1/5: (By Shreepal Singh)
Parliament has passed two laws in 2020 relating to farmers. The first bill is titled “The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020. This Bill is intended to create an ecosystem where the farmers and traders would enjoy the freedom of sale and purchase of farmers’ produce. It will facilitate remunerative prices of farmers’ produce through competitive trading outside the physical markets under various State (agricultural market) legislation. This trading will be a barrier-free, inter-State and intra-State, and on an electronic trading facilitative framework. The second bill is titled, “The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020. Under Section 3 (1) of this proposed law a farmer may enter into a written farming agreement in respect of any farming produce with a “Sponsor” for the purchase a farming produce. How would we evaluate them from the perspective of the benifits to farmers and over all national interest? Let us enumerate them pointwise:
1. The first law is extremely positive for farmers of India. It gives freedom to farmers to trade their produce through out India without any restrictions, which were previously imposed on farmers for the last 73 years. It is very easy to use dedicated electronic platforms (like WhatsApp) to get in touch with store keepers / bulk consumers in cities and towns who buy agricultural produce, negotiate with them about price and sell to them directly – removing the chain of intermediaries. It is a great thing for changing the lives of farmers. By the right given by this law to trade through out India and the electronic facility, the farmer would get better price and slowly would become rich enough to buy their own means of transport to supply their produce to store keepers etc. This is a big step for changing the present wretched condition of farmers, who need MSP (minimum support price) today to survive. This law would change forever the fate of farmers in a positive way. There is no reason for farmers to worry or resort to any agitation to oppose this law.
2. For all this to happen, farmers will have to change themselves with the changing times. Farmers in this countries have been living their time for centuries as if they were “fixed in time”. They were never a trader; they will have to become now trader – not only to survuve but to prosper; traders are rich and farmers are poor because they are not traders. It is time for farmers to come out of their “slumber” of hard work with no profits; if they don’t take initiative to rise to the challenge that a trader always faces, it will be their fault and not of this law. This law gives the freedom and right and it is the farmers who will have to use this freedom and right.
3. The law relating to “agreement” does not make it compulsory for farmers to enter into agreement with a “sponsor”; it gives a freedom to farmers to enter or not to enter into such agreement. A farmer can say – and must say – to an approaching sponsor, “I want to become partner in your trading business – please, if no partnership, no agreement”. It is the right of farmer to so propose a condition for agreement. He should not run for an easy thing – that is, accept money for his produce from a sponsor. If he does so, he will be doomed – after all a sponsor comes for agreement to earn profit as a trading businessman; why should the farmer not do his own trading business – either alone or in partnership with an approaching sponsor?
4. In this way, both these laws are positive for farmers, give them right and freedom and an ocassion to him to rise and change his fate for the better. Modi government needs a congratulation from farmers for enacting these laws.
2/5 (By Vishnu Vardhan)
I was in school when PV Narasimha Rao opened up India to foreign companies and industries.Then there was a huge furore that we will be enslaved by foreign companies like that of East India company once again and we will become Ghulams of foreigners.
Leading the pack who protested were Indian companies like Bajaj who had monopoly on two wheelers and Ambassador which was the only car available and then the usual suspects like Communists (they were still powerful in those days) Workers union leaders and media.
I never understood why we should protest when we are getting Fords Hondas to Indian market as it will create more jobs and give us better cars than those horrible ambassador cars. I was like we should also start growing like China and Korea.
But Dad said we are protesting as we are afraid of unknown. We are content staying poor and malnourished with the so called Hindu Rate of Growth.
The protests went on all 5 years during PVNR rule and he eventually lost after 5 years
Today everyone say he is the man who truly liberated India and today if we are 5 biggest economy it is due to his policies.
Same thing happened when computers came to India. They said it will take away jobs and everything will be controlled by software companies. But today India is software powerhouse and it has created millions of jobs.
Now Agriculture reforms are happening after 74 years of independence. First time farmers will be free of clutches of middle men and dalals
It is middle men who become millionaires in India while farmers are always in debts and the consumers land up paying more and more for food and commercial crops every year
These middle men are so powerful people that they form the back bone of many parties like NCP, Akalis, Punjab congress and many other regional parties.Hence no one tried to tamper with agriculture market reforms. Once when Indira Gandhi was told to control these middlemen she asked Should we stop contesting elections ?
