NEW DELHI — Following protests by a majority of the country’s farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Friday that the union government has chosen to repeal the three agricultural laws approved in Parliament in 2020.
The statement came only months before Assembly elections in five states, including Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, where agriculture regulations are being challenged.
“I’ve come to inform you, the entire country, that we’ve chosen to repeal all three agriculture laws. We will conclude the constitutional process to abolish these three agricultural laws in the Parliament session commencing later this month,” the Prime Minister stated in a televised speech.
Despite the Centre’s continuing attempts to break the logjam, a segment of farmers in Punjab and Haryana, as well as some areas of Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting for the last one year, demanding the repeal of the three agricultural laws.
The government held multiple rounds of talks with protesting farmers’ representatives, attempting to highlight the benefits that the government provided to small farmers, but the protesters were adamant in their demand for the repeal of all three laws: the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020, all of which were passed in 2020.
PM Modi said in his address to the nation that despite the government’s intentions to strengthen and empower farmers, particularly those with small land holdings, many of them were sceptical of the laws’ benefits, and as a result, the government has decided to begin the process of repealing all three laws.
The legislation were intended to assist farmers, according to the prime minister, but “despite our best efforts,” they could not persuade them.
He said the contentious laws were enacted with the goal of providing the country’s farmers greater power and higher pricing for their crops, as well as more alternatives for selling their goods.
“There has been a desire from farmers, agri-scientists, and professionals for years. This has also been explored by a number of administrations… This time, too, there was a discussion in Parliament, and these measures were passed,” the Prime Minister explained.
He emphasised that while many farmers, agricultural organisations, and unions welcomed and supported the legislation, the government, despite its best efforts, was unable to persuade a segment of farmers who did not grasp the laws’ advantages.
Modi also stated that the government has made another significant move in the agriculture sector, specifically, promoting zero-budget farming.
According to him, modifying the crop pattern scientifically would be done while keeping the country’s needs in mind. He also stated that the minimum support price (MSP) will be improved and made more transparent, and that a committee will be formed to make judgments on all matters pertaining to the problem. The Central government, state governments, farmers, agricultural experts, and agricultural economists will all be represented on the committee.
