Lok Sabha Question No. 135 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-02
Subject: Legislative Safeguards for Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Suresh Kodikunnil, D. Ravikumar, N.K. Premachandran, Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.135

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  FEBRUARY, 2021

## LEGISLATIVE SAFEGUARDS FOR FARMERS

135. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

SHRI RAVIKUMAR D.:

SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

SHRI HIBI EDEN:

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

- (a) whether the Government intends to promulgate a bill to fix Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farm produce, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government plans to announce MSP for new crops on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that farmers are protesting to ensure MSP of agricultural produce and 60 farmers have died since the protests began against the new farm laws;
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  conduct  discussions  with  farmers  regarding  the reforms in the agriculture sector, if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the position of the Government on the M.S. Swaminathan Committee recommendation that MSP should  be  at  least  50  per  cent  more  than  the  weighted  average  cost  of  production  and whether the Government will implement the same, if so, the action taken thereon;
- (f) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  exploitative  and  arbitrary  recusal  from  honouring agreements  under  contract  farming  in  the  country,  if  so,  whether  the  Government  intends  to promulgate legislative safeguards to protect the interest of farmers under contract farming; and
- (g) whether  India  is  under  any  commitment  to  trade  negotiations  or  international  treaty whereby it is not allowed to subsidize agriculture, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

- (a) & (b): Government announces Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 22 major agricultural commodities each year in both the crop seasons after taking into account the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

(c): Some of the farmers' Unions  and  their  members  have  been  agitating  against  newly enacted Farm laws.

(d): Yes sir. So far, 11 rounds of meetings have been held between the Government and agitating farmers' unions to resolve the issues.

e): Government has since budget 2018-19, been announcing MSP at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production.

(f): Adequate  legislative  safeguards  have  been  provided  for.  The  Act  provides  for  a detailed  and  channelized  dispute  resolution  mechanism.  Under  the  Act,  if  a  dispute  arises during the period of agreement, the aggrieved party shall invoke the formation of conciliation board as per terms of the agreement who shall mediate and attempt resolution within 30 days of such reference. If the dispute failed to get resolved within 30 days, either party may file a complaint with the sub-Divisional Authority. If the decision of the sub-Division Authority is not acceptable either by either of the parties, they may file an appeal to the Appellate Authority.

(g): No, Sir. The support to agriculture sector is provided by Government of India as per its own policy. In case, the other country raise dispute, then suitable defense is undertaken.

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