Farmers' union leaders hopeful after positive talks with Prahlad Joshi, next round on February 22

The recent meeting between a Central team led by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and farmers' representatives was held in a cordial atmosphere, leaving farmers' union leaders optimistic about future discussions and positive developments in the coming days.

The two-and-a-half-hour meeting focused on addressing various demands from farmers' unions, particularly the call for a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. The next round of talks is scheduled for February 22.

Two key farmers' outfits-Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha-have been leading the ongoing protest at Shambhu and Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border for the past year. Jagjit Singh Dallewal, convenor of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Khanauri since November 26 to press for a legal guarantee on MSP.


Sarabjit Pandher of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha told ET, "The Centre's approach, especially Union Minister Joshi's attitude, was positive. They repeatedly requested Dallewal sahab to end his fast." However, Dallewal remains firm in his stance, stating he will end his fast only when the Centre agrees to a legal guarantee for MSP.

Pandher further mentioned, "We conveyed our points, and the Centre's team listened. This issue can only be resolved through dialogue, and these meetings have given us hope."

The next meeting will be led by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chouhan on February 22. Despite the talks, farmers' unions are holding firm on their planned Delhi march on February 25.

Four rounds of meetings took place between central ministers and protesting farmers in February 2024, but no agreements were reached. Last February, a panel of three Union ministers-Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal, and Nityanand Rai-held talks with farmers, but their proposal to buy pulses, maize, and cotton crops at MSP for five years was rejected by the farmers.