Farmers Movement Archive

Fortify MSP regime

The farming community is a key vote bank that no political party can afford to ignore, let alone antagonise. The BJP-led NDA government, which has set itself a hard target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022, has already initiated direct benefit transfer for subsidies and crop payments so that the commission-pocketing middlemen can be kept out of the equation as far as possible. Now, the Centre needs to remove doubts and misconceptions about the ordinances. The MSP regime and the public procurement system have facilitated assured marketing for farmers for decades, even though rising input costs and unremunerative prices are eating into their profits. Strengthening the existing setup that has made the nation food-surplus, coupled with empowering the farmer to strike the best bargain for his produce, can go a long way in keeping agriculture viable.Though agriculture is a state subject, the sector has been ailing as state governments prefer to work in silos, going all out to appease one lobby or the other. A national market for farm commodities, as and when established, could be a win-win situation for all stakeholders.

The Tribune

2020-06-26