AMICABLE SOLUTION TO END FARMERS ANDOLAN

AMICABLE SOLUTION TO END FARMERS ANDOLAN

Indian farmers ‘who are sitting on the Delhi boarders since long to repeal all the farm laws passed by the present government of India for the last about two months. In fact they are protesting since their inception.  Recently, Farmer’s Andolan has taken the shape of Mass Andolan which may have had serious repercussion. Recent order of the Hon’ble Supreme court to stop its implementation is a welcome step but the court have to go a one step ahead – repeal the law if in its domain till the finalization of the committee report. One Let us also pledge to solve the ongoing crisis of the farming community who are protesting against the three farm laws since their inception.

Only few question needs to be first cleared by the government.

1.     What’s wrong with the present system of marketing? Government always says: Committed to double the Income – but income cannot be doubled by simply changing the marketing policy – much more needed.

2.     What’s the urgency of brining such controversial laws when the whole country even world is engulfed by the Corona virus?

3.     If the laws can be passed during the Corona virus why it cannot be repeal under the same conditions.

4.     Undoubtedly Dr Joshi and Dr Gulati – both members of SC committee, are well known in their own field of eminence. Their research is mainly based upon the official data – theoretical research and not grass root level research. Working condition of Indian farmers is totally different from the world. Hence policy followed abroad cannot suit the Indian system.

Furthermore, there is no denying of the fact as claimed by the Government; technology is the need for development of every sector including agriculture. But advancement of technology should start from the bottom of the sector and not from the top/end point. Government of India has tried to introduce technology from the top/final point of the sector as is evident from the passing of three farm laws that too in the haste manner against which the farming community is protesting from the day of its inception and that too under bone chilling severe cold. Government has to act fast to resolve the issue. Has the central government sincere in adoption of technology for the development of agricultural sector, it should have introduced technology to increase the productivity of the various crops which is lowest in the world. Agriculture has turned into a cost expensive even at constant cost of cultivation, which is the real problem with the agriculture. There is an urgent need for the adoption of developed technology for seed development; technology for nutrient management, land preparation, irrigation management; pest management; weed management and harvest and storage technology. Adoption of three farm laws will developed unregulated market in the trading circle parallel to APMC. Let the corporate enter the market under existing marketing system.

India has gained food security only due to assured price of the produce through MSP coupled with adoption of seed-water-fertilizer technology. Slight change in MSP system will force the India back in dark days.

Most crucial technology need is to increase the productivity of the various crops which are lowest as compared to many advanced countries. With the increase in productivity of various crops, cost of production will decline at constant prices. Ultimately margin between the MSP and cost of cultivation will increase and there is no need to increase MSP. With this, even the general public will get grains at cheaper rates.

As the government is ready to make amendments to 12 of the 14 or 15 points of criticism, there is no harm to repeal the same.

The only solution under existing scenario is to repeal all the three farm laws for a period of committee final report; constitute a High Level Power Committee to be headed by the sitting/retired Supreme court judge representing government; scientists, farming community. Terms and conditions of such committee should be such that the HLPC must submit its intern report within four months and final within six months. No time extension be given and its final report will be bidding for all the players. Intern report should be placed in the public domain for comments and suggestion by non members and general public