D;ksa APMC ¼Agricultural Produce Market Committee½ ;k futh cktkjksa esa viuk tkjh gS vkanksyu\ çksMDV csp ldrs gSa- bl rjg ls fdlku futh cktkjksa ds ckjs esa rc lkspsaxs] tc mUgsa Karan Bhasin APMC 16 December 2020 ogka ls T;knk vPNk Hkko feysxk- News18 Hindi [kkl ckr gS fd eqëhHkj vukt ds fy, dsoy 6 Qhlnh fdlkuksa dks gh ,e,lih dk fnYyh dh ljgnksa ij çn’kZu tkjh gS- Qk;nk feyrk gS- tcfd] lcls T;knk cM+k gkykafd] blls vkxs lp vkSj dqN Hkh ugha fgLlk xsagw vkSj pkoy dk gksrk gS- gks ldrk fd ;g fdlkuksa dk vkanksyu ugha vc nwljk dkuwu fdlkuksa dh dkuwuh rkSj gS- cfYd] iatkc] gfj;k.kk vkSj mÙkj çns’k ds ij enn djrk gSA bldh enn ls fdlku dqN fgLlksa ds dqN vehj tehankjksa ,d oxZ dkWUVªSDV QkWfeaZx ¼Contract Farming½ dk çn’kZu dj jgk gS- gky gh esa dbZ fdlku ykHk ys ldrs gSa- ;g dkQh t:jh gS] laxBuksa us u, —f”k dkuwuksa ¼New Farm D;ksafd dbZ yksx bls dkWiksZjsV dk leFkZd Laws½ ij viuk leFkZu trk;k gS- mUgksaus crk jgs gSa- tcfd] u, dkuwu fdlkuksa dks —f”k ea=h ls dgk gS fd vxj ;s dkuwu vklkuh ls dkWUVªSDVl ls fdlh Hkh le; okil fy, x,] rks os vkanksyu dj nsaxs- vc ckgj gksus dh vuqefr nsrs gSa- loky mBrk gS fd vkf[kj D;ksa fdlkuksa dk ,d oxZ bu dkuwuksa dk fojks/k dj jgk gS- ogha] vxj le; ls igys dkWUVªSDV tcfd] ns’k ds dbZ laxBu bldk leFkZu VwVrk gS] rks daifu;ksa dks isukYVh dj jgs gSa- blls Hkh t:jh ckr ;g gS fd nsuh gksxh- dkuwuksa dks /;ku ls D;k ge bls fdlkuksa dk vkanksyu dg ldrs ns[kk tk,] rks irk yxrk gS fd gSa] tc fdlkuksa ds chp gh u, dkuwuksa dks bUgsa fdlkuksa ds dkuwuh fgrksa dks ysdj vyx&vyx er gksa\ /;ku esa j[kdj rS;kj fd;k x;k rhu u, dkuwuksa vkSj muds dke gSA dks ,sls lef>, rhljk dkuwu t:jh oLrq vf/kfu;e ds ;s rhu u, çLrkfor dkuwu —f”k {ks= ds ckjs esa ckr djrk gS- ;g lwph esa ls ,slh vyx&vyx fgLlksa dks laHkkyus ds fy, dbZ phtksa dks gVkrk gS] tks futh {ks=ksa rS;kj fd, x, gSa- igyk dkuwu ,d futh dks lqfuf’pr djkrs gSa fd ljdkj n[ky cktkj cukus dh dksf’k’k dj jgk gS] tgka ugha nsxh vkSj cktkjksa dks dke djus dh fdlkuksa dks viuk vukt ljdkjh eafM;ksa ds vuqefr nsxh- ;g lqfuf’pr djuk t:jh gS

PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers 139 fd futh {ks= ykWftfLVDl vkSj LVksjst ds ykxw ugha gksaxs- ;g iwjh rjg xyr gS] tfj, equkQk dek lds- vc dbZ yksx dgrs ns’k esa fdlh Hkh rjg dh [kjhn&fcØh ij gSa fd vxj dkWiksZjsV dks Qk;nk gksxk] rks dkWUVªsDV dh ‘krsaZ ykxw gksaxhA og fdlkuksa dks de iSlk vkSj miHkksäkvksa dks T;knk iSlk nsdj gksxk- tcfd] dkWiksZjsV ;g lkspuk cgqr t:jh gS fd tc lsDVj csgrj dher çkfIr ds tfj, fdlkuksa cspus okyksa dh la[;k mruh gh dh dekbZ ds ckn Hkh equkQk dek ldrk jgsxh vkSj [kjhnus okys c<+ tk,axs] gS vkSj miHkksäkvksa dks phtsa Hkh de nj rks Qk;nk cspus okyksa dks gh ij feysaxh- ;g eqefdu gS D;ksafd iwjs ns’k gksxk- ;g Qk;nk NksVs gh ugha] cM+s esa vPNh forj.k O;oLFkk rS;kj dj yh xbZ fdlkuksa dks Hkh gksxk- tks bl le; gS- ftlls otu de gksuk #dsxk vkSj vkanksyu dj jgs gSa- vkoktkgh esa gksus okyk [kpZ de gks ldsxk- ;g ;kn j[kus okyh ckr gS fd fojks/k dj gesa ;g tkuuk gksxk fd ljdkj us E-NAM jgs dbZ ny vkSj jktuhfrd ikfVZ;ka bl lky ds rkSj ij ,d vkWuykbu ekdsZV rS;kj fd;k ds ‘kq: gksus rd bUgha dkuwuksa dh ekax dj gS] tks fdlkuksa dks nwljs cktkjksa ds Hkko dh jgs Fks- tSls dkaxzsl us vius ?kks”k.kki= esa Hkh tkudkjh nsxk- ;g csgn t:jh tkudkjh bUgha dkuwuksa dk ftØ fd;k Fkk- ,sls esa bu gS vkSj u, dkuwu fdlkuksa dks ns’k ds nwljs vkanksyuksa dk eryc fdlkuksa ds fgrksa vkSj fgLls esa çksMDV cspus esa enn djsaxs- vc vFkZO;oLFkk ls T;knk jktuhfrd cu x;k gSA dbZ yksx ;g dgrs gSa fd jsX;qysVsM eafM;ksa ds ckgj lkeku cspus ij ljdkjh fu;e

140 PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers PRO-FARMER REFORMS Hailed By Experts and Farmers