Amid the intensifying farmer's protest against the three farm laws, the government on Thursday has launched an e-booklet highlighting the success stories of farmers who have benefited from contract farming after enactment of these legislations. Moreover, it's quite remarkable at this time to highlight the success stories when thousands of farmers are protesting against it.
Moreover, the government said it has made clear the "truth" about the farm reforms and has mentioned "what will happen" and "what will not happen" for farmers in the 100-page e-booklet ''Putting Farmers First''. It also asserted that reforms in the farm sector were undertaken step by step in the last six years keeping in mind the needs of farmers.
Moreover, the government asserted that the three farm laws were enacted in September after "two decades of consultations."
The farmer's agitation day entered into day 23 and farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at various border points of Delhi against the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
On the other hand, agitating farmer leaders have threatened to completely block the Chilla border between Delhi and Noida to press for their demands.
While the new laws have been portrayed as major reforms in the agriculture sector which will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country.
Highlighting briefly the success stories of farmers who have benefitted from the new laws, the government said: "There are many success stories already for such market access across various states."
"Nearly 1,300 farmers in the Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh recently entered into an agreement with Fortune Rice to produce export quality paddy and are earning 15-20 per cent higher income," it said.
More than 2,500 potato farmers across north Gujarat are earning nearly Rs 40,000 more per acre under agreement with potato processing company HyFun Foods, it said.
Over 1,000 seed potato farmers across Punjab, northern Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh are earning guaranteed 35 per cent margin above cost under the agreement with Technico Agri Sciences Ltd, the government said.
These growers have benefited from the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020.
On what will not happen for farmers due to these reforms, the government said, "MSP will not go away. APMC (Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee) mandis will not be closed. Farmers' land will not be taken away by anyone for any reason."
