Farmers Movement Archive

Laws will bring revolutionary changes in farmers’ lives: Minister

GORAKHPUR: Uttar Pradesh agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi on Thursday, during a press conference in Gorakhpur, said that the recently passed farm bills would bring “revolutionary changes” in the lives of farmers and empower them. He said that the Opposition was misleading the farmers by saying that they would lose their land to industrialists. Shahi said the Opposition’s contention is totally wrong. “Firstly the law is obligatory and not mandatory, and secondly, there will be a contract of produce between the investor and the farmer, and the lease of land is restricted in the law,” he added. Defending the farm bills, the agriculture minister further said, “The investors will bring technology and seeds for farmers which will accelerate the produce, improve the of quality of crops and also profit farmers. Farmers can now sell the produce to anyone they want—either in Mandi or to the investors or in the local market or anywhere else. The new farm bills will enhance the bargaining strength of farmers. Moreover, Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Mandis are not shutting.” Shahi termed the protest of Opposition parties against farm bills as misleading, and congratulated PM Modi for taking a “historical and daring decision”. “Farmers were in the clutches of the former government’s policy paralysis. During the regime of UPA, in Maharashtra alone, 68,000 farmers died by suicide in 10 years. Congress promoted license, agent and quota politics. At present, farmers are paying 8% Mandi tax in UPA-ruled Punjab, while in UP, they are paying only around 2.5 % tax. The BJP government is ending Mandi tax. Now, farmer’s produce can be purchased on MSP, and the money will be deposited directly in the farmer’s account within three days. This beneficial policy is disturbing the politics of opposition parties, and hence, they are misleading the farmers,” said the state agriculture minister.

The Times of India

2020-10-02

Varanasi