Lok Sabha Question No. 414 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-30
Subject: Agitation on Farm Laws
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh, Abdul Majeed Ariff, Dean Kuriakose, T.N. Prathapan, N.K. Premachandran, Anto  Antony, Sougata Ray, Abdul Khaleque

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 414

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 30 th  NOVEMBER, 2021

## AGITATION ON FARM LAWS

## 414.   SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH:

SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAN:

SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  steps  to  hold  discussions  with  farmer organizations agitating against the three farm laws, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to amend or nullify the farm acts and repeal the same, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to protect farmers' interests and implement support price for agricultural produce, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the number of cases registered against farmers in connection with the agitation;
- (e) the data on the number of farmers who died during the agitations held in and around the National Capital; and
- (f) whether the Government proposes to provide financial assistance to the kin of farmers who died during the said agitations, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a): Yes Sir. Government engaged itself actively and constantly with the agitating farmer  unions  to  end  the  protests  and  11  rounds  of  negotiating  talks  were  held between the Government & agitating farmer unions to resolve the issues.

(b): The  Farm  Laws  Repeal  Bill,  2021  has  been  passed  by  both  houses  of Parliament on 29.11.2021.

(c): Government of India announces Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 22 major agricultural commodities of Fair Average Quality (FAQ) each year in both the crop seasons  after  taking  into  account  the  recommendations  of  the  Commission  for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). Government also extends remunerative price to  farmers  through  its  various  interventions  schemes.  The  procurement  at  MSP  is done  by  Central  and  State  Agencies  under  various  schemes  of  Government. Besides, the overall market also responds to declaration of MSP and Government's procurement operations, resulting in increase of selling price of the various notified crops.`  Government  is  implementing  Pradhan  Mantri  Annadata  Aay  Sanrakshan Abhiyan'  (PM-AASHA),  an  umbrella  scheme  to  ensure  Minimum  Support  Price (MSP)  to  farmers.  It  comprises  the  erstwhile  Price  Support  Scheme  (PSS)  with certain  modifications  and  rolling  out  of  new  schemes  of  Price  Deficiency  Payment Scheme  (PDPS)  and  pilot  of  Private  Procurement  and  Stockist  Scheme  (PPSS). Under  PM-AASHA,  States/UTs  are  offered  to  choose  either  PSS  and  PDPS  in  a given  procurement  season  with  respect  to  particular  oilseeds  crop  for  the  entire State.  Pulses  and  Copra  are  procured  under  PSS.  Only  one  scheme  i.e.  PSS  or PDPS  may  be  made  operational  in  one  State  with  respect  to  one  commodity. Further, states have the option to roll out Private Procurement and Stockiest Scheme (PPSS) on pilot basis in district/selected APMCs of district involving the participation of private stockist for oilseeds. Further, wheat paddy and coarse grains are procured under  the  existing  schemes  of  Department  of  Food  and  Public  Distribution  and Cotton is procured under the existing schemes of Ministry of Textiles.

(d) to (f): The  Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  has  no  record  in  the matter and hence the question does not arise.

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