Lok Sabha Question No. 50 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: Demands of Farmers Union Organisations
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Rajmohan Unnithan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 50

TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  FEBRUARY, 2026

## DEMANDS OF FARMERS UNION ORGANISATIONS

## *50. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  Samyukta  Kisan  Morcha  (SKM)  has announced renewed nationwide farmers' protests citing continued agrarian distress and non-fulfilment of assurances given after the withdrawal of the three farm laws in 2021;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  assessed  concerns  of  farmers'  organisations  that proposed free trade agreements, including with the United States, may adversely affect Indian agriculture  and  the  dairy  sector  by  exposing  small  and  marginal  farmers, particularly in Kerala including Kasaragod, to unfair competition,
- (c)  whether farmers' unions have opposed proposed measures relating to power sector privatisation, dilution of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)  and  implementation  of  labour  codes,  citing  adverse  impacts  on  farm incomes and rural employment;
- (d)    whether  demands  for  strengthening federal  fiscal  arrangements,  including  a  higher share for States, have been examined; and
- (e)  the steps taken to restore trust with farmers, ensure remunerative prices, safeguard domestic agriculture and prevent renewed large-scale protests?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)

- (a) to (e):  A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  IN  RESPECT  OF  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  50  FOR  3 RD   FEBRUARY,  2026  REGARDING 'DEMANDS OF FARMERS UNION ORGANISATIONS'

(a): Issues  relating  to  farmers  are  addressed  proactively  and  expeditiously  by  the Government to  ensure  their  socio-economic  well-being.  After  the  repeal  of  the  three Farm Laws in 2021, the Government held seven rounds of discussions in two phases with Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) at the level of Union  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  Minister.  First  discussion  was  held  on  8 th February, 2024. Subsequently, discussions were held on 12 th , 15 th , 18 th  February 2024, 14 th , 22 nd  February, 2025 & 19 th  March, 2025. Through sustained dialogue, most of the issues, such as, issues relating to the Electricity Amendment Bill; setting up of national commissions  for  chilli,  turmeric  and  other  spices;  rights  of  tribal  communities  over water, forest and land under the Fifth Schedule; stricter punishment for manufacture of fake/spurious  seeds,  fertilisers  and  pesticides;  and  rationalisation  of  penal  provisions related to paddy-straw burning etc. have been addressed.

(b): India is a net agricultural exporter.  Government undertakes negotiations for Free Trade  Agreements  (FTAs)  only  after  carefully  safeguarding  the  interests  of  Indian agriculture, allied sectors and farmers, including small and marginal farmers. Adequate safeguards are built in to protect sensitive sectors such as agriculture and dairy from unfair competition.

(c)  &  (d): Farmers'  unions'  concerns  relating  to  rural  employment  and  farm  incomes have been addressed under the newly enacted Viksit  Bharat  -  Guarantee for Rozgar and  Ajeevika  Mission  (Grameen) .  Under  the  Act,  guaranteed  wage  employment  per rural household has been enhanced from 100 days to 125 days per financial year, with provision for unemployment allowance if work is not provided. To ensure availability of labour for agricultural operations, State Governments have been empowered to notify a pause in wage employment works for up to 60 days during peak sowing and harvesting seasons.  Further,  enhancing  States'  role  in  implementing  rural  employment  and livelihood programmes are examined on continuous basis in consultation with States, keeping in view federal principles and development priorities.

In  addition,  Government  has  ensured  timely  and  affordable  credit  through measures such as enhanced agriculture credit targets, Priority Sector Lending norms, Kisan  Credit  Cards  (KCC),  interest  subvention,  increased  collateral-free  loan  limits, KCC saturation drives, and strengthening of rural financial institutions.

(e): To restore and strengthen farmers' trust, Government is engaging regularly with farmers through initiatives such as Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan , interactive field visits, and meetings with farmers' organisations.

To ensure remunerative prices, MSP is fixed at 1.5 times the cost of production for  22  agricultural  crops  alongwith  undertaking  record  procurement.  To  promote  crop diversification,    Government  is  procuring  Tur,  Urad  and  Masoor  under  the Pulses Atmanirbharta Mission and cotton under the Cotton Mission through National Agricultural  Cooperative  Marketing  Federation  of  India  Ltd.  (NAFED)  and    National Cooperative  Consumers'  Federation  of  India  Limited  (NCCF)  from  pre-registered farmers.

Government  is  also  implementing  Central  Sector  Scheme  for  Formation  and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs to improve farmers' market access and income realisation. Further, post-harvest and marketing infrastructure is being strengthened under schemes, such as, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund  (AIF), Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) so that farmers do not make distress sale of their produce.  A  digital  price  discovery  platform,  National  Agriculture  Market  ( e-NAM) ,  is being implemented across 23 States and 4 UTs to enable farmers to make informed decision.

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