Farmers Movement Archive

BJP to hold state-wide awareness campaign on Centre’s farm bills

Mangaluru: Raitha Morcha of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will undertake a state-wide campaign about important farm bills. The three bills were approved in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday amid opposition fury. BJP is planning to distribute pamphlets, hold press meets and meetings with farmers. It will explain the salient features of the bills to counter the opposition, BJP state spokesperson Ganesh Karnik said here. “The three bills have been an important point in the BJPs manifesto. The opposition, bereft of any issues to counter the government, has indulged in acts that have sullied the image of the Indian parliament. The bills will aid the fortunes of around 86% of Indian farmers who have land holdings of less than 2.5 acres. The opposition have resorted to political one-upmanship in sheer desperation rather than express their concerns on the bills, he said. Referring to the media briefing that Union ministers led by Rajnath Singh held after the passage of bills, Karnik, a former MLC, said the government has asserted that the minimum support price (MSP) for crops will continue. “The government is mulling to bring more crops under the ambit of MSP from the current 22 crops,” he said adding the market intervention scheme will continue and farmers will receive MSP for the crops grown. “The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill will further strengthen interest of farmers. The contract is for produce from the land and not for the land,” he said. Agriculture scientists and agriculture economists will be used to disseminate information, he added. The bill aims to settle any dispute that arises between the farmer and the capitalist who invests in the land within 30 days. Investors under any circumstance will not be able to leverage their investment for the land in case of crop failure. The removal of hurdles of excessive regulatory influence will enable investment in the agriculture sector. Investments will bring in cold storages and food processing units, he said.

The Times of India

2020-09-22

Mangaluru