Many of my family members and relatives are in controlling positions in APMCs and they are all crorepatis.Many of my family members and relatives are farmers and I have always seen them only struggle in their lives.
Once I met a famous professor in MIT who was working on National Agriculture market (NAM) in India where Indian govt had asked him to design an AI model to connect all the markets of India. His team worked on it for 2 years and told the govt we can’t create a NAM until we allow farmers to sell in an open market. He told me the same and said in 2018 that Modi Govt if it wins in 2019 will bring in huge agricultural reforms in second term which will double or treble the farmer income and since they make 60 percent of Indian population it will truly transform India
Hence I was rooting for Modi to come back and bring these reforms. These agricultural reform are bigger than what PVNR did in 1991.India will truly become a middle income country as more and more people will get fruits for their labour.
Yes, there are many farmers who are apprehensive.They say MSP will go and hence it is a loss. Govt will continue MSP and mark my words after few years no one will need MSP as farmers will be selling to the best market and making more money than MSP.
They say big corporations will monopolise and control farming
It was told the same when GM Fords Toyota and Honda came or when McDonald or KFC came. But fact is GM ran away from India and Maruti controls 51 percent market share and Honda has 3 percent
Same way market forces and proper regulations will never let some one control the whole farming. It is too big, too diversified for any company to do it. And most importantly the digital tech and AI will transform market intelligence send make every farmer access any good market without selling it to Dalal or a big company.
Now the democracy has truly reached Agriculture and farmers have got their independence.
3/5: (Due credit to unknown author)
Deep blow. Awesome trick. Agriculture Bill is Demonetization Part 2. As demonetisation had destroyed the black money hoarders. Similarly, two heavy weights of Punjab and Maharashtra were ruined by this bill.
Sukhbir Badal of Punjab and Sharad Pawar of Maharashtra.
Sukhbir Agro of Sukhbir had an income of at least 5000 crores annually. He was the commission agent between FCI and farmers. His company used to get 2.5% commission. All the warehouses belonged to him. No farmer could sell a ton of wheat to the FCI without the tag of Sukhbir Agro.
All wasted in one stroke.
Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule in Maharashtra used to show agricultural income of 10000 crores
It was the control of the entire family onion, chilli and grape trade
This bill left Pawar nowhere.
Modi cuts the root, does not cut the branches.
Akali Dal and NCP will be seen begging in next election.
4/5: (Due credit to unknown author)
BJP’s oldest ally Shiromani Akali Dal’s lone minister in Modi Ji’s cabinet, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, resigned yesterday. Reason? Govt introducing three bills, namely, The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020; and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020. These bills seek to replace ordinances issued earlier in June.
What is opposition’s and SAD’s problem? And is it justified?
- One of them prohibits state govts from collecting the market fee, cess or levy for trade outside notified APMC mandis, removes inter-state trade barriers, and provides framework for electronic trading directly between a buyer and a farmer. In simple words, it breaks state’s control over farmers, enabling them to choose who they want to sell to. And dries up money laundering practices. No wonder they’re fuming.
- Another one allows farmers to get into contract with private corporates at a mutually agreed price. The concern was that this would do away with minimum selling price or MSP, leading to exploitation of farmers. Govt has confirmed, that is not true, and MSP will continue. So the “mutually agreed price” will always be greater or equal to MSP. Problem solved. But would the opposition or SAD tell that to the farmers? Nope.
- The 3rd one removes cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onions, and potatoes from the list of essential commodities and provides for deregulation of production, storage, movement and distribution of these food commodities. The concern is that this move undermines food security. Is it true? Nope. Govts still hold power to regularize in case of famine, shortages, wars etc. Meaning, when actually needed, they will regularize. In normal times, they won’t. So now, the hoarders are in a big problem. They cannot dictate terms anymore. Hence, protest.
In a nutshell, govt is trying to open up the agriculture market, ensuring minimum price and food security.
