Landmark Bills Free the Farmer

Context: Indian agriculture has for long suffered from apathy and policies rigged to benefit others at the cost of the farmer. 

Focus of recent Government policies

• Good Intent: Trying to remove the fetters which kept farmers from fully harnessing the potential of Indian agriculture.

• Improving the acreage under irrigation 

• Encouraging farmers to diversify into allied activities such as dairying and beekeeping,

• Hikes in Minimum Support Price (MSP) and direct financial assistance 

Reasons for protest against recent farm bills

• Political dishonesty
• Influence of middlemen

Advantages of the Bills

• Removes Middleman: It will free farmers from the grip of the middleman

• Offer Choices: They can sell their produce to buyers from across the country at a price, they deem to be fair and at a time of their choosing.

• Increase in Income to the farmers:  Freedom to sell at the farm gate will do away with transportation expenses, and thus boost incomes.

• One Nation, One Market: Stride towards the fulfilment of the dream of ‘One Nation, One Market’ 73 years after Independence.

• Contract farming:  

• It will help farmers go for contract farming with agriculture trade firms, wholesalers, big retailers and exporters.

• Encourage private investment in the financially starved sector and open the way for the growth of agro-based industries and better storage.

• Production and price stability:  Provision of market linkages at the sowing stage will insulate farmers from production and price vagaries. 

• Lead to the introduction of better technologies, technical assistance, crop insurance and credit facilities.

• Can reap the benefits of collaboration with the corporate sector: Farmers have the freedom to withdraw from the agreement with corporate at any point without penalty,

• Sale, lease and mortgage of the land will be completely prohibited.

Statistics on Agriculture and Government Support:

• Minimum Support Price: 

• Since 2013-14 it has increased by,

• Wheat= 41% 
• Paddy = 43% 
• Pulses and oilseeds = 65%

• Procurement:

• Compared to 2014, it has increased by

• Wheat= 73%
• Paddy = 114%
• Pulses= 4,962%. 

• Production:

• Compared to 2014, it has increased by

• Food Grain=  7.29%
• Horticulture= 12.4%
• Pulses= 20.65%

• Credit growth: Increased agriculture credit, higher loan subsidy, soil health card to 16.38 crore farmers

• Mechanisation and Infrastructure: Increased support for mechanisation and launch of the Rs 1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

• Insurance: Security cover to 13.26 crore farmers under PM crop insurance scheme 

• Direct cash benefit: of Rs 94,000 crore to 10.21 crore farmers through PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

Conclusion: The Recent bills can be considered as bold initiatives to empower the country’s farmers and make them ‘Atmanirbhar’.