Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
September 18
Every story has two sides but the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the three agriculture-related legislations has more than that with farmers, middlemen or ‘arthiyas’, States and the Centre forming the various facets.
Interestingly as agriculture expert Sudhir Panwar points, sides traditionally at odds (farmers and arthiyas) are together in this one-on-one against the BJP-led Centre aided by Opposition parties, farmers’ organisations and activists.
Perhaps the real issue is too technical and the threat of new ecosystem rendering MSP irrelevant more impacting. The Tribune talked to different sides to understand the dynamics of the evolving agitation in the light of the contentious legislations which the Narendra Modi government calls “pro-farmers and revolutionary” but still forced an unprecedented reaction from its cornered ally, the Akali Dal
This is what BKU General Secretary Yudhvir Singh said after Prime Minister Modi on Friday accused the Opposition, primarily the Congress, of “misleading farmers with disinformation campaign”, “spreading lies” and “supporting middlemen”: “The Prime Minister is trying to suppress realities with these allegations.”
“Farmers’ virodh (opposition) has not happened for the first time, we have fought several battles against the government, including in the regime of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh,” he said.
“The Akali Dal (Harsimrat Kaur Badal) was forced to resign from the government, otherwise it would not have been able to enter Punjab, this is the situation today,” said Yudhvir Singh, adding that if ‘mandis’ cease to exist so will the MSP.
This despite the government’s repeated claim that “MSP will remain now and forever”. “The system of MSP exists in ‘mandi’ and ‘mandi’ is governed by the APMC Act. Yes, farmers are exploited by ‘arthiyas’ but the aim should have been to fix that lacuna in the system,” says the BKU leader.
“Procurement at the MSP is only for a limited period and farmers who are not able to sell during the period are forced to sell at lower prices to ‘arthiyas’, but the same group will step in case the system changes. The government is acting at the behest of WTO, World Bank and IMF and using Covid-limitations to push in legislations that will destroy farmers,” he said.
Meanwhile, upset with PM’s attempt to “eliminate middleman”, ‘arthiyas’ say they are the “facilitators” and “integral part of the food grain procurement network system working for benefit of both farmers and government agencies.
Ravinder Singh Cheema, president of the Punjab Aarhtia Association, says: “These legislations will ruin the agriculture marketing infrastructure network created in the past five decades. ‘Aarhtias’ work like bridge, take the responsibility of quality and quantity of the government stock up to 45 days in procurement season and protect farmers against officials trying to shortchange them with objections about moisture content, quality of the grain etc.”
“Big companies will also purchase grain through agent/ distributor,” he said, also rejecting the observation that they were trying to fire from the shoulders of farmers.
“The movement is led by young educated farmers who know what is right. If the government does not change the decision, the central agency will not be allowed to purchase a single grain from Punjab and Haryana, all movement will be blocked. It is because of strong ‘mandi’ system that Punjab and Haryana farmers are able to get 100% MSP whereas in states like UP, Gujarat and MP they are exploited by officials.”
The BJP, which is accusing the Congress of “misleading, lying and double-speak” on the “revolutionary agri-reform steps that will change the face of the farming sector and state of farmers in the country” also points to its poll’ promise in 2019 to repeal the Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act in 2019.
BJP president JP Nadda says: “UPA between 2013-14 de-notified fruits and vegetables from the APMC Act in its states, including Haryana, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Karnataka.”
“The Congress in its 2019 Lok Sabha elections manifesto made it clear it will repeal the Agricultural Produce Market Committees Act and make trade in agricultural produce, including exports and inter-state trade, free from all,” he said.
“Not just this the Congress in paragraph 21 stated: ‘The Essential Commodities Act 1955, belongs to the age of controls. Congress promises to replace the Act by an enabling law that can be invoked only in the case of emergencies’.”
Not just Nadda and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, PM Modi has also specified that “MSP in ‘mandis’ and APMC Act will not be impacted by the legislations”.
“Farmers who do not want to sell in ‘mandis’ can sell outside, it should be their choice. MSP is limited to ‘mandis’ and available for limited period. These agri-reforms are dedicated to farmers, giving them choice and freedom to cross barriers, helping them increase produce and investment in the sector,” he says
However, agriculture expert Panwar believes implementation of new agriculture legislations will be difficult. There are many reasons but most important is “lack of consultations with stakeholders”.
“Punjab and Haryana will be affected the most because of loss of ‘mandi’ tax, which is a good source of revenue. While ‘arthiyas’ will also lose their commissions and traditional business, farmers are apprehensive about the functioning of new land contract system and agriculture market.”
“What is proposed in the ordinances/legislations appear to have strong biases either towards corporate or uncertainties. Therefore, much depends upon how new system face challenges in the field and evolves,” he says.
