Photo Source: Screenshot of GOI Farm bills guide
Read: How Modi government aggressively trying to justify Farm Laws circulating 'Myth Vs Reality' document
Harvinder Kaur
Chandigarh, February 6, 2021: At the time when the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing heavy resistance from the farming community in the nation with ongoing farmers agitation now gaining international attention, the government establishments are not laying back, waiting for the storm to pass but extensively campaigning for farm bills.
Whether it organizing meets at Panchayat and district levels to make farmers aware of the benefits of farm bills or strengthening its IT cell to combat the growing presence of pro-Kisan Morcha social media handles, the government is presently using every tool at its disposal to make people accept that the government is intending to revolutionize the agriculture sector through the farm bills.
Recently, the government also came up with the guide titled ‘FarmBillsTruthvsMyth’.The farm bills guide claims to set aside all the legal jargon about farm bills and uses a pictorial format attempting to be useful to the masses.
Click below to read the full farm bills guide:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W_-acFB1_jrvszmLTEyuNn4SAK5ij0Cs/view?usp=sharing
Through this guide, the government has also tried to "clear all the apprehensions" which has put farm bills is in a negative light.
‘Truth about Modi’s government farm reform” read the title stating what will not happen as perceived.
“MSP Will Not Go Away, APMC Mandis will not be close, Farmers’ land will not be taken by anyone for any reason, Buyers cannot cheat farmers, Contractors cannot end the agreement without full payment,” it reads.
“Modi government has given higher MSP than earlier government also bought more farmers than the earlier government,” it reading emphasizing that MSP system will continue.
Comparing to the previous UPA government, it shows states that where the UPA government Rs 3.74 lakh crores MSP to farmers between 2009-2014, the Modi led government paid Rs 8 lakh crore during 2014-19 NDA regime.
The booklet further goes on to describe the need to farm bills at this time.
Post harvesting losses due to inadequate infrastructure estimated at Rs 90,000 in 2014, fragmented markets hampering the intra and interstate trade, inadequate credit facilities, higher intermediation costs are some of the many reasons giving for bringing new farm bills.
‘Contract farming act as a form of price assurance’
Elaborating the impact of contract farming on the agriculture sector, the booklet explains, “Typically, in contract farming, the agreement is made between the farmers and the buyers even before the crop is sown. Farmers already know the MSP he can get for his crop so the farmer will negotiate a price before the MSP,”
‘Myth vs Reality’
The booklet states that while there is a popular belief that contractors will take over farmers' land and farmers will end up becoming laborers, the reality is agreement is for the crops and not for the land.
Myth: Big companies will exploit farmers in the name of the contract.
Reality: The contract agreement will guarantee the farmers to get fixed price, farmers can withdraw from the contract at any point without any penalty
Myth: No Safety net for farmers against the contractor.
Reality: Clear pro-farmer dispute resolution mechanism outlined. Some farmers have already got due compensation by taking legal action against farmers.
Similarly, the government uncovers features of PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana, MSP hike in various crops, channelization of MNREGA for agriculture and allied activities along with many other reforms the government has working on manifesting to bring expand agriculture sector.
Click below to read the full farm bills guide:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W_-acFB1_jrvszmLTEyuNn4SAK5ij0Cs/view?usp=sharing