"Not in favour": Protesting Farmers Reject Centre's Proposal Over MSP

On Monday, Farmer leaders declined the government’s proposal of procuring pulses, maize, and cotton at MSP by government agencies for five years. They claimed it had nothing for them. In a press conference, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal mentioned that after much discussion, the forums rejected the proposal.

“After the discussion of both forums, it has been decided that if you analyze, there is nothing in the government’s proposal. Our government imports palm oil worth Rs 1.75 crore from outside which also causes illness to the general public. If this money is given to the farmers of the country to grow oil seed crops and MSP is announced, then that money can be used here. This is not in the favor of farmers. We reject it,” he said.

“If the government is not giving legal guarantee of MSP, it means that the farmers of the country will continue to be looted. This is not acceptable,” he added.

Following the fourth round of discussions, Sarvan Singh Pandher, General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, affirmed that the farmers will persist with the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on February 21. He also mentioned that deliberations will take place regarding the government’s proposed MSP initiative. Now, farmers will continue their ‘Dilli Chalo’ march on February 21.

Previously, Jagjit Singh Dallewal mentioned that there was an extensive conversation regarding the farmers’ demands during the fourth round of negotiations with the government. “The government has given us a proposal, which guarantees MSP on pulses, maize and cotton, which will be supervised and managed by two government agencies,” says SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal after the conclusion of the meeting between protesting farmer unions and Union Ministers in Chandigarh.

Another Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni claimed that the government must add oil seeds and bajra also under the MSP, with a warning that if the Centre doesn’t comply by February 21, Haryana will also join the protest.

In addition to a legal assurance on MSP, farmers are calling for the adoption of the Swaminathan Commission’s suggestions, pension schemes for farmers and agricultural workers, relief from farm debts, stable electricity rates, resolution of police cases, accountability for victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, restoration of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, and compensation for families of farmers who perished during prior protests in 2020-21.

All about MSP:

Definition: The minimum support price (MSP) , determined by the government, is the price at which agricultural produce is purchased and is calculated to be at least one and a half times the production cost borne by farmers. In the 1960s, India implemented the MSP system, initially for wheat and subsequently for other crucial crops, as part of its efforts to ensure food security.

Advocates of MSP argue that it is essential for shielding farmers from losses stemming from price fluctuations. They contend that the resultant increase in income will enable farmers to invest in innovative technologies, enhance productivity, and safeguard them from exploitation by middlemen.

However, critics argue that the system requires significant changes because it isn’t sustainable and could be harmful to government finances. They also claim that in the long term, it could be damaging to the agricultural industry, causing problems like over-farming and storage shortages.

In its proposal on Monday (Feb 19), the government guaranteed buying of pulses, maize and cotton at MSP through cooperatives for five years. But the farmers stand by their demand of a “legal guarantee for MSP on all 23 crops” based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

On Monday, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the main group behind the 2020-21 farmers’ protest, turned down the government’s proposal. They stated that it aims to “shift and weaken” the farmers’ call for MSP and insisted on nothing less than the ‘C-2 plus 50 percent’ formula for MSP, as advised in the Swaminathan Commission report.

Farmer Leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said the Centre’s proposal of buying five crops at the MSP will only be meant for those who go for crop diversification. It meant that the MSP would be given to those only who switch over from paddy to pulses. It will not be given to those growing ‘moong’ crops besides paddy.

History of farmer protests:

The current wave of protests commenced on February 13, as farmers from Haryana and Punjab initiated ‘Dilli Chalo’ march. They allege that the government failed to fulfill its commitments made during the 2020-21 protests and have additional demands such as pensions and debt forgiveness. However, their primary demand is for legislation ensuring a guaranteed price for crops.

The meeting held on February 15, between three Union ministers and leaders of the protesting farmer unions ended without reaching a resolution with Union Minister Arjun Munda emphasizing that the conversation was “constructive,” and he confirmed that another round of discussions would take place on coming Sunday.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann participated in the meeting at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26. The session commenced around 8:45 pm on Thursday and continued for approximately five hours.

CM Mann mentioned that he addressed the matter of internet service suspension in specific regions of Sangrur, Patiala, and Fatehgarh Sahib with the Centre. Additionally, he highlighted the use of a drone by the Haryana Police to launch tear gas shells at protesters within Punjab. Mann stated that he received assurance from the Centre that it would communicate with the Haryana government and request efforts to uphold peace along the borders of Punjab and Haryana.

The farmer leaders also objected to the reported suspension of social media accounts belonging to various leaders. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal stated that the ministers assured them that all such social media accounts would be reinstated.

This marked the third round of discussions between the two parties. The earlier talks were held on 8th and 12th of February.

In the fourth round of talks, held on Feb 18, the Centre proposed the buying of pulses, maize and cotton crops by government agencies at minimum support prices (MSP) for five years. On Monday evening,February 19, farmer leaders who were protesting rejected the offer and announced their intention to resume the ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest at 11 am on Wednesday, demanding a legal guarantee of MSP for all crops.

“We appeal to the government that either resolve our issues or remove barricades and allow us to proceed to Delhi to protest peacefully,” Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told reporters at the Shambhu point of Punjab’s border with Haryana.

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“Not in favour”: Protesting Farmers Reject Centre’s Proposal Over MSP

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