Lok Sabha Question No. 27 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-02
Subject: Consultation with Stakeholders on Farm Laws
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal, Mala Roy, Uttam Kumar Nalamada Reddy, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 27

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  FEBRUARY, 2021

## CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS ON FARM LAWS

## 27. SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

SHRI UTTAM KUMAR REDDY NALAMADA: SHRIMATI KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI: SHRIMATI MALA ROY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  failed  to  consult  the  farmers  and  other  stakeholders about the three contentious agriculture Bills before they were passed by the Parliament and became laws and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  details  of  urgency  before  the  Government  to  bring  ordinance  about  these  laws during the Covid-19 pandemic;
- (c) whether  the  Government  failed  to  give  assurance  about  Minimum  Support  Price (MSP)  and  protection  of  land  ownership  to  farmers  in  the  law  itself  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  bills  are  in  alignment  with  the  Government's  plan  to  double  farmers' income and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  any  studies  were  conducted  to  analyse  whether  these  bills  will  impact farmers'  income  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  impact  on  small  and  marginal farmers;
- (f) whether a large number of farmers are protesting against these three laws because they  feel  insecure  about  Minimum  Support  Price  (MSP)  and  they  see  that  these  laws  will push farmers' interests behind while corporate houses will occupy the farm sector and get benefit and if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) if not, the reasons therefor and the steps taken by the Government to engage in talks with farmers and give them assurance to end the protest?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a): No  Sir,  There  had  been  discussing  with  all  Stakeholders  regarding  agri reforms in the last many years.

(b): There  has  been  continuous  demand  for  reforming  agriculture  marketing system in India to facilitate farmers in selling their produce for better price realization as has been suggested from time to time by various committees etc. Government of India  has  been  actively  and  intensively  engaging  with  the  States  for  about  two decades for  reforms  in  agriculture  marketing  sector  to  provide  accessible  markets and  barrier  free  trade  facilitates  for  selling  their  produce  at  better  price  anytime anywhere.  During  COVID-19  lockdown  due  to  disruption  of  markets  and  supply chains, there was utmost need to allow free direct marketing outside the mandis to facilitate  the  farmers  in  selling  their  produce  near  to  farm  gate  at  remunerative prices. Government of India vide letter dated 04.04.2020 had requested States/ UTs to facilitate the process of direct marketing for farmers/ group of farmers, FPOs and cooperatives  by  limiting  the  regulation  under  State  APMC  Act  to  within  physical premises of the notified markets only, while allowing the direct buying facility by bulk buyers/  processors/  big  retailers  etc  outside  mandi  premises  with  minimum  or without requirement of any licensing or registration process or as decided by States/ UTs.  Realizing  the  immediate  need  to  further  facilitate  farmers  in  selling  their produce, 06 States (State of Goa, Tripura, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand) through Ordinance/ Bill route deregulated marketing of fruits and vegetables (direct marketing for fruits & vegetables) as recommended by 'The Model Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2017'. As COVID-19 situation may have a prolonged effect globally on demand side, hence the urgency to bring Ordinance about these laws.

(c): No Sir. The new Farm Acts have no bearing on the policy and process of procurement on MSP.  The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, is for farming agreement of farmers' produce between farmers and to  sponsors  and  not  about  contract  of  farmers'  land.  Chapter  II  Section  8,  of  the  Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 states that 'No farming agreement shall be entered into for the purpose of - (a) any transfer, including sale, lease and mortgage of the land or premises of the farmer; or (b) raising any permanent structure or making any modification on the land or premises of the farmer, unless the Sponsor agrees to remove such structure or to restore the land to its original condition, at his cost, on the conclusion of the agreement or expiry of the agreement period, as the case may be'. Moreover, Chapter III, section 15 of the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, 'no action for recovery of any amount shall be initiated against the agricultural land of the farmer'.

(d) & (e): Farm Acts viz, 'The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation)  Act,  2020'  and  'The  Farmers  (Empowerment  and  Protection)  Agreement  On Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020' are intended to provide an ecosystem where the  farmers  can  enjoy  the  freedom  of  choice  relating  to  sale  of  farmers'  produce  which facilitates remunerative prices to farmers through competitive alternative channels for selling their  produce.  These  farm  Acts  will  facilitate  direct  buying  from  farmers  in  trade  area  by traders,  processors,  exporters,  Farmer  Producer  Organizations  (FPOs),  agriculture  cooperative  Societies  etc.,  so  as  to  facilitate  farmers  with  better  price  realization  due  to reduction in supply chain and marketing cost resulting in enhancing farmers' income and are alignment  with the Government's plan to double farmers' income.

(f) & (g): Some of the farmers' unions have been agitating against newly enacted Farm Acts. The main demands of agitating farmers' unions regarding the three farm laws, were for their repeal  viz. 'The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act,  2020',  'The  Farmers  (Empowerment  and  Protection)  Agreement  On  Price  Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020' & 'The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020'.

So  far,  11  rounds  of  negotiations  have  been  held  between  the  Government  and agitating farmer unions to resolve the issues. Details of the meetings are at Annexure-I .

Annexure-I

|   Sl.No | Rounds of negotiating talks with agitating farmer unions   | Date of meeting   |
|---------|------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|       1 | 1 st Round                                                 | 14.10.2020        |
|       2 | 2 nd Round                                                 | 13.11.2020        |
|       3 | 3 rd Round                                                 | 01.12.2020        |
|       4 | 4 th Round                                                 | 03.12.2020        |
|       5 | 5 th Round                                                 | 05.12.2020        |
|       6 | 6 th Round                                                 | 30.12.2020        |
|       7 | 7 th Round                                                 | 04.01.2021        |
|       8 | 8 th Round                                                 | 08.01.2021        |
|       9 | 9 th Round                                                 | 15.01.2021        |
|      10 | 10 th Round                                                | 20.01.2021        |
|      11 | 11 th Round                                                | 22.01.2021        |

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