Landmark Bills Free the Farmer

The Indian Express     24th September 2020     Save    

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’.