Over the weekend, farmers in northern India encountered police resistance as they aimed to advance towards New Delhi. The confrontation is part of a sustained movement seeking governmental assurances on crop prices. In an attempt to cross into Haryana from Punjab at the Shambhu border, farmers faced tear gas and water cannons, resulting in eight reported injuries.
Authorities have heightened security measures and disrupted internet services in Haryana to curb misinformation spread. The events mirror the large-scale protests against farm laws in 2020 and 2021, which led to the withdrawal of three bills intended to reform India's agricultural sector. Farmers had argued that these bills would favor large corporations in setting crop prices, threatening their earnings. A central demand from the farmers has been a legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for key crops, aimed at safeguarding against price drops.
Following the withdrawal of the controversial laws, the Indian government promised to establish an advisory panel to discuss ways to ensure minimum crop prices. Despite this, farmers express dissatisfaction with the government's efforts, citing unproductive meetings. The farmers' demands have expanded to include a farm debt waiver, pensions, and stable electricity tariffs. In response, Indian Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced fixed MSPs intended to provide at least 50% returns to farmers on their produce, a move yet to meet the farmers' expectations.
Experts argue that addressing farmers' income security requires broader agrarian reforms, including enhancing the MSP scope and improving procurement processes. The farmers, halted by police on their march towards Delhi, are strategizing their next steps, buoyed by the Supreme Court's refusal to disband their assembly. Agriculture remains a vital sector in India, employing a substantial portion of the population and contributing significantly to the GDP. The sector's challenges include ensuring income for smallholders, who are particularly vulnerable to climate risks and rely heavily on rain-fed agriculture.
As the standoff continues, both the government and farmer groups are recalibrating their approaches, with the farmers' protests garnering public sympathy and highlighting the sector's systemic issues.
Source: DW