Farmer protest: "Delhi Chalo" march called off as government offers a five-year MSP plan

Farmer protest: "Delhi Chalo" march called off as government offers a five-year MSP plan

While a decision on their other main requests is still waiting, the protesting farmers have requested two days to review the government's response.

During their 'Delhi Chalo' demonstration on Sunday in the Patiala district within the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border, farmers listen to a speaker.

New Delhi: Following the Central government's proposal of a five-year plan to purchase pulses, maize, and cotton crops from farmers at the minimum support price, or MSP, farmers from adjacent states of Delhi have called off their protest march towards the capital.

Late on Sunday night, the Chandigarh federal government and the representatives of the farmers who were protesting wrapped up their fourth round of negotiations.

The farmers who are protesting have requested two days to deliberate about the government's proposal on the platform they use, while they await a decision on their other main requests.

The term "MSP" refers to the price that the government sets in order to shield farmers against sharp drops in crop prices. This guarantee protects farmers from losses by serving as a safety net.

Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal informed reporters, "Cooperative societies like NCCF and NAFED have been collaborating with farmers growing tur dal, urad dal, masoor dal, or maize to buy their crops at MSP during the next five years." Will draft an agreement." after the farmers' conference.

The introduction of grains like as urad or arhar under the MSP would result in lower imports, a replenishment of Punjab's declining water table, and increased consumer access to affordable pulses.

As per the idea, farmers would enter into contracts through the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India Limited as well as the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Company for the purchase of crops for the following five years, with no restriction on the number of commodities purchased.

According to Goyal, farmers also want cotton and maize to fall within the MSP's purview.

"For cotton, the Cotton Commission of India will purchase every part of the crop at MSP and farmer leaders are expected to communicate their decision regarding the proposal by Monday morning," Goyal said.

The discussions started at 8:15 p.m. on Sunday and finished at roughly 1 a.m. on Monday. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was also there.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) as well as Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) organized the "Delhi Chalo" march, which drew thousands of farmers from more than 200 farm unions.

They started the demonstration on February 13 in order to demand a number of things, such as a minimum price for 23 crops guaranteed by the state, a remission of loans, social security benefits including pensions, and changes to the crop insurance program.

Due to duty-free imports driving down farm product prices, farmers are also calling for greater levies on imported agricultural produce.

The most recent round of demonstrations follows a year of declining agricultural earnings as a result of export restrictions on onions, wheat, rice, and sugar that drove down local prices. Uneven rainfall and frequent heat waves are examples of climatic shocks that have an impact on agricultural revenues.

The farmers continued to stand at the Punjab-Haryana border in Shambhu as well as Khanauri on Sunday, marking the fifth day of their march.