As we know, the 26th and 27th of November became a victim of the great landmark of Indian political history at the capital city, Delhi. The historic Delhi March was attended by around 250 million agricultural farmers. Yet we could see the backlash of the farmers’ agitation, which was all over the news media??
Even today, they aren't getting a suitable answer to their needs, and the issue remains yet to be solved.
Why were they witnessed to a disregard from the prevailing administrators? Aren't they a custodian to the means of substance throughout our country??
Then why they didn't get their requirements? Still, they are struggling to get justice.
The reason is that an average of 46% of India's workforce is employed in the agricultural sector. In the case of landlords, the number of small piece holders is increasing day by day. Till today, an estimated five lakh farmer suicides have been reported in the country.
Three bills that provoked public sentiments...
The central government passed the laws in late September without proper discussion on the miserable livelihood of such farmers. There are mainly three bills that are put out the peace of farmers.
Firstly, The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill 2020 reforms the facilities for buying and selling agricultural produce.
Secondly, regarding the price of produce, the farmers (empowerment and promotion) agree on price assurance and farm service bill, 2020.
Thirdly, the essential commodities (amendment) bill, 2020.
The BJP central government claims that these will be revolutionary in the country's agricultural sector and doubles farm incomes.
The everlasting consequences behind it...
Under the first of these laws, farmers were no longer required to sell their produce in markets controlled by the APMC (Agricultural produce market committee) in India without mandis(traditional markets).
That way, private companies, and monopolies can now sell directly. This will lead to stiff competition in the market. So the promise is that farmers will get better prices.
According to the second law,
The basis for contract farming is emerging in the country. The pre-determined ban is for farmers to enter into agreements with agri-businesses and companies to produce in their own way, at the price they want.
This will only serve to reduce the existing food security further.
Under the Third Amendment..,
The Cereals, legumes, oilseeds and other food items like onions, potatoes etc have been removed from the necessary items list. The government usually has no control over their prices.
Lots of questions to be answered…
In short, what is happening here?
Decisions on all aspects of agriculture, such as production, marketing, etc., are left to the corporates. That 85% of small farmers struggling to find their livelihood without any protection from the state are throwing themselves in front of private monopolies with no protection.
The only way left is to abandon farming in front of the farmers.
With the introduction of this bill, there are two main problems.
The first is that the marketing centers where farmers sell their produce will be completely demolished with the advent of these laws. Farmers sell their products mainly through marketing centers.
The fact is that the new rules will lead to the complete breakdown of a series system in which these products are available to intermediaries, and the intermediaries sell these products to consumers, rather than the products being bought directly by the big business.
Another important mission of the APMC (Agricultural produce market committee) mandis in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh,
The fact is that the APMC mandis also acted as a mechanism to protect the farmers. This means that when farmers come here and sell, they will be guaranteed a minimum support price. They could sell their products without going below a certain price. Losing it is another major concern caused by the demolition of APMC centers.
The main criticism is that with the abolition of APMC (Agricultural produce market committee)mandis and the consequent loss of support prices to farmers, the agricultural sector will be adversely affected on a large scale.
A large number of big businessmen will enter the arena, which will lead to massive exploitation.
Irrational arguments put forward by the central government...
The central government says that the APMC (Agricultural produce market committee)man dies to allow farmers to sell without relying on them. But when the APMC says that farmers can go elsewhere and sell without relying on mandis, many basic facilities are not available to them.
Or it remains to be seen whether it will be greatly adversely affected. For example; A farmer in Punjab can rely on a customer in Karnataka to sell his harvest. But the connectivity to deliver this product to that customer is very limited. Therefore, the farmer's bargaining power is greatly reduced, especially when it comes to big business. This is why the criticism against it is so intense.
Another important criticism that the Central Government is encroaching on the powers of the State Government. That is, the Central Government encroaches on the legislative areas of the State Government and makes laws. Several organizations, including the opposition, have already come forward to criticize. Along with the farmers, opposition organizations are also active in the struggle. APMCs are established by the laws of the State Governments.
The APMC is also being questioned as a move that calls into question the country's federalism when the central government establishes legislation that goes beyond the legal possibility.
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