Why Gujarat farmers support the new farm laws ?
By Omji Dubey
Vadodara: There has been unrest near the Singhu border in Delhi after the farmers from Punjab and Haryana gathered there to protest the Centre’s farm laws. Farmers are opposing it and are demanding for the repeal of these farm laws. But the farmers from Vadodara have a totally different story.
Sailesh, a farmer from Vadodara says he supports the new laws. “I sell my produce in the nearby mandis. I face problems in receiving the payment many a times. But with the implementation ofnew farm laws , I will be able to sell my produce directly to a company,” he says.
He believes though the laws are in interest of the farmers there should be some changes in the laws regarding contract farming and Minimum Support Price policy. He said that subsidy provided by the government is an issue for thefarmers in Gujarat and nearby states because most of the subsidy goes to the farmers in Punjab and Haryana. According to a report released by the central government, one-third of the total government subsidies goes to states like Punjab, UP and Andhra Pradesh.
“Farmers should also upgrade himself in this hi-tech era which can only be done through education. I cannot sign up for contract farming unless I am totally aware of the terms and conditions. The farmer is being abused by these contactors anyways. They will take the produce and then they ask us to collect payment after two or three days which gradually gets extended up to two-three months. That is something which the government should work on,” Sailesh says.
Another farmer, Govind, who owns 5-acres of farmland, says, “Ten days before the produce is ready prices start dropping in the market. But as soon as the farmer sells his produce at such low rates, prices go up immediately. That is how farmers are being cheated by these middlemen and contractors. Therefore, MSP is an important issue for us.”
When questioned about the manipulation by middlemen through hoarding, Govind says, “Though many items were removed as essential commodities in this new farm bill, it also states that if there is a shortage then these items can also be brought back into the essential commodities. In the end that will help the farmers.”
Another reason why Gujarati farmers support the new laws is the provision of going to court against contracts being broken. “If the situation arises that a farmer is being cheated by the contractor then there are provisions in the farm bill that the farmer can appeal before magistrate,” says Sailesh. “If a farmer is being careful and gets in contract with some big company then that can definitely help farmers not only financially but also psychologically. So that they know their produce will get good price. It will be a lot better than what they are receiving now,” he adds.
When asked about the farmers who are protesting against the farm laws, Govind defend his decision to support the law, “Definitely there is some misunderstanding among those farmers regarding this issue. The laws surely need some changes but on in the long term, it benefits the farmers.”
This story was first published in the The Times of Bennett print edition (February 2021), a student-run initiative of The Times School of Media, Bennett University.
(The writer is a first year student of BA (Journalism and Mass Communication) of The Times School of Media)
Join exciting programmes offered by Bennett University
Vadodara: There has been unrest near the Singhu border in Delhi after the farmers from Punjab and Haryana gathered there to protest the Centre’s farm laws. Farmers are opposing it and are demanding for the repeal of these farm laws. But the farmers from Vadodara have a totally different story.
Sailesh, a farmer from Vadodara says he supports the new laws. “I sell my produce in the nearby mandis. I face problems in receiving the payment many a times. But with the implementation of
He believes though the laws are in interest of the farmers there should be some changes in the laws regarding contract farming and Minimum Support Price policy. He said that subsidy provided by the government is an issue for the
“Farmers should also upgrade himself in this hi-tech era which can only be done through education. I cannot sign up for contract farming unless I am totally aware of the terms and conditions. The farmer is being abused by these contactors anyways. They will take the produce and then they ask us to collect payment after two or three days which gradually gets extended up to two-three months. That is something which the government should work on,” Sailesh says.
Another farmer, Govind, who owns 5-acres of farmland, says, “Ten days before the produce is ready prices start dropping in the market. But as soon as the farmer sells his produce at such low rates, prices go up immediately. That is how farmers are being cheated by these middlemen and contractors. Therefore, MSP is an important issue for us.”
When questioned about the manipulation by middlemen through hoarding, Govind says, “Though many items were removed as essential commodities in this new farm bill, it also states that if there is a shortage then these items can also be brought back into the essential commodities. In the end that will help the farmers.”
Another reason why Gujarati farmers support the new laws is the provision of going to court against contracts being broken. “If the situation arises that a farmer is being cheated by the contractor then there are provisions in the farm bill that the farmer can appeal before magistrate,” says Sailesh. “If a farmer is being careful and gets in contract with some big company then that can definitely help farmers not only financially but also psychologically. So that they know their produce will get good price. It will be a lot better than what they are receiving now,” he adds.
When asked about the farmers who are protesting against the farm laws, Govind defend his decision to support the law, “Definitely there is some misunderstanding among those farmers regarding this issue. The laws surely need some changes but on in the long term, it benefits the farmers.”
This story was first published in the The Times of Bennett print edition (February 2021), a student-run initiative of The Times School of Media, Bennett University.
(The writer is a first year student of BA (Journalism and Mass Communication) of The Times School of Media)
Join exciting programmes offered by Bennett University
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