On 13th February 2024 thousands (about 3 and a half weeks) of farmers from all over India, led by groups such as Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political), started a determined march towards the Indian capital, Delhi. This was because they wanted their demands met which included legal guarantee to buy crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP) and comprehensive farm loan waiver.
The Journey and the Standoff
The march began with mostly Punjabi farmers who were in a huge convoy of tractor-trolleys heading for Delhi. However, their progress was barred at the Haryana-Punjab border where the Haryana government had put up tight security measures. Farmers were not allowed to proceed through due to multi-layer barricades, iron nails, barbed wires and anti-riot vehicles deployed to stop them. Nevertheless, this did not deter some stubborn ones who tried pushing through, but it resulted in the use of tear gas and water cannons by the police.
Currently there is a standoff with the farmers camping at different points along the Haryana border ready to resume their march towards Delhi.
The Core Demands
At its core, this protest involves many farmers who are demanding that MSP should be legally guaranteed for all crops. MSP has a minimum profit margin below which the government promises to procure agricultural produce from farmers. Today MSPs are declared for 22 crops including grains, pulses and oilseeds. Despite that knowledge however, studies show only a few small-scale farmers benefit from MSPs. They argue that without any legal guarantee they are subjected to market fluctuations thus private buyers can exploit them whenever possible.
Apart from fixing MSP rate for diverse ranges of farm products like rice, maize etc., debt relief or loan waivers are among other main demands by these peasants whereas numerous numbers of farmer suicides have been recorded across India in this context. Additional requirements consist of monthly pension payments for farmers and farm workers aged 58 years upwards, revocation of the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 and re-introduction of Land Acquisition Act 2013 to ensure fair compensation for land acquisitions.
Failed Negotiations
There have been four meetings between the Union government and farm leaders, but no specific agreement has been reached yet. In its most recent session on February 18, the government suggested it would procure five major crops – maize, pigeon peas, black gram, cotton, and lentils – at MSP over five years through contractual arrangements. The farmers, however, rejected this offer which they felt was too unclear and contractual in nature with the MSP calculation.
According to Sarwan Singh Pandher, coordinator with Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, what was presented during that meeting was not what Ministers revealed to the media immediately after. Farmers want transparency in these talks, especially about how MSP will be calculated whether based on A2+FL method (input cost and family labour) or C2 method (input cost and rent of land plus 50%).
Government’s Stance
The Union Government has always maintained that having a guaranteed MSP law is not practical. Arjun Munda, who is the Union Agriculture Minister, said making such a binding law would entail comprehensive review from all angles including financial implications as well as market influence. The refusal by the Government to commit itself to an assured MSP has intensified suspicions among farmers.
The Historical Context
The ongoing rallies resemble a year-long farmers’ protest during 2020-21 that took place at different locations in the surroundings of Delhi. In then, peasants were calling for the elimination of three controversial farm laws – Farm Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2021, and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act. These legislations which are viewed as harmful to the farming community were finally repealed in 2021. Moreover, one of the major demands during this agitation was for a guaranteed MSP.
A Broader Movement
These protests are not limited to Punjab only. Even though northern India has been most affected by this move, it has also seen some presence in central India while farmers from other states have also shown support. There are plans to escalate these protests through tractor marches, effigy burnings and rail-roko by farmer groups from southern as well as western India India has also made moves to join the movement.
The protests remind; of the past and agitate for several issues which have refused to go away in India’s agricultural sector. However, despite several assurances by the government that it is addressing these concerns, farmers are saying that the progress is slow and inadequate.
What Next?
However, as the impasse drags on, the farmers keep demanding nothing else or anything less. They are willing to start from where they had stopped their march towards Delhi, camping at Haryana border until they are listened to. Meanwhile, for instance, the Government must balance between ensuring MSP and its attendant financial implications with immediate need to address farmer grievances.
Therefore, this initiative underscores one critical thing-India needs more inclusive and transparent dialogue between the government and farmers. The nation watches while farmers fight for their rights with the hope that there will be an end soon which will bring an everlasting relief to people who feed this country.