Amid the row between the Centre and Opposition over the agriculture sector reform Bills in the Upper House of the Parliament on Sunday, farmers in Kanpur welcomed the new farm bills and urged the government to think more for their community. Farmers in Maharashtra`s Dhule district also welcomed the two farm sector reform Bills that were passed in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday.
Moreover, farmers urged the government to take more steps to remove the middlemen from the marketing of agricultural produce so that the maximum benefits can be retained by them.
Central government should think more about farmers
"We welcome the farm Bills but the Central government should think more about farmers. They should reduce the role of middlemen and take steps to ensure that farmers do not commit suicide," says one farmer in front of media.
“The government should do something to exclude the middlemen, today the maximum profit from our produce goes to the middlemen. If such a condition persists, our next generation is not going to take up this profession," they added.
Moreover, they further urged the Centre to take note of the financial distress of the farming community across the country and asked it to ensure that at least the entire input cost is repaid at the time of selling the produce.
However, the Congress party will launch a protest against the farm bills that was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday. The two bills - Farmer's produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill 2020 - will now be sent to the President for his assent.
The minimum support price (MSP) being given to farmers is low and should be increased, says farmers.
What is Agriculture Bill 2020?
On Sunday, amid a ruckus, the Rajya Sabha passed two agriculture bills: The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.
The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 permits the electronic trading of farmers' produce and allows the setting up transaction platforms for facilitating direct online buying and selling of farm products.
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 provides for a farming agreement prior to the production or rearing of any farm produce.
