In a step uncharacteristic of the Modi government, the three farm bills that were enacted almost a year ago were taken back in November. Repealing the farm bills has ended the protest that had held Delhi hostage for almost a year. However, the government has now hinted towards the return of the farm laws.
Farm laws could be brought back
Interacting with the media at the inauguration of the agricultural industry exhibition, Agrovision, Maharashtra Nagpur, Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday told that the repeal of agriculture reform laws could not deject the government. He indicated that the laws repealed last month in the aftermath of protests by the farmers could be brought back in the future.
He asserted, “We brought agriculture amendment laws. But some people did not like these laws, which were a big reform brought about 70 years after Independence under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.”
“But the government is not disappointed. We moved a step back, and we will move forward again because farmers are India’s backbone. And if the backbone is strengthened the country will definitely get strong,” he added.
Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced repealing of three farm laws, both Houses of Parliament passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021, on November 29 to call off the laws enacted in September 2020 to liberalise the trade of farm produce.
Read more: PM Modi announces that the three farm laws will be repealed. Shameful retreat or tactical move?
Government’s plan for the development of the agriculture sector
The Union minister also remarked that the agriculture sector needs a huge investment. He said, “The agriculture sector, despite being so big, did not receive this kind of opportunity. Today this sector receives most of the investment through government programmes… Through government purchase (of farm produce), subsidy on fertilisers, seeds and pesticides and other policies.”
He also told that “You don’t find warehouses and cold storages in villages… Hence prime minister Modi has announced infrastructure investment of ₹1 lakh crore as well as investment in allied sectors like animal husbandry, food processing, fisheries, herbal farming, altogether adding up to ₹1.5 lakh crore.”
Farm laws for the betterment of farmers
However, as far as the content of the bill is concerned, not a single decision was going to hurt the farmers. The first and third bills were set to give better price realisation for agricultural production while the third would have enabled private investment in agricultural infrastructure. None of the bills were going to impact the agricultural subsidies that the Modi government gives to the farmers. The Modi government has only increased the subsidies on fertilizer, seed (input) as well as the MSP (output) in the last seven years.
Farm laws, if not repealed, could have benefitted the farmers.