Roshni Saleem Chagan is a Network Engagement Fellow at GroundBreakers. Roshni’s research interests include Ethnic Politics, Migration Politics, and Human Security. She hopes to pursue an advanced degree in efforts to work with NGOs that help reform migration policy.
In September 2020, the Upper House of the Indian Court System passed two farm bills that have dramatically changed the livelihoods of farmers and agriculture workers in India. The new bills propose loosening rules around the sale, pricing, and storage of farm produce. Previous bills ensured that India’s farmers would be protected from the free market. The farm bills also allow private buyers to “hoard” demanded commodities for future sales which is harmful for farmers because only government-authorized agents were able to “hoard” these products.
Besides making these farmers vulnerable to the free market, the newly passed farm bills outline rules for contract farming which force farmers to modify their production practices to fit a specific buyer’s demand. This means that farmers will have to sell their products to agricultural businesses, supermarket chains, and online grocers instead of selling them to government-controlled wholesale markets that are run by a committee of farmers, land-owners, and traders. Farmers in India are concerned that these new laws will end the assured prices that come with wholesale markets and lead to private players refusing farmer-friendly prices for produce. Private players are given the power to reject or accept price suggestions, which in the short-run is something that people expect farmers to respond positively to, but in the long-run, opens up the facility for private players to exploit Indian farmers. The deregulation of Indian agriculture means that the minimum prices that the farmers were guaranteed for certain crops will no longer exist. The loss of government support will result in many farmers going into debt.
The passing of these bills signifies financial strain for farmers and local agricultural businesses in India. Farmers have begun to realize what these bills mean for their future and the future of their farms and businesses. In response, farmers have been protesting the Indian government. Thousands of farmers have entered New Delhi, the capital of India, to protest the new agricultural laws that passed in the upper house. Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh arrived in New Delhi on tractors and foot and have blocked roads and set up makeshift camps in which they are staying. The Indian police have used methods of violence such as tear gas and water cannons to attack the farmers participating in the protest.
A total of 250 million workers and farmers are protesting the Indian government’s farm policies, making it the largest protest in human history. The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and his Hindu-nationalist political party insist that these new laws will ensure a complete transformation of the agriculture sector of India without harming the farmer. The farmers largely supported Modi when he was up for re-election because about 58% of Indians work in agriculture, making this the biggest voter block in the country. The farmers supported Modi because Modi’s platform promised economic progress for farmers meanwhile the passing of Modi’s new farm laws is a direct contrast of those promises.
So what can you do? Donate to Khalsa Aid. This organization provides food and other necessary resources to the farmers who are protesting on the front lines. If you are unable to donate, there are still ways you can get involved! A lot of the information that has been released is media-censored. There are many reports of fake news across social media sites including on Instagram where vital hashtags have been removed, causing a chasm in the understanding of this issue. If you see an instance of misinformation or false claims, report the post, raise awareness about the protest, and voice the truth about how these policies inherently harm the Indian farmers. All of these things can be done by sharing credible information on social media, take part in demonstrations if you can, donate money to various initiatives that are fighting for farmers rights’, and continue to learn about this issue. Some credible news sources to learn about the protests include but are not limited to: NBC, The Guardian, NPR, CNN, and Al-Jazeera.
Design by Roshni Saleem Chagan
Citations
Al Jazeera. “Indian Farmers Vow to Intensify Protests after Talks Fail Again.” India | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 5 Dec. 2020, www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/5/indian-farmers-vow-to-intensify-protests-after-talks-fail-again.
“Farm Bills: Are India’s New Reforms a ‘Death Warrant’ for Farmers?” BBC News, BBC, 23 Sept. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-54233080.
Frayer, Lauren, and Sushmita Pathak. “Crowds Of Indian Farmers Gather For Days To Protest New Agriculture Laws.” NPR, NPR, 4 Dec. 2020, www.npr.org/2020/12/04/943082236/indias-farmers-man-barricades-in-delhi-protesting-new-agriculture-laws.
Hollingsworth, Julia. “Thousands of Farmers Swarm India’s Capital to Protest Deregulation Rules.” CNN, Cable News Network, 6 Dec. 2020, www.cnn.com/2020/12/01/asia/delhi-farmers-india-protests-intl-hnk/index.html.
