THE NEWS FREEDOM
CHANDIGARH, FEBRUARY 18
The Central government presented its plan to introduce Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for pulses, maize, and cotton during a meeting with farmer leaders in Chandigarh. Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced the offer after marathon talks that ran past midnight, saying the cooperatives such as National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) would enter five-year contracts with farmers. “Under the plan, the cooperatives would procure produce at government-set minimum support prices (MSPs) without any quantity limits,” Goyal said. Goyal stated that the government has committed to purchasing arhar, tur, urad, cotton, and maize at a guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP).
He added that farmers’ unions are expected to respond by Tuesday morning, with further discussions planned. The proposal comes in the fourth round of negotiations to resolve a standoff.
Goyal hailed the “positive atmosphere” of the talks and highlighted government welfare initiatives, key farmer demands – including a guaranteed MSP law for 23 crops, debt relief, and withdrawal of cases linked to the protests – remain sticking points. He further said that during the meeting, the farmers stressed the need for crop diversification amid the depleting water table.
The fourth round of discussions between Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal, and Nityanand Rai, along with a delegation of farmers and labor union representatives, began at 8:30 pm on February 18 and concluded with a new proposal for farmers around 1 am on February 19. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was also in attendance.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh advocated for ensuring the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for alternative crops to protect farmers’ interests. Speaking to the media after a meeting attended by Union ministers and representatives of various farmer unions, the Chief Minister highlighted the import of pulses from Mozambique and Columbia, amounting to over Rs 2 billion dollars. He stressed that providing MSP for these crops could position Punjab as a leader in pulse production, potentially catalyzing a second green revolution in the country. However, he also cautioned against the adverse effects of overexploitation of fertile soil and water, which Punjab had experienced during the previous green revolution.
ਕਿਸੇ ਜ਼ਮਾਨੇ 'ਚ ਸੰਗਰੂਰ ਤੋਂ ਅਬੋਹਰ ਤੱਕ Cotton Belt ਹੁੰਦੀ ਸੀ…ਚਿੱਟੀ ਮੱਖੀ ਤੇ ਗੁਲਾਬੀ ਸੁੰਡੀ ਕਰਕੇ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਨਰਮੇ ਤੇ ਕਪਾਹ ਦੀ ਫ਼ਸਲ ਤੋਂ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ ਉੱਠ ਗਿਆ…ਇਹਨਾਂ ਫ਼ਸਲਾਂ ਦੀ ਖ਼ਰੀਦ 'ਤੇ ਵੀ MSP ਦੀ ਗਾਰੰਟੀ ਦੀ ਪੇਸ਼ਕਸ਼ ਰੱਖੀ ਗਈ.. pic.twitter.com/sYhfOj3nzo
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) February 18, 2024
Sarvan Singh Pandher, General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, said, “We will deliberate on the government’s proposal and gather opinions on it. A decision will be reached by either this morning, evening or the following day.” The ministers have indicated their intention to address other demands upon their return to Delhi, scheduling discussions for February 19-20. The fate of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march slated for February 21 hinges on the outcomes of these deliberations. Pandher expressed optimism, affirming, “Together, both the government and the farmers’ union will endeavor to resolve these issues.”
SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said that the government has presented a proposal ensuring MSP for pulses, maize, and cotton, to be overseen by two government agencies.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Samyukta Kisan Morcha has announced plans to gherao the residences of BJP leaders in Punjab for three consecutive days starting from Tuesday. This move aims to exert pressure on the Centre to accede to the farmers’ demands, including a legal assurance for minimum support price on crops. Several farmer groups affiliated with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) have rallied behind the “Delhi Chalo” initiative, jointly called by the SKM (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Internet services in Patiala, Bathinda, Muktsar, Mansa, Sangrur, and Fatehgarh Sahib districts of Punjab have been suspended till February 24 by the Central Government on Sunday.