New Agriculture Bill 2020: Know Why Farmers Are Protesting Across The Nation Against 3 Controversial Bills

Farmers across the nation are agitated over the 3 Farm Bills and Punjab farmers have even called a 3 day long 'Rail Roko' protest.

Farmers Protesting in Patiala. (PTI Image)

Agriculture Bills In Parliament: After the 3 Farm Bills were passed in Lok Sabha amidst strong protest by the opposition parties. After the bills were passed in the Parliament, the country witnessed huge protests from the farmers. The farmers in both Punjab and Haryana have been protesting against the legislation for weeks and today the Punjab farmers' body has announced a three-day ‘rail roko’ agitation across the state from September 24-26. Also Read|Monsoon Session 2020: Amid Protests & Oppn Uproar, 3 Crucial Farm Bills To Be Presented In Rajya Sabha Today “We have decided to hold a rail roko agitation from September 24 to 26 in the state against the farm bills,” Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said. Already, different farmer organisations in Punjab have given a call for a ‘bandh’ on September 25 in protest against the three farm bills. The farmers argue that the legislations would lead to the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system, leaving them at the ‘mercy’ of big corporates. Though the centre has kept it stand and have said the these 3 bills will increase farmers' income and will make their lives easier but there are certain points which have angered the farmers across the country.

What are the concerns of farmers?

• Farmers fear they will no longer get paid at MSP, they want profitable sales in the form of minimum support prices (MSPs) to be a legal right.
• The farmers demand a separate ordinance to provide a clear provision that if any agency buys the crop of the farmer below the MSP, then legal action will be taken against it
•  Commission agents are concerned that they will lose their commissions in mandis and influential agents do not want to lose grip over the farmers.
• According to a Punjab Agricultural University study, there are over 12 lakh farming families in Punjab and 28,000 registered commission agents. A large part of the state’s economy rests on funds infused by central procurement agencies such as the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
• Now, protesters fear the FCI will no longer be able to procure from the state mandis, which will rob the middleman/commission agent/arhatiya of his 2.5 per cent commission. The state itself will lose the 6 per cent commission it used to charge on the procurement agency.
• Farmers believe that the bills are designed to help big corporate houses at the cost of their income.
• Farmers say that the legislation is going to lead to a replication of old structures outside mandis and create two market spaces with completely different sets of rules.

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