Opposition, hoarders, and middlemen are protesting, because they will no longer be able to control things, nor siphon out money.
Some farmer organisations are also protesting, because they are being misled on the MSP. Our job would be to pass the right info to them, get them out of the protest chain. And then let the opposition do whatever nonsense they want to.
5/5: (लेखक नामालूम)
“पैरों में जंजीर और गले में फन्दा”
कभी सोचा है-??- किसानों का “धन्धा” क्यों बांधा गया था…
सही क्या और गलत क्या -??-
क्या किसानों का “तीन अध्यादेश” के विरुद्ध आंदोलन उचित – है भी या नहीं ?
सन 1960-70 के आसपास देश में कोंग्रेसी सरकार ने एक कानून पास किया जिसका नाम था – “apmc act” …
इस एक्ट में यह प्रावधान किया गया कि किसान अपनी उपज केवल सरकार द्वारा तय स्थान अर्थात सरकारी मंडी में ही बेच सकता है।
इस मंडी के बाहर किसान अपनी उपज नहीं बेच सकता। और इस मंडी में कृषि उपज की खरीद भी वो ही व्यक्ति कर सकता था जो apmc act में registered हो, दूसरा नही।
इन registered person को देशी भाषा में कहते हैं “आढ़तिया” यानि “commission agent”!
इस सारी व्यवस्था के पीछे कुतर्क यह दिया गया कि व्यापारी किसानों को लूटता है इस लिये सारी कृषि उपज की खरीद बिक्री -“सरकारी ईमानदार अफसरों” के सामने हो।
जिससे “सरकारी ईमानदार अफसरों” को भी कुछ “हिस्सा पानी” मिलें।
इस एक्ट आने के बाद किसानों का शोषण कई गुना बढ़ गया। इस एक्ट के कारण हुआ क्या कृषि उपज की खरीदारी करनें वालों की गिनती बहुत सीमित हो गई।
किसान की उपज के मात्र 10 – 20 या 50 लोग ही ग्राहक होते है। ये ही चन्द लोग मिल कर किसान की उपज के भाव तय करते है।
मजे कि बात ये है कि :— फिर रोते भी किसान ही है कि :—
इस महगाई के दौर में – किसान को अपनी उपज की सही कीमत नही मिल है।
जब खरीददार ही – “संगठित और सिमित संख्या में” – होंगे तो – सही कीमत कैसे मिलेगी – ??-
यह मार्किट का नियम है कि अगर अपने producer का शोषण रोकना है तो आपको ऐसी व्यवस्था करनी पड़ेगी जिसमें – “खरीददार” buyer की गिनती unlimited हो।
जब खरीददार ज्यादा होंगे तभी तो – किसी भी माल की कीमत बढ़ेगी।
लेकिन वर्तमान में चल रही – मण्डी व्यवस्था में तो – किसान की उपज के मात्र 10 – 20 या 50 लोग ही ग्राहक होते है।
apmc act से हुआ क्या कि अगर किसी retailer ने ,किसी उपभोक्ता नें ,
किसी छोटे या बड़े manufacturer ने, या किसी बाहर के trader ने किसी मंडी से सामान खरीदना होता है तो वह किसान से सीधा नहीं खरीद सकता उसे आढ़तियों से ही समान खरीदना पड़ता है।
इसमें आढ़तियों की होगी चांदी ही चाँदी और किसान और उपभोक्ता दोनो रगड़ा गया।
जब मंडी में किसान अपनी वर्ष भर की मेहनत को मंडी में लाता है तो buyer यानि आढ़तिये आपस में मिल जाते हैं और बहुत ही कम कीमत पर किसान की फसल खरीद लेते हैं।
याद रहे :– बाद में यही फसल ऊचें दाम पर उपभोक्ता को उबलब्ध होती थी।
यह सारा गोरख धंदा ईमानदार अफसरों की नाक के नीचे होता है।
