Centre withdrawing new agriculture laws highly unlikely, say government officials

NEW DELHI | PUNE: The government expects tough negotiations with farmers as it is unlikely to accept the demand of withdrawing the new laws when the two sides meet for the sixth round of negotiation on Wednesday, officials said.

"Farmers are demanding repealing of laws, which doesn't look possible. There is little room for improvisation in laws. We have discussed each and every provision in detail. The government may propose option for legal intervention over disputes, which as per the current law have to be resolved in courts of sub division magistrates and district magistrates," said a senior agriculture ministry official.

He said the government remained committed to the minimum support price (MSP) mechanism.


"The government purchases 40-45% of the total production of wheat and rice at MSP to feed two-third of population under National Food Security Act. So, government purchase is bound to continue to fulfil this political obligation. No government can take risk to discontinue schemes that guarantee income for farmers," he said.

The official said that fear of MSP scrapping is baseless as government transfers more than Rs 2 lakh crore annually to farmers' bank accounts towards procurement of grain, oilseeds and pulses besides giving Rs 76,000 crore to farmers under PM KISAN scheme. "Apart from that, government spends more than Rs 1 lakh crore for subsidised fertiliser, seeds and irrigation facilities. We are committed towards farmers welfare," he said.

The official said that the procurement of rice so far has gone up by 20% from last year, indicating government's commitment towards continuing MSP.

Farm leaders however are adamant and are getting support from traders in mandis. In Maharashtra, about 300 wholesale markets will remain closed for the Bharat Band called on Tuesday. Most mandis are controlled by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), part of the Shiv Sena-led coalition in Maharashtra. A handful are controlled by the Congress or the BJP.

Dilil Mohite Patil, NCP leader and president of Maharashtra State Market Committee Cooperative Union, an association of 306 APMCs, said APMCs are for the benefit of farmers. "As we represent farmers, we think it is necessary to extend moral support to the farmers."