Amid farm bills row, Centre goes for early procurement of paddy in Haryana, Punjab

Amid farmer discontent in Punjab and Haryana over reformist farm sector bills cleared by Parliament, Modi government has anunced early procurement operations for pdy/rice from two states at Minimum Support Price (MSP). 

This year's Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) for pdy is scheduled to commence in all procuring States from October 1 and State Procuring ncies including Food Corporation of India (FCI) are rey for smoothly undertaking procurement operations.

However, Centre citing early arrival of pdy in mandies of Haryana and Punjab has approved commencement of procurement operations for pdy/rice immediately in both se States from September 26 "to ensure that farmers are facilitated in selling ir produce at Minimum Support Price (MSP) expeditiously,"  Ministry of Consumer Affairs said in a statement on Saturday.

Orders for immediate commencement of procurement operations for pdy in Haryana and Punjab have been issued, it said.

This comes days after  Modi government approved a hike in  MSPs for all mandated Rabi crops for marketing season 2021-22 in line with recommendations of Swaminathan Commission. decision was taken in  Cabinet Committee on Ecomic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. 

Making anuncement in Lok Sabha after  CCEA meeting, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said support price for wheat has been increased by Rs 50 to take it to Rs 1,975 a quintal for coming Rabi season. 

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Farmers in Punjab, Haryana go for strike

Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, Farmers' Produce Tre and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill were passed by Parliament earlier this week and w await presidential assent.

Farmers on Friday began ir protest as part of 'Punjab Bandh' call against contentious farm bills. As many as 31 farmer organisations, under aegis of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), joined hands for complete shutdown of Punjab. Among farmers' unions supported bandh call included Bharti Kisan Union Krantikari, Kirti Kisan Union, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, and BKU (Lakhowal). 

Several organisations in Haryana, including BKU, also extended support to nationwide strike called by some farmers' bodies against bills. Farmers at several places in state started garing at ros for stopping movement of traffic.

Women protesters under banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee in Amritsar took out a protest march. Shops and commercial establishments at many places in Punjab remained shut on Thursday morning in wake of farmers' stir.

Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee on Friday anunced it will extend its 'rail roko' agitation in Punjab against Farm Bills till September 29.  'rail roko' agitation h started on September 24 and was scheduled to end on September 26.  three-day agitation forced  railway authorities to suspend operation of special passenger trains in state.

PM says farm bills to benefit small, marginal farmers most

Amid protest, PM Modi assured small and marginal farmers, who constitute 85 percent of peasant community, will benefit most from farm reforms which he said will give m an option to sell ir produce outside ir local agriculture mandis for a better price. PM also hit out at Opposition for its attack on his government over farm bills issue and said those who always 'lied' to farmers are w 'shooting from ir shoulders' and misleing m for ir own political benefit.

dressing BJP leers on Friday, PM Modi asked m to reach out to farmers on ground and inform m about details and benefits of new agriculture reforms and how se will empower m. BJP's ground connect will finish off propaganda being spre about reforms, he said.

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