Agricultural Reforms Will Pave The Path For An Atmnirbhar Bharat

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As nation is moving forward with fast pace under the dynamic and charismatic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, almost every sector of the economy is experiencing transformation with crucial reforms revolutionizing every sphere of life. While the recent agricultural reforms have been welcomed in the entire country, some confusion created by certain vested interests have led a section of farming community to raise objections on few points. While the government is trying to convince this section by addressing their concerns, attempts are being made to politicise the process and block the dialogue process by raising intransigent demands. It is to be noted that any demand raised by keeping ulterior motives in mind has always failed in getting people’s support in the country.

The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Bill, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and, Essential Commodities (Amendments) Bill, 2020 are the three laws which were demanded by various stakeholders to reform the agricultural sector in the country. These reforms were discussed for long in the country and various farmer leaders, experts, political parties have been advocating these steps on various forums from time to time. The passing of these laws have set the farmers free from the decades of bondage as now they can sell their farm produce to the buyers of their choice.

Not only this, farmers are also free to sell their produce anywhere in the country. These laws have not only freed the farmers and gave them access to competitive market which can get them remunerative prices but also paved the path for modernisation of the agriculture sector with new technology, marketing and food processing infrastructure while involving them with trading and export activities. These are the reforms which will not only benefit the farmers immediately but empower them in the longer run as a strong component of Indian economy.

No one can deny the fact that the Modi government is the first government in India which has taken so many pro-farmer, rural-centric and agriculture friendly initiatives in the country. It is for the first time in the history of India that MSP has been fixed at one and half times more than the cost of production. Not only this, while the MSP has been continuously increased, it has been announced for many new crops and procurement has been historically high in the last six years creating many records in the country. It is for the first time in the history of India that with the introduction of neem coated urea now the farmers are not compelled to wait in long queues and buy urea in black markets. The crop insurance scheme introduced by Modi government has given an immense sense of security to the farmers. Under the PM-KISAN, for the first time the farmers were given cash support through direct transfer of more than Rs. one lakh crore to their accounts till now. In addition to these, allied activities like fisheries, horticulture and dairy have received huge boost in a bid to increase farmers’ income. The pro-farmer and pro-agriculture works of Modi government are so numerous that it may take volumes to elaborate on them in detail.

The Modi government is committed to the doubling of farmers’ income, modernise agriculture and revolutionise the rural sector. It is highly unfortunate that certain vested interests in the existing system have tried to create confusion and mislead the farmers on ground of some baseless apprehensions to scuttle the reform process. But as the efforts are being made to address those confusions, concerns and apprehensions, the agitating farmers will very soon realise the necessity of these laws and support the agricultural reforms wholeheartedly. As the entire nation is supporting reforms in every sector, the agricultural reforms will pave the path for an Atmnirbhar Bharat building a ‘New India’ of 21st century.

            shivshaktibakshi@kamalsandesh.org