The century-old movement by Bhagat Singh’s uncle was against unjust British efforts to exploit Punjab’s farmers, notes author Amandeep Sandhu's 2019 book Excerpted with permission from Panjab: Journeys Through Fault Lines by Amandeep Sandhu, published by Westland, October 2019 The crisis is not only of Panjab. It is a national agrarian crisis. The reason Panjab is relevant is that this was the original laboratory of the so-called Green Revolution that later spawned the White (milk), Blue (fish), Golden (honey and fruits), Pink (onion), Silver (eggs), Red (meat and tomato),
Haryana hurdle: Paddy procurement season on, but farmers have no buyers
Crop moisture to logistics, government officials rejecting paddy, claimed farmers An unusual scene has been playing out in agricultural produce market committee (APMC) mandis in Haryana for the last few days: Freshly cut paddy crop enters the mandis in hoards, but little leaves the yards. The Haryana government had announced direct procurement of paddy crop from farmers at minimum support price (MSP) September 27, 2020 onwards, but the plan has hassled Arthiyas (commission agents), rice-millers and farmers. Arthiyas and rice millers have been on strike at several mandis to
Field Report: Farmers protest against unjust agri Bills passed by Parliament
Various farmer unions came together September 25, 2020, to hold countrywide protests against the three agriculture bills passed by the monsoon session of Parliament with much haste and amid a lot of drama in the Rajya Sabha. The three bills — Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill 2020, the Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill — have been opposed by farmers and opposition parties. Protests took place September 25 in Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Kerala. Several important highways
Simply put: What’s essential for farmers
PM Modi says farm bills to benefit small, marginal farmers most, attacks Oppn
The Congress along with many other opposition parties has claimed that the bills will harm the interest of farmers and benefit corporates. Hitting out at the Opposition at its attack on his government over the farm bills issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that those who always “lied” to farmers are now “shooting from their shoulders” and misleading them for their own political benefit. Addressing BJP leaders and workers on the birth anniversary of party’s ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay, Modi asked them to reach out to farmers on the ground and inform them about details and benefits of the new agriculture reforms and how these will empower them. Our ground connect will finish off the propaganda being spread
India’s agrarian distress: A paradigm shift
India’s agrarian distress: Is farming a dying occupation
Farmers across the globe are quitting their business, while the rural youth population is increasing. Who will grow our food? In 2019, the world started talking about a structural crisis impacting the planet’s most critical job —food production. The world’s food demand is rising but the number of people quitting, or not joining, farming is consistently growing. This raises an existential question: who will produce the food? In 2016, the average age of an Indian farmer was 50.1 years, according to the Input Survey 2011-12 (released
Simply Put: Farm Bill 2020
Farm Bills | Government should bring in another Bill or amend current one, says RSS-affiliate SJM
Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM), which is affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has termed the three Farm Bills cleared by both Houses of Parliament amid much protest by the Opposition as good in intent, but that certain changes should be made to the Bills in order to offer protection to Indian farmers. Both Houses of Parliament cleared the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020; and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, but the Bills have evoked protest from the Opposition and farmers’ groups. Explainer | Why are the Agriculture Bills being opposedSpeaking to The Hindu, SJM national co-convenor Ashwani Mahajan
Early impact of farm Bills likely as kharif marketing season begins
65% jump in food business registrations due to reforms, says Agri Secy. As the furore over the farm Bills moves out of Parliament and continues on the streets with ongoing farmer protests, major kharif crops are set to come to market in a few weeks. This could provide early indicators of the impact of the controversial reforms, which have, in fact, been in force since the ordinances were issued in June. Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal says there has been a 65% year-on-year jump in registration applications for new food businesses, indicating that private players are eager to invest in agri business and the rural economy as a result of the reforms.Other farmer leaders and economists say that while some traders