Farmers to resume march tomorrow

Farmers gathered at the Punjab-Haryana border government offer on price guarantees and vowed to press ahead towards New Delhi on Wednesday, resuming an agitation that was briefly suspended to consider the offer.

- Puja Das

On Sunday night, government representatives had proposed five-year contracts with farmers to buy pulses, maize, and cotton from farmers at the minimum support price (MSP). However, farmers who have demanded legally guaranteed MSP for all crops, a loan waiver, social security benefits and a revamp of the crop insurance scheme, were not impressed.

Farmer leaders said the proposal was not in their interest, adding they want legal MSP guarantee for all 23 crops, not just pulses, maize, and cotton.

Farmers are led by two umbrella bodies-Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM)representing 200 farm unions.

"If the government takes care of assured procurement of only five- six crops at MSP, it is not fair to growers who cultivate other crops. The government can easily divide its fund

of 1.75 trillion to ensure a legal MSP guarantee for all 23 crops, instead of spending it to import edible oils, especially palm oil, which affects human health. I don't see any burden here," SKM leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal told reporters.