The three farm bills passed in 2020.
The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020
Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020
Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020
by the central government was not well received by the farmers from Punjab and Haryana.
The farmers marched to the Delhi border and are protesting for months now.
They demand complete repealing of the 3 Farm Act passed in 2020.
But the actual objection is only in 1 farm act which is The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020.
This act governs private contract farming and allows farmers to sell products outside of APMC Mandis. Farmer fears that APMC Mandis won't survive against the private market and eventually APMC Mandis will shut down
The state governments also fear losing tax revenue they used to get from APMC mandis.
However, section 8 of the act prevents farmers from going to Civil Court this has gone unnoticed. whenever there arises a dispute between the two parties. instead, there is a provision for farmers to go to Sub District Magistrate who shall appoint Conciliation Board. If the board is not able to resolve the dispute then SDM who is Sub-Divisional Authority will try to resolve it. If the Sub-Divisional Authority isn't able to resolve then both parties can appeal to any Appellate Authority (Collector or Additional Collector nominated by the Collector) whose shall have the force of the decree of a civil court.
The farmers say reaching and resolving the dispute through SDM will be a tough process for farmers who fear they won't get speedy justice.
But the government gives the argument that this provision is added because the farmer is not in the condition to afford a lawyer it may cause them economic loss.
The farmers also want the assurance of MSP in private contracts. As there's no mention of MSP in the act. They fear they won't get MSP. The government has assured they will give in writing they will get MSP. However, farmers say the written assurance by the government has no legal value.
Some Khalistani and Naxali elements have also infiltrated the protest. They are instigating farmers to completely repeal the act while the government has said they won't repeal the acts but are ready to amend the acts. The farmers and government are constantly in talks however the talks don't come to conclusion as farmers are adamant about the demand of repealing the 3 acts.
Congress which is supporting this protest themselves said in their manifesto of the 2019 Loksabha election that they will the APMC Mandi act.
Source Congress Manifesto 2019 Page 9 Point 11
11. Congress will repeal the Agricultural Produce Market Committees Act and make trade in agricultural produce—including exports and inter-state trade—free from all restrictions.
The government needs to remove all fear and misconception of farmers and come to a solution that benefits both parties. The farmers also need to not believe in narratives spread by a few groups for their vested interests. The farmers should completely detach from such elements who are trying to instigate violence and demand of Khalistan which is against national interest and which can spoil the reputation of the respected profession like farming.
Jai Hind