Dear Editor,
For the last few months, the farmers of India have been engaged in a very serious struggle for their survival.
The historic agitation/protests led by farmers from Punjab and Haryana are the first of their kind in post independent India.
The farmers are fighting for their very survival. These laws, if implemented in their current form, will give big agro business conglomerates control over agricultural produce. These laws would exempt corporate families from state level regulation, licensing, stocking, processing and marketing of agricultural produce.
Consequently, the farmers’ protest has attracted wide-spread support. Also, sympathizers with the farmers’ cause around the globe have enthusiastically come out in their support.
In this context, the protests all over the world, including Canada, are very much appreciated by the farmers in India.
There is no doubt that changes and improvements are required in India’s agricultural marketing system for the benefit of millions of small farmers. Most of them own less than five acres. However, these Farm Acts do not serve that purpose and may do them more harm than good. These laws pave the way for large corporate farming.
What Indian farmers need is a system that will enable them to have better bargaining power and expanded involvement in the value chain through storage, processing and marketing infrastructure. In view of the on-going protests, the government has offered to amend the laws.
However, the farmers want them repealed and to start again to remedy the situation.
Balwant Sanghera
RICHMOND
