Indian farmers, who have been protesting for a week demanding guaranteed crop prices, have rejected a proposal from the government and announced their intention to continue their march to the capital, New Delhi. Despite efforts to reach the city, authorities have barricaded highways with cement blocks, metal containers, barbed wire, and iron spikes, aiming to prevent a repeat of the 2021 farmers’ protests, which lasted over a year in the outskirts of Delhi.
The farmers are specifically seeking legislation that would ensure minimum prices for 23 crops. Rejecting the government’s offer of a five-year contract for guaranteed prices on five crops, including pulses, maize, and cotton, farm leaders deemed the proposal unfavorable to farmers’ interests. Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a protest leader, emphasized that the government’s offer did not address their core demands. Tens of thousands of farmers, situated approximately 200 kilometers from Delhi, await resolution and plan to resume their march to the capital on Wednesday.
The ongoing protests echo a movement that commenced over two years ago, when farmers converged on the outskirts of Delhi in opposition to agriculture laws. While the government eventually repealed these laws, farmers argue that key demands from previous protests remain unmet. At the crux of the current demonstrations is the call for legislation ensuring minimum prices for their produce, a measure aimed at stabilizing their incomes.
The government’s system of setting a minimum purchase price for select essential crops, established in the 1960s, currently applies to 23 crops, though the minimum price is typically offered only for rice and wheat. Farmers advocate for extending the minimum support price to all 23 crops to safeguard their livelihoods. They also seek fulfillment of promises to double their income, waive loans, and withdraw legal cases stemming from previous protests.
Despite multiple rounds of negotiations between farm leaders and the government, a resolution has remained elusive. Piyush Goyal, a minister involved in negotiations, acknowledged the complexity of addressing the farmers’ demands, characterizing some issues as deeply rooted and policy-driven. These protests coincide with a critical period for India, with national elections anticipated in the coming months, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party is expected to seek a third consecutive term. Given the significance of farmers to Modi’s political base, the protests underscore the government’s challenge in balancing agricultural policies with broader political considerations.
