FARMER; FIGHT; FUTURE

India is actually the land of farmers. A significant portion of the country’s population depends solely on agriculture for their livelihood. At present, agriculture is not a lucrative employment option. It clearly implies that a large portion of those who depend on agriculture is in poverty.

- Vignesh S G

India is actually the land of farmers. A significant portion of the country’s population depends solely on agriculture for their livelihood. At present, agriculture is not a lucrative employment option. It clearly implies that a large portion of those who depend on agriculture is in poverty.

The central government has repeatedly assured that it would do everything possible to double the income of farmers. It has even repeated the same point in the Parliament several times.

It recently introduced three bills in the area of agriculture. The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, the Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 were promoted as an attempt to help farmers. The government said that the bills would liberate farmers.

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill (Farm Bill One) introduces the provision of legal agreement into the sector. The bill empowers farmers to bring their business relation with businessmen under the protection of law with the help of legal agreements. It bestows both farmers and businessmen more negotiation power. It ensures both farmers and businessmen get the right benefit from the business. On one hand, it makes sure farmers do not make compromises on the quality of products they produce. On the other hand, it ensures businessmen do not cheat farmers by denying the latter the right to fair pay. In simple words, the farm bill one paves way for the promotion of contract farming method.