Farmers Protest 2024: Reason, Farmers Demand & Govt Proposal

The 2024 Indian farmers protest, which began on the morning of 13 February 2024, is a continuation of the farmers' demands for guaranteed floor prices

Farmers Protest 2024

The 2024 Indian farmers protest, which began on the morning of 13 February 2024, is a continuation of the farmers' demands for guaranteed floor prices or Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops, echoing the significant protests of 2020-2021. 

Farmers have gathered at various border points, attempting to march toward the National Capital Region (NCR) of New Delhi. This mobilization follows unsuccessful negotiations between farmer leaders and government officials on 12 February, which extended into the late hours without reaching a satisfactory conclusion for the farmers. 

Farmers Protest Reason 2024

More than two years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took back some controversial farming laws that had started big protests, farmers are protesting again. Tens of thousands of farmers had camped outside the capital city through a very cold winter and a terrible COVID-19 outbreak because of these laws. Farmers are also pressing the government to meet its promise to double their income and legalize the MSP.

Sources: Aljazzera

Farmers Protest Demands List

Farmers protest in 2024 are asking for the following demands:

Financial Security:

Pension for Older Farmers: Farmers over 60 years old want a monthly pension of ₹10,000.

Minimum Wages for Farm Work: They want a set daily pay of ₹700 for farm work under a government job scheme, with a promise of work for 200 days a year.

Better Connection with Agro-Industry: Farmers wish to work more closely with the agricultural industry to avoid middlemen and sell their products directly for fair prices. They want to form groups that give them the power to negotiate better deals.

Market Support:

Guaranteed Minimum Prices: A key demand is a law that ensures a minimum price for all crops they grow. This would help them get a stable income.

Follow Expert Committee's Advice: They want the government to implement suggestions from a special committee formed in 2006, aimed at improving farmers' lives and income through better farming methods, investments, and market changes.

Pensions, Loan Forgiveness, and Leaving the World Trade Organization: They are asking for retirement money, the government to cancel their debts, and for India to exit an international trade group.

Other Requests:

Drop Charges from Previous Protests: They want the government to forget about the legal actions taken against them during the 2020-21 protests.

Justice for an Incident of Violence: They are seeking justice for a violent event that happened in a place called Lakhimpur Kheri.

More Profit: They want a guarantee that they will earn at least 50% more than what it costs them to grow their crops.

Double Income: The farmers are reminding the government of its promise to double their incomes since they say their costs have gone up but their earnings haven't, making farming not profitable.

Farmers are calling for the establishment of a legal framework to ensure a minimum support price (MSP), providing a crucial financial safeguard for them. They believe that a legally guaranteed MSP would help secure their profit margins. 

Additionally, they are requesting the dismissal of charges filed against them during the previous protests in 2020-21. Their demands extend to seeking pensions for farmers, forgiveness of loans, and exiting the World Trade Organization. 

They are urging the government to fulfill its pledge to double their incomes, highlighting the disparity between rising farming costs and stagnant incomes, which has rendered agriculture unprofitable. Moreover, they demand that the government guarantees a minimum profit of 50 percent above their production costs.

The protesters are also demanding debt relief and restraints on the privatization of the power industry.

Sources: 

• AlJazeera
• Economic Times , Economic Times
• Hindustan Times

Swaminathan Commission Report

The Swaminathan Commission Report refers to the findings and recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers (NCF), chaired by Professor M.S. Swaminathan, a prominent agricultural scientist. The Indian government constituted the NCF in 2004 to address the widespread concerns regarding the agricultural sector, especially the distress among farmers, and to suggest solutions to ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of farming as a profession.

The commission submitted a series of five reports between December 2004 and October 2006, covering a broad spectrum of issues related to agriculture, including land reforms, irrigation, credit and insurance, food security, employment, productivity, and the prevention of farmer suicides.

Key recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission Report include:

Implementation of Land Reforms: The commission emphasized the importance of addressing land ownership issues and ensuring access to land for tenant farmers.

Enhancing Irrigation and Water Management: It suggested expanding irrigation coverage and improving the efficiency of water use through technologies and practices like rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation.

Credit and Insurance: To alleviate the financial burden on farmers, the commission recommended expanding access to credit at lower interest rates and improving insurance coverage to protect against crop failure.

Minimum Support Price (MSP): One of the most notable recommendations was to fix the MSP for crops at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production, aiming to ensure a reasonable profit margin for farmers.

READ: Minimum Support Price (MSP) - Explained

Food Security: The commission proposed measures to achieve food security not only at the national level but also at the household level, through increased production, proper storage, and distribution mechanisms.

Prevention of Farmer Suicides: Addressing the distressing trend of farmer suicides, the commission recommended comprehensive support systems, including psychological counseling and financial assistance.

Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture: It advocated for the adoption of sustainable farming practices that would improve productivity without degrading the environment, including the use of organic farming techniques.

Development of Rural Infrastructure: The commission stressed the importance of improving rural infrastructure, like roads and markets, to facilitate better access to markets and reduce post-harvest losses.

Despite the broad acceptance of its principles and recommendations, the full implementation of the Swaminathan Commission Report has been a matter of ongoing debate and demand among various farmer groups and activists in India. They argue that the full realization of the report's recommendations is crucial for alleviating farmer distress and ensuring the long-term sustainability of agriculture in India.

Reference: Economic Times

Govt Proposal on Farmers Protest 2024

The government talked with farmers and suggested a 5-year plan to buy pulses and maize at a guaranteed price, called Minimum Support Price (MSP). This MSP helps farmers by promising them a certain price for their crops, so they don't lose money if market prices go down. 

The plan is to buy a certain amount of pulses and maize at this set price for the next five years. This is important because it helps keep prices stable, stops middlemen from taking advantage of farmers, and supports the farming of these important crops. The goal is to give farmers a reliable way to sell their crops at a fair price, encouraging them to keep growing pulses and maize, which helps with the country's food supply.