Centre introduces five-year plan to buy maize and pulses from farmers at MSP: Piyush Goyal

On Sunday, a group of Union Ministers convened for the fourth round of discussions with the leaders of the farmers’ protest in Chandigarh during which Union Minister Piyush Goyal, along with Arjun Munda, the Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, and Nityanand Rai, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, proposed a five-year plan to purchase pulses, maize, and cotton crops from the farmers at minimum support prices (MSP) after the late-night meeting.

Farmers’ feedback

The leaders of the farmers stated that they would deliberate on the government’s proposal in their respective forums over the next two days before deciding on the next steps.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of a protest by farmers who were stationed at the Punjab-Haryana border, demanding a legal guarantee for MSP among other things. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was also present at the meeting.

Goyal stated that an “innovative” and “out-of-the-box” idea was discussed during the four-hour meeting, and that the farm leaders would make a decision on the proposal by Monday morning.

Goyal mentioned that cooperative societies like the NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers Federation) and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) would enter into a contract with farmers who cultivate ‘tur dal’, ‘urad dal’, ‘masoor dal’, or maize to purchase their crops at MSP for the next five years.

The Minister of Commerce and Industry stated that there would be no limit on the quantity purchased and that a portal would be developed for this purpose.

Goyal suggested that the proposal would preserve Punjab’s agriculture, enhance the groundwater table, and prevent the already stressed land from becoming barren.

The Union Minister noted that the farmers expressed a desire to diversify into maize crops, but they wanted to avoid losses when prices fall below the MSP.

Goyal highlighted the steps taken by the Narendra Modi-led government in the agricultural sector and stated that from 2014 to 2024, the Centre purchased crops worth Rs 18 lakh crore at MSP, while between 2004 and 2014, crops worth only Rs 5.50 lakh crore were procured at the guaranteed price.

The Minister of Commerce and Industry stated that if the farmer leaders make a decision on the government’s proposal by Monday, they would proceed to hold discussions along the same lines and urged the farmers to end their protest.

However, he emphasized that the farmers’ other demands were “deep and policy-driven” and that it was not possible to find a solution without a thorough discussion.

“Elections are approaching, and a new government will be formed… discussions on such issues will continue,” Goyal added.

During the meeting, discussions on issues such as a law on MSP, the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission, and loan waivers were held, according to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

“We will discuss in our forums on February 19-20 and take the opinion of experts regarding it and accordingly take a decision,” another farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said.

A discussion on loan waivers and other demands is pending, and we hope that these will be resolved in the next two days, Pandher said. He said that the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march is currently on hold, adding that it will resume at 11 am on February 21 if all the issues are not resolved.

Punjab CM advocated for implementation of legal MSP

Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Minister advocated for a legal MSP for crops to protect the interests of the farmers. During the discussion, Mann raised the issue of the import of pulses from Mozambique and Columbia.

The import is more than USD 2 billion, Mann said, adding that if MSP is given for this crop then Punjab can lead the nation in pulses production. It will be a second green revolution, he said.

The Punjab CM also said the farmers of the state can adopt cotton and maize only if they get a guaranteed MSP for these crops. Mann stressed that the assured marketing of these crops can motivate the farmers to further diversify into crops.

Mann participated in the meeting as a representative of the farmers and said that the final decision has to be taken by the stakeholders. Peace, and law and order must be maintained by all means during the protest, he added.

Last week, farmers from Punjab began their march to the national capital. However, they were stopped by security personnel at Shambhu and Khanauri points on Punjab’s border with Haryana as they continued to press the Centre to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP on crops.

The farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Additionally, their demands include reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.”

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