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India Farmers’ protest : Why are they protesting again?
Two years after the initial farmers’ protest, they have taken to the streets again
Farmer protest in 2021 / Image-Unsplash
In a resurgence of demonstrations, farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh have taken to the streets to march to the capital almost two years after their initial demonstrations against the controversial farm laws.
The past two days has seen heightened security measures being taken byHaryana and Delhi police including sealing borders and dropping tear gas shells to deter farmers from entering the capital.
Shift in focus: Comprehensive demands for agricultural viability
The previous protests were triggered by the government's introduction of three farm laws, which promised favorable prices for farmers by linking them to open markets. Farmers, however, rejected the legislation, expressing concerns about its potential impact, particularly in putting them at the mercy of private companies.
While the central demand, which is the legal assurance of a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops remains common, the recent protests call for a broader set of demands, focusing on measures the farmers deem as essential for the financial sustainability of agriculture.
After the initial protest the government repealed the farm laws and set up a committee for the setting up of prices for farm produce. However, the committee is yet to present its findings.
The farmers are now advocating for a comprehensive law, ensuring MSP for all crops, while the government cites concerns over global prices, procurement pressure, export competitiveness, and central expenditure associated with this demand.
Another significant demand revolves around the implementation of recommendations from the MS Swaminathan committee on agriculture. MS Swaminathan, renowned as the father of the Green Revolution, recently received the Bharat Ratna. The committee's key proposal is to increase MSP to at least 50 percent above the weighted average cost of production.
Additional farmer demands
Beyond MSP, farmers are calling for improved sugar cane prices, a monthly pension of Rs 10,000 (US $120) for farmers aged 60 and above, stricter action against those accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, and the allocation of land in Delhi for a memorial honoring the "martyrs" of previous farmer protests.
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