Farmers shouldn't be confused
Agriculture bills will bring benefits and make farmers self-reliant
Prof. Vivek Singh
Recently 3 bills related to agriculture have been passed by the Rajya Sabha keeping in mind the interest of farmers. Opposition parties are describing the bills as anti-farmer while these bills will bring positive changes in the economic condition of our farmers. Farmers will benefit immensely. Let's understand what the farmers will benefit from these three bills.
In the first bill, The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020, it has been provided that potato, onion, pulses, oilseeds etc. will not remain part of essential commodities. Due to this change, there will be no limit on the stock of these essential commodities. Government will regulate it only in case of exceptional circumstances. The agricultural sector which is still deprived of private sector and foreign investment, because of this bill private sector investment and foreign investment can come easily in agriculture sector. Participation of private sector and foreign investment will lead to economic prosperity of farmers. Because crops will be stocked and there will be no limit on this, due to this prices of agricultural products will remain stable. With the advent of the private sector, new cold storage will be built where farmers will be able to keep their agricultural products and will be able to sell at a higher cost. Farmers as well as consumers will also be benefited. There will also be decrease in the wastage of food grains. The advent of private sector in agriculture sector will lead to modern farming instead of traditional farming. There will also be change in technology used in agriculture.
The second bill is The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill 2020. Many new provisions have been made in this bill keeping in mind the interest of farmers. Farmers can already make contract about price of their upcoming crops with companies. Economic benefit of farmers will increase. There are 86% small farmers in the country who have less than 5 hectares of arable land. This decision will provide economic benefits to these small farmers. Now the middlemen will be eliminated and the farmer can sell produce directly in the market.
The third bill is the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce Bill 2020, under which a clear provision has been made that traders can buy agricultural produce directly from the farmers and farmers can sell their agricultural produce directly to the traders if they wish. Farmers can also buy and sell agricultural produce within their state and also outside the state. The government is going to promote e-mandi and e-business for farmers. Farmers can get a big market without marketing. The marketing expenses of farmers will also be saved.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also assured in his tweet that the 3 Bills that have been passed are historic. Their provisions will benefit the farmers. Farmers will get rid of middlemen. The agriculture sector will improve. Farmers will be able to sell their produce easily and outside the state. Modern technology will be used in agriculture and our farmers will be empowered.
All three bills have been made keeping in mind the interests of farmers. Due to the farmer oriented provisions of the three Bills, there will be no black marketing in the country. There is no threat to MSP. Hoarding will not be possible. Industrialists are not going to have any control over farming. There was a discussion about similar agricultural bills in the Congress manifesto. Farmers should not be confused. Farmers should not believe on opposing parties. The government's move to benefit farmers and make them self-reliant should be welcomed. these bills are historical.
The author is columnist. thinker, economic, political and social analyst
