India Extends Support Prices on Crops to Protesting Farmers
Published on: February 19, 2024.
Filed under:
Framers in India Protest for Higher Prices, Indian Government Offers Guaranteed Support Prices
Farmers in India have been protesting for higher prices for nearly two dozen crops, and the Indian government has responded by offering guaranteed support prices for pulses, corn, and cotton. The Trade Minister, Piyush Goyal, stated that the government proposed five-year contracts for minimum support prices (MSPs) to farmers who diversify their crops by growing cotton, pigeon peas, black matpe, red lentils, and corn. These prices would be paid by co-operative groups promoted by the government.
The proposal aims to address the demands of the farmers and resolve the deadlock that has led to clashes between security forces and protesters. Tear gas and barricades were used to deter the farmers, who are an influential voting bloc, ahead of a general election. The government’s offer of support prices is an attempt to appease the farmers and gain their support ahead of the upcoming election.
However, farm analysts argue that the government has not fully addressed the demands of the farmers. The farmers have been calling for a legal guarantee for MSPs, but the government’s proposal falls short of this demand. The proposed solutions diverge significantly from what the farmers have advocated for, raising concerns about the government’s seriousness regarding the whole issue.
One potential benefit of the proposed contracts is that they could encourage farmers to switch to growing pulses instead of rice and wheat, which require more water. This would help combat the depleting water table in the country and reduce the need for pulse imports. India is currently the world’s largest importer of pulses and has struggled to control the rising prices of pigeon peas and black matpe.
The government’s announcement of support prices for these crops and the potential diversification of crops could have a significant impact on the agriculture sector in India. It remains to be seen how the farmers’ unions will respond to the proposal and whether they will reach a consensus among themselves. The outcome of these negotiations will shape the future of agriculture in India and the livelihoods of millions of farmers.
Source: [Tribune.com.pk](https://tribune.com.pk) (opens in a new window)
