The Narendra Modi government has fixed minimum support prices (MSPs) of crops to give at least 50% returns and will purchase all farm produce at these rates. To be sure, the government fixes MSP for 23 essential crops to protect producers against any distress selling, taking into account the cost of production. But it buys only rice and wheat in sufficient quantities at that price level. Farmers have demanded enforceable MSPs for all essential crops.
The farmers are demanding a law that guarantees minimum crop prices, renewing a movement in 2021 that saw the government withdraw three contentious agricultural laws opposed by agricultural producers. Besides MSP, the farmers are demanding farm debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases (against farmers), and “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of farmers who died during the previous agitation in 2020-21 are also part of their demands.
Presentation- Dibyabharati Nayak