The core issue is the minimum support price which works as a shield to farmers’ crop production against fluctuating market rates, offering stability and income security
After a gap of about three years, farmers are back for the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march. Their protest began on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. The Down To Earth (DTE) team travelled with these farmers from the outskirts of Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab till the Shambhu border, 40 kilometres away.
But this is not the first time that Indian farmers are protesting against the central government. About three years ago, similar protests took place at the borders of the national capital.
But what are their demands this time?
The core issue is the MSP or minimum support price. A farmer incurs a certain cost to produce a crop. After cultivation, the farmer will only earn a profit if the selling price is higher than the cost price of that crop. The MSP ensures a farmer with a guaranteed minimum selling price, so that s/he does not incur any losses.
In simpler words, the MSP works as a shield to the farmers’ crop production against fluctuating market rates, offering stability and income security.
Currently, the Centre is announcing MSPs for 23 crops. They consist of seven grains, five pulses, seven oilseeds, and four commercial crops. While MSPs formally guarantee a minimum of 50 per cent return on all cultivation expenditures, this is mostly on paper.
And because MSPs lack legislative authority, farmers cannot demand these as a matter of right. So, these farmers’ unions want the central government to pass legislation which will ensure fair MSP is given to farmers.
The assured prices will also encourage farmers to adopt crop diversification which will save groundwater and reduce stubble burning.
This issue is not limited to India. Farmers from across the globe are also protesting against their respective governments.
DTE recently reported that at least 65 countries, from South America to Australia; from Europe to India; all have protested since January 2023, demanding better support prices and policies.
Today, the farmers cannot make their living by agriculture alone.
Instead, they are at the receiving end of overall economic cycle of India, and they have to bear the brunt of unfair mandi (wholesale market) procurement practices and MSP rates; wildfire, floods and droughts due to climate change; higher production costs due to market fluctuations; private player exploitation; limited subsidies from the government and many more.
The concern remains that will the government accept these demands or again the farmers will be given false assurances, yet again?
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