Govt to repeal all three farm laws to appease protestors
22 Nov 2021
In a retrograde step, perhaps the first by the Narendra Modi government, the centre has decided to withdraw the three farm laws passed by Parliament to protect the interests of farmers amidst continued protests triggered by vested interests and middlemen who thrive on the financial difficulties face by farmers.
The reforms that the laws that will now be repealed had sought to pursue remain worthwhile. The laws were primarily intended to protect the interests of the small farmer and help him earn a decent living while saving him from exploitation by middlemen and moneylenders.
India produces too much of grain and too little of things like pulses, oilseeds, fruits and protein. Ever-rising support prices, subsidised farm inputs and open-ended procurement of grain continue to be a drain on the exchequer.
Greeting the nation on holy Guru Purab and re-opening of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, the prime minister said the government has decided to withdraw all three farm laws in the face of sustained opposition by vested interests.
“Today I have come to tell you, the whole country, that we have decided to withdraw all three agricultural laws. In the Parliament session starting later this month, we will complete the constitutional process to repeal these three agricultural laws.
“When I was given the opportunity to serve the country as Prime Minister in 2014, we gave the highest priority to agriculture development and farmer welfare.”
“We not only increased the MSP, but also created a record number of government procurement centers. The procurement of the produce made by our government has broken the records of the last several decades.
“The objective of the three farm laws was that the farmers of the country, especially small farmers should be strengthened, they should get the right price for their produce and maximum options to sell the produce.
“These laws were brought for the welfare of farmers, specially small farmers, in the interest of the agriculture sector, for a bright future of ‘gaanv-gareeb’ - village-poor, with full integrity, clear conscience and dedication towards farmers.
“Such a sacred thing, absolutely pure, a matter of farmers' interest, we could not explain to some farmers despite our efforts. Agricultural economists, scientists, progressive farmers also tried their best to make them understand the importance of agricultural laws,” the prime minister regreted.
Modi also announced the formation of a committee to promote zero budgeting based agriculture, to change crop pattern as per the changing needs of the country and to make MSP more effective and transparent. The committee will have representatives of the central government, state governments, farmers, agricultural scientists, and agricultural economists.
“I have seen the challenges of the farmers very closely in my five decades of public life, that is why, when I was given the opportunity to serve the country as Prime Minister in 2014, we gave the highest priority to agriculture development and farmer welfare.”
The prime minister said that the four-pronged measures of making available quality seeds, providing insurance cover, ensuring market access and bringing savings to farmers were taken to ameliorate the conditions of farmers.
Along with good quality seeds, the government also connected the farmers with facilities like neem coated urea, soil health card and micro irrigation, he said.
The prime minister pointed out that many initiatives have been taken for the farmers to get the right price for their produce in return for their hard work. The country has strengthened its rural market infrastructure. “We not only increased the MSP, but also created a record number of government procurement centers. The procurement of the produce made by our government has broken the records of the last several decades”, he said.