The government on Thursday wrote to agitating farmer organsiations, indicating, for the initial time, its readiness to go over offering a legal backing to the minimum assistance price tag (MSP). Responding in significantly less than 24 hours to a letter from the unions, exactly where they showed a willingness to engage with the government to resolve the vexatious stand-off and raised the demand for statutory MSP, the agriculture ministry stated: “Raising a new demand (statutory MSP) and its inclusion in the talks does not look logical. Still, the government is ready to discuss all issues raised by you.”
While it is not instantly clear what the government has on its thoughts, a legal MSP (which potentially implies the government will have to pitch in, if and when private purchasers of crops do not spend the MSP to farmers), if implemented, could jack up the government’s subsidy price range to astronomical levels. As per an FE evaluation, the total worth of marketable surplus of 20 major crops at MSP was Rs 7.52 lakh crore through 2019-20 crop year (July-June). The actual procurement fees at MSP of paddy, wheat, 5 pulses and two oilseeds was Rs 2.19 lakh crore through 2019-20 of course, the financial price of procurement also involves storage price, market place charges, commissions to arhatiyas and other incidentals.
“In the letter dated December 20, it was clearly mentioned that the government was ready for a constructive discussions on all issues raised by farmers unions…It was pointed out that the system of procurement at MSP has no relation with the laws related to farm reforms. It was already stated that the government was ready to offer a written assurance for continuation of procurement at MSP. However, raising a new demand on this issue and its inclusion in the talks does not look logical. Still, the government is ready to discuss all issued raised by you,” Vivek Agarwal, a joint secretary in agriculture ministry, wrote to 40 farmer leaders. He also asked the leaders that the government be intimated at the leaders’ comfort “a suitable date and time” for the discussion to resume, and also the agenda for talks.
In the earlier letter, the government proposed to go over the farmer leaders’ objections to diverse provisions in the laws as nicely as some proposed alterations presented to resolve the protest.
Darshan Pal of Samyukta Kisan Morcha in his letter to Agarwal on Wednesday had stated: “We want to assure you that agitating farmers are ready for talks. We are waiting to know when the government will take it forward with an open mind. It is requested that instead of reiterating rejected proposals, you may please send concrete proposals as agenda of the discussion. On MSP, there is nothing in your proposal that befits a reply. You talked about written assurance on MSP while farmer organisations are demanding legal guarantee for selling at MSP and fixing the prices at C2 costs (including imputed rent of own land and imputed interest on own capital) as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission.”
More than 1 lakh farmers have been protesting outdoors Delhi borders considering that November 26 demanding repeal of the 3 farm laws, enacted lately to unshackle Indian agriculture from numerous restrictions.
The stress on the government has been creating up as a lot of farmer organisations have been providing allegiance to the government’s lead to and met agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar in this connection are also of the view that some thing has to be accomplished to assure the farmers acquire the MSPs.
Sompal Shastri, who was minister of state for agriculture through Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s cabinet, has also reportedly recommended to the government to accede to the farmers’ demand on MSP. It is also learnt that Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand is also working on a strategy on the MSP concern.
The Centre final week ruled out the possibility of placing on hold the new farm laws till a proposed committee of independent professionals is constituted to facilitate talks with protesting farmers. Attorney basic KK Venugopal stated the Centre can not heed the Supreme Court’s suggestion that no executive action be taken beneath the news, but he stated he would seek the government’s directions on the matter.