The All India Kisan Khet Mazdoor Sangathan (AIKKMS) on Tuesday organised a mass rally at the Shahid Minar ground in Kolkata to protest against the central government’s new ‘National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing’ draft and demanded its immediate removal.
With the new draft policy, the Centre aims to create “a vibrant marketing ecosystem in the country wherein farmers of all categories find a market of their choice to realise the best price for their produce”.
The proposed policy on agricultural marketing aims to achieve it through improved efficiency, competition, multiple channels, transparency, robust infrastructure, digital innovation, and agri-value chain marketing, eliminating monopsony and enhancing market opportunities.
However, the AIKKMS, which is politically aligned with the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) party, believes that the new draft policy will lead to a takeover of the agricultural sector by big corporates and syndicates.
Shankar Ghosh, the general secretary of AIKKMS, addressed the rally and said, “The new draft policy that the BJP government in Centre has introduced will hand over the entire agricultural sector into the hands of corporate capital.”
“As a result of it, farmers will not get fair price for their crops and everyone, including farmers, will have to buy food items at an expensive price that will be set by private companies,” he added.
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The AIKKMS put forth several demands, including waiving off loans, a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) based on the C2+50% formula recommended by the Swaminathan Commission and the repeal of the Electricity (Amendment) Rules, 2023.
The peasant and agrarian labour organisation also sought 200 days of guaranteed work for job-card holders at Rs 600 daily wages and Rs 10,000 pension for farmers and workers aged 60 and above.
Over 10,000 farmers and workers from various districts of West Bengal assembled in Kolkata for the mass rally, where AIKKMS state secretary Gopal Biswas, state president Panchanan Pradhan and other agrarian leaders addressed the gathering.
