The many layers to agricultural discontent

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The many layers to agricultural discontent

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• Modi on farm incomes, 2016: PM Modi spoke of "doubling farm incomes by 2022" in a rally in 2016. That promise was repeated several times later by many, and then came the three Farm Bills in 2020. The aim is to (i) liberalise access to agri markets, (ii) removing storage restrictions on produce, and (iii) ease contract-farming. The state's role is being reduced sharply.
• One Nation One Agrimarket: The idea being sold is "One Nation One Agrimarket" but it's more of raising the rank in "Ease of Doing Business" tally. It's strange that laws meant to help farmers are not being accept by farmer bodies, and even Opposition parties in Parliament offered strong resistance (Centre had barely consulted anyone before bringing these Bills). Some states went ahead enacting own laws to nullify the Central Farm Acts! (constitutionally dubious approach)
• A vast nation, different concerns: The farm distress issues are real, and vary from region to region, and crop to crop. 

1. It is clear that farm issues have a deeper impact at State level, than at Central level, and it's the States that ought to respond to farming concerns first (including agricultural marketing)
2. The three Acts impact different strata of farming community differently, with the deepest impact in Punjab and Haryana
3. Farmers there see the weakening of APMC system through new private competition, and final weakening of MSP system for rice and wheat, as a real threat for assured sale at a given price
4. Despite the middlemen not being a saint, farmers are scared of what will happen once the system tumbles (held to ransom by large firms)
5. Farmers hence, see nothing positive emerging from the new Laws, except more uncertainty

• Process of enacting the Bills: The government brought the 3 ordinances in the middle of the pandemic, when no one had asked for them. Then the Bills came in Parliament, with zero scrutiny by any Parliamentary Committee. But farmers have rejected the entire thing, lock stock and barrel. They are aware that their challenges are not being met by these new provisions.
• The 1970s movements: Big leaders like Sharad Joshi, MD Nanjundaswamy, Mahendra Singh Tikait were strong farmer leaders, generally speaking for the better-off farmers, but appealing to entire rural communities. They set up organisations that evolved and broke apart in time.
• Caste and class divide: Many parts of India still have very sharp caste and class divide, and farmer bodies have tried to engage with (not avoid) these class, caste and gender concerns. Not much has changed though. The new farm laws have treated the rural India as one with no voice.
• Rich farmers ahead: The December 2020 agitations are being led by the affluent farmers with large holdings, as they will be hit the hardest. But the truth is that all sections of farmers are suffering from some distress.
• Rich farmers' position: The rich farmers have slowly become strong in rural areas, after the 1970s Green Revolution set in. Their surplus went into agri-businesses, and their economic and institutional strength rose. 

1. The poor farmers are completely under the influence of the richer strata, as they provide them work, jobs and also resources for farming. 
2. The rich farmers are not organised in any manner, except via caste. 
3. Clearly, in any farm agitation now, the small and marginal farmers will stand solidly by the rich farmers only, not the government.

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