Rejecting the draft framework of the National Policy on Agricultural Markets, farmers’ organizations on Thursday warned that if the Center goes ahead with the policy, there will be more intense protests than the 2020 Agriculture Bill.
Leaders of all farmers’ organizations agreed in a meeting with Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, who sought their feedback on the draft policy. Khuddian has been consulting with various stakeholders and farmer groups. The government had called 32 organizations affiliated to the United Farmers’ Front (Political) for discussion.
After the meeting, Bharti Kisan Union leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said, “We have given an ultimatum to the Center through the Punjab government that if this policy is implemented, we will have a strong movement from 2020 onwards. We do not allow agriculture to be institutionalized. Marketing, the center aims to hand over the market to corporate giants. Unlike in the past, we are now organized nationwide, and we have successfully conducted large-scale movements before.”
Rajewal emphasized that farmers are not against the construction of silos for grain storage, but it should be in the public sector and not in the private sector. He also alleged that the Center has deliberately withheld Punjab’s Rural Development Fund (RDF) to favor corporate interests.
In the meeting, farmer leaders said that agriculture and marketing are state matters and the Center has no right to interfere. They have accused the Center of violating the rights of the states and harming the federal system. The leaders demanded that the Punjab government bring the draft policy to the Legislative Assembly for approval and assured Khuddiyan that all political parties would support the move.
Khuddiyan assured the leaders that the state government is consulting more stakeholders and will take strong action against the policy.
Major farmer leaders Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Rajinder Singh Dipsingh Wala, Jhanda Singh Jethuke, Dr. Satnam Singh Ajnala, Dr. Darshan Pal, Manjit Singh Dhaner, Ruldu Singh Mansa participated in the meeting. They have warned the Punjab government that an alliance with the Center on policy will force them to protest against the state government as well.
Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala of Kirti Kisan Union suggested to open trade through Wagah border crossing with Pakistan. He said that this would reduce the dependence on domestic buyers and provide access to the Middle Eastern market to benefit the farmers.
The meeting also saw criticism of the Punjab government, with farmers pointing out that India imports $15 billion worth of oilseeds annually. Encouraging crop diversification could reduce this to less than $10 billion, they said, but the government is unwilling to support such efforts.
Later, a state government press release said that Khuddiyan had assured the farmers that Punjab would not allow the national policy framework to harm their interests.
“The state government is worried as this policy could seriously affect Punjab and its farmers. We want to thoroughly analyze every aspect of the draft policy shared by the Government of India,” Khuddian said. He added that consultation with agricultural experts and stakeholders will ensure that nothing is overlooked.
The Minister along with Additional Chief Secretary Anurag Verma, Chairman Punjab State Farmers and Farm Labor Commission Dr Sukhpal Singh, and Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Ramveer asked the farmers to submit suggestions and comments to the Agriculture Department.
Farmer leaders expressed deep concern over possible privatization and monopolistic practices hidden in the policy. They alleged that it was an attempt to re-introduce provisions from the repealed Agriculture Act and asked the Center to probe further before reacting to the state.
Special Secretary Agriculture Harveer Singh, Director Agriculture Jaswant Singh, PAU Research Director Dr Ajmer Singh Dutt and other officials were present in the high-level meeting.
Embarrassment for the minister
Farmer leader Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala criticized the government for presenting a poorly translated Punjabi version of the draft policy, calling it a “Google-translated” document.
Rajewal corrected the minister by mistakenly saying the Farm Bill was pending, clarifying that it had been repealed and ended 20 days after the Delhi border protest was quashed.
Rajewal also raised the issue of a diversification grant of Rs 290 crore that languished due to bureaucratic delays, while Manjit Singh Dhaner reminded the minister of AAP’s unfulfilled promises, including MSP in all crops. The leaders also criticized the government’s failure to implement the agricultural policy of the Punjab Farmers Commission and the discontinuation of MSP for moong.
Flagasingh Jethuke said that the lack of implementation of the state’s agricultural policy has given the Center room to impose its policy. He asked the government to set a deadline for action.
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