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With new farm Acts trying reforms in lots of key areas of agriculture, farmers look like confused about their actual influence and nervous about future
The NDA authorities has pushed three farm Bills in each Houses of Parliament, nevertheless it has left the farmers within the State in a state of confusion. They are nervous about their implementation, the liberty to supply and promote merchandise of their selection, the position of company firms within the farming sector and most significantly, they really feel that the legal guidelines lack readability.
“It may be good, but since there is a lack of clarity in many aspects, we are confused a lot,” says Thota Appalanarasaiah, a small farmer in Chodavaram mandal of Visakhapatnam district.
Primarily, many farmers really feel that the modification to the Essential Commodities Act would possibly have an effect on their farming prospects and their selection of crop.
“The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act will hurt farmers, especially small farmers, and the safeguards provided by the original Act, will be removed,” CPI(M) State Secretariat Member Ch. Narasinga Rao tells The Hindu.
The Act was introduced in by Parliament after studying a lesson from the Bengal famine of 1943. It ensured some safeguards and helped governments to get rid of hoarding and black advertising of sure commodities, he says.
Mandis out
The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act abolishes the previous idea of market yards or mandis.
In India, over 86% are small and medium farmers whose land holdings fluctuate from one to 5 acres.
N. Apparao, a sugarcane farmer from Anakapalle space of Visakhapatnam district, who produces jaggery, says, “Now there is a market yard and we negotiate on our terms and sell the product. But if it is shut then where do we go?”
“Jaggery is a small product compared to other produce such as wheat or paddy. But still, there is a yard and it benefits small farmers. The price is set in the yard in a democratic way and it is regulated, as per the demand and supply,” remarks Konathala Lakshminarayana, president of the Anakapalle Merchants’ Association.
According to {K}. Narayana, CPI nationwide secretary, in market yards there’s a safety worth fastened by the federal government and yard administration. “If there is any mismanagement in pricing, there is scope for a dialogue and it may even lead to an agitation. If market yards are closed, everything goes into the hands of corporate companies. For a small farmer from Uttarandhra or Kurnool, it is not possible to go to Delhi to sell his products,” he explains.
One-sided offers?
Many farmers additionally really feel that their selection of produce and pricing could also be dictated by the third laws, the Farmers (Empowerment and safety) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act.
“As per this Act, we get to understand that we have to get into a prior agreement on prices and services. Till now we have been negotiating with the government and it is fairly democratic, but with corporate companies, will it be possible, considering our level of understanding?” wonders Ch. Nageswara Rao, a small farmer from Narsipatnam.
“Corporate companies will dictate what is to be grown and at what price it is to be sold. The companies will look for produce that has more export value rather than what is required. Instead of a green revolution, it may lead to food scarcity. This happened in Latin American countries when corporates got staple crops replaced to produce food required for animals in the U.S.,” says Mr. Narasinga Rao.
“Farmers will lose independence and small, independent farmers will become tenant farmers as it happened in Bengal during the colonial rule,” feels Mr. Narayana.
Implementation holds key
However, one other part feels that regardless of their lacunae the farm legislations could also be useful if carried out correctly.
“Everything depends on its implementation,” says M.V.S. Nagi Reddy, vice-chairman of the AP State Agriculture Mission. The entry of company firms is a welcome transfer, however the governments ought to have management over pricing, merchandise, space of cultivation and analysis, he opines.
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