एक टुकड़ा मंडी बोर्ड के अफसरों को डाल दिया जाता है।
मंडी बोर्ड का “चेयरमैन” को लोकल mla मोटी रिश्वत देकर नियुक्त होता है। एक हड्डी राजनेताओं के हिस्से भी आती है। यह सारी लूट खसूट apmc act की आड़ में हो रही है।
दूसरा सरकार ने apmc act की आड़ में कई तरह के टैक्स और commission किसान पर थोप दिए।
जैसे कि :— किसान को भी अपनी फसल “कृषी उपज मंडी” में बेचने पर 3%, मार्किट फीस ,
3% rural development fund और 2.5 commission ठोक रखा है।
मजदुरी आदि मिलाकर यह फालतू खर्च 10% के आसपास हो जाता है। कई राज्यों में यह खर्च 20% तक पहुंच जाता है। यह सारा खर्च किसान पर पड़ता है।
बाकी मंडी में फसल की transportation ,रखरखाव का खर्च अलग पड़ता है।
मंडियो में फसल की चोरी ,कम तौलना , आम बात है। कई बार फसल कई दिनों तक नहीं बिकती किसान को खुद फसल की निगरानी करनी पड़ती है। एक बार फसल मंडी में आ गई तो किसान को वह “बिचोलियों” द्वारा तय की कीमत पर,
यानि – ओने पोंने दाम पर बेचनी ही पड़ती है।
क्योंकि कई राज्यों में किसान अपने राज्य की दूसरी मंडी में अपनी फसल नहीं लेकर जा सकता । दूसरे राज्य की मंडी में फसल बेचना apmc act के तहत गैर कानूनी है।
Apmc act सारी कृषि उपज पर लागू होता है चाहे वह सब्ज़ी हो ,फल हो या अनाज हो। तभी हिमाचल में 10 रुपये किलो बिकने वाला सेब उपभोक्ता तक पहुँचते पहुँचते 100 रुपए किलो हो जाता है।
मोदी सरकार द्वारा किसानों की हालत सुधारने के लिये तीन अध्यादेश लाएं गये हैं।
जिसमे निम्नलिखित सुधार किए गए हैं।
- अब किसान मंडी के बाहर भी अपनी फसल बेच सकता है और मंडी के अंदर भी ।
- किसान का सामान कोई भी व्यक्ति संस्था खरीद सकती है जिसके पास पैन कार्ड हो।
- अगर फसल मंडी के बाहर बिकती है तो राज्य सरकार किसान से कोई भी टैक्स वसूल नहीं सकती।
- किसान अपनी फसल किसी राज्य में किसी भी व्यक्ति को बेच सकता है।
5. किसान contract farming करने के लिये अब स्वतंत्र है।
कई लोग इन कानूनों के विरुद्ध दुष्प्रचार कर रहें है।
जोकि निम्नलिखित हैं।
1. आरोप :— सरकार ने मंडीकरण खत्म कर दिया है ?
उत्तर :— सरकार ने मंडीकरण खत्म नहीं किया। मण्डियां भी रहेंगी।लेकिन किसान को एक विकल्प दे दिया कि अगर उसको सही दाम मिलता है तो वह कहीं भी अपनी फसल बेच सकता है। मंडी में भी और मंडी के बाहर भी।
2. आरोप :— सरकार msp समाप्त कर रही है ?
उत्तर :- मंडीकरण अलग चीज़ है msp नुयनतम समर्थन मूल्य अलग चीज़ है। सारी फसलें ,सब्ज़ी ,फल मंडीकरण में आते हैं msp सब फसलों की नहीं है।
3. आरोप :- सारी फसल अम्बानी खरीद लेगा
उत्तर :— वह तो अब भी खरीद सकता है – आढ़तियों को बीच में डालकर।
यह तीन कानून किसानों और ग्रामीण अर्थव्यवस्था की मुक्ति के कानून हैं।
आज इस सरकार ने किसानों पर – कोंग्रेस द्वारा लगाई हुई -“बन्दिश” को हटा कर,
“हर किसी को” अपनी उपज बेचने के लिये आजाद करके,
“पुरे देश का बाजार” किसानो के लिये खोल दिया है।
किसानो को कोई भी टैक्स भी नही देना होगा।
जो भी लोग विरोध कर रहे है वो उन की अपनी समझ है,