Even as farmers continue agitating against the new agriculture reforms bills, opposition-ruled states are mulling ways to circumvent these legislation.
Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal made a suggestion that if the Punjab government were to declare the entire state as special market yard, then the provisions of the new bill will not apply to the state. Even the Congress government, led by Amarinder Singh, is thinking of ways to counter these bills.
Similarly, the Kerala government is considering moving the Supreme Court against the new legislation.
Reacting to these developments, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar claimed that the Congress was trying to mislead farmers and added that the new bills are beneficial for farmers. “I want to assure the farmers that these are revolutionary bills which will get them good prices for their crops. Their economic condition will improve. Moreover, these prompt the farmers to adopt newer and much advanced techniques,” Tomar said while addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters.
Reacting to the suggestion of declaring the entire state as a special market yard, Tomar said ideally no government should be doing this. “Those talking about these measures are the ones who want the farmers to continue paying higher taxes,” the minister said, in response to THE WEEK's question on the legal remedy being proposed in Punjab.
In Punjab, under the APMC Act, a tax of 8.5 per cent is levied, which includes six per cent by the state, and 2.5 per cent commission for the arhatiyas (commission agents).
On Kerala government's proposed move to approach the Supreme Court, the agriculture minister said, “In courts, the arguments are based on law. It is the prerogative of the state government to approach any court in a democracy. But it is also the prerogative to Centre to make laws.”
Tomar said all parties participated in the discussion in Parliament. “You may have seen that none of them is agitating against the provisions of the bill, but only things that are not there.”
“They are saying MSP should be part of the bill. If they were so concerned, they could have included MSP in earlier laws as they have been power for over 50 years. MSP is an administrative decision of the government. We have already declared MSP for upcoming crops. The MSP will always stay, there should not be any doubt about the MSP,” Tomar said.
The minister explained at length that the new bills have enabled the farmers to sell their produce outside the mandi to anyone, anytime and at whatever prices they wish. “No tax of Centre and state government will be applicable. These bills make provision of making payment within three days.”
Referring to the new bill which gives legal cover to contract farming, the minister said the farmer will get price of the produce even before the crop is sown.
The contract will have a provision that if prices increase, the farmer will get certain percentage of the increased prices than the amounts agreed in the contract.
Explaining the grievance rederessal mechanism in the contract farming bill, the minister said there were sufficient safeguards. The farmer can leave the contract at anytime he wants. He has to pay the money he has received from the trader at a date according to his convenience, and his land will be safe, the minister clarified.
“But the traders or company cannot leave the contract till he pays the money. So, in case of a dispute, the farmer can approach the nearest magisterial officer which is SDM. The SDM in turn will set up a mediation board to resolve the matter within 15 days; but if still the decision is not taken, then SDM have to take decision within 30 days,” the minister said.
