New Delhi: Union Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agrawal said on Monday that a committee on the minimum support price (MSP) and other concerns raised by farmers, including the promotion of zero-budget natural farming, would be formed "very soon in the near future."


Zero-Budget Natural Farming


"The Prime Minister has announced this. It has to be taken on a mission mode and the zero budget natural farming also. Very soon in near future, it (the committee) will be set up," Agrawal was quoted by PTI in its report.


Agrawal was speaking about a three-day national festival focusing on natural farming that would begin on December 14 in Anand, Gujarat. On December 16, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a virtual valedictory address.


Gujarat Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar was virtually present during the news conference as well.


When asked what features of natural farming would be examined and if the outcome of the national event would be discussed in the planned committee, the secretary stated that the panel's outlines have not yet been determined.


PM Modi announced the repeal of three contentious agricultural reform laws on November 19. He also stated that the government would form a committee to make MSP more efficient and transparent as well as offer measures to encourage zero budget natural farming. 


Farmers Protest


Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, had been camping at several Delhi border points, like Singhu and Tikri, since November 26, 2020, demanding a complete repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.


On November 29, a bill was passed in Parliament to repeal the laws. However, the farmers refused to end their protest, demanding that the government fulfil the other demands that included a legal guarantees on MSP and the withdrawal of police cases against them.

As the Centre accepted the pending demands, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM)suspended the farmers' movement and announced that they will be returning home on December 11.


(With PTI inputs)