Key Summary
- Indian farmers to resume march to Delhi for fair crop prices
- Agrarian distress exacerbated by government policies and market dynamics
- Protests highlight systemic inequalities hindering farmers’ livelihoods
- Political, economic, and social implications ripple domestically and internationally
- Urgent need for dialogue and reforms to address structural barriers
Indian farmers are planning to resume their Delhi march presumably this week, and it highlights the challenges they continue to face in securing fair crop prices. The problem rose to its current height because of the longstanding issue of agrarian distress, further worsened by inequitable government policies and market dynamics that eventually left the majority of the nation’s farmers marginalized and therefore economically vulnerable. The return to protest in the capital, New Delhi, underscores the state of urgency, as well as the need for regulated reforms that directly address the structural barriers and systemic inequalities that hinder Indian farmers from earning a dignified livelihood from their agricultural services and activities.
The roots of India’s farmer protests we will likely see again can be traced all the way back to the government introducing agricultural reforms as the primary method of regulating the industry, particularly beginning with the three controversial farm laws that passed in late September of the year 2020. According to lawmakers at the national level, these new laws were aimed at achieving a few growth objectives – liberalizing India’s agricultural markets, eliminating barriers to interstate trade, and promoting contract farming to ultimately modernize the nation’s entire agricultural sector, while boosting the yearly incomes for local farmers.
In spite of these promises, many farmers believed these laws to be longstanding threats to their businesses and livelihoods. In essence, farmers feared that the existing system of government-regulated markets (known as mandis) which permitted them to take their produce to wholesale markets through open auctions and transparent pricing, would eventually be dismantled. The secondary concern was that the elimination of such a system would present the opportunity for large corporations to exploit small-scale farmers inevitably. The protests were led by farmers from areas made up primarily of farmers, such as Punjab and Haryana, which boosted attention and gained the widespread support of tens of thousands of Indian farmers rallying at New Delhi’s outskirts to demand the reversal of the newly implemented farm laws.
This year, the farmers marched close to Delti to receive offers presented by the national government, and on Monday, they came out to state that the government’s proposals were “not in their interest”. It began with the government and lawmakers working on behalf of the agriculture industry proposing purchasing maize, cotton, and pulses at guaranteed floor prices – which they referred to as the Minimum Support Price – through cooperatives for the next five years. The farmers have since disagreed as a collective, and will instead maintain their standing on a demand of a “legal guarantee for MSP on all 23 crops”.
The resumption of the Delhi-focused protest march, as proven by a series of previous encounters, will carry unpleasant and significant implications for a variety of stakeholders. The government and civilian population can expect that protests will disrupt multiple supply chains and agricultural activities which will result in potential losses for farmers, traders, and consumers. The prolonged unrest will also develop economic implications in the form of volatility and uncertainty within agricultural markets, unavoidably creating a trickle-down effect on prices and the broader market dynamic.
Due to the poor handling and response to agrarian issues and the concerns of farmers, India’s federal government can also expect the protests to create political implications, including farmers and their supporters posing a threat to its legitimacy and authority. As a nation that claims to represent the ideals of democracy, the government’s response has sparked domestic criticism and international condemnation due to its reliance on the use of force during protests, as well as the conscious attempts to discredit the protesting population. As a result, foreign nations, especially India’s Western allies, have begun raising questions concerning the nation’s commitment to inclusive governance and the core principles of democracy.
Finally, the issue has risen beyond a local issue to a matter of emergency which has received international attention. Consequently, protests have amplified the voices of India’s marginalized farmers and shed light on the agricultural sector’s deep-rooted inequalities and injustices. The nation is now experiencing calls for broader socio-economic reforms to solve the catalysts causing agrarian distress after urging support from the different segments of Indian society, such as trade unions, civil society organizations, and especially opposition political parties.
Putting an end to the grievances of Indian farmers by addressing the injustice that sprouted its half-decade-long protests requires a concerted effort from all classes. The government should first consider the approach to commence open and productive dialogues with farmers and their representatives in order to comprehend all their concerns and negotiate mutually acceptable deals in the form of reformed law. This involved making amendments to the farm laws to prioritize the agricultural and market interests of the farmers while safeguarding their rights.
Consistent efforts should also be put towards enhancing the economic viability of its small-scale regional farmers by executing interventions and developing targeted policies. Action steps can be taken toward strengthening social safety nets that protect local farmers from market volatility, promoting modern sustainable farming practices, and providing access to inputs and credit.
Finally, the government’s inability to utilize systems and resources to manage agrarian distress emphasizes the need for broader structural reforms to transform the nation’s agricultural sector. The Indian policymakers must push interests in promoting agroecological farming practices, investing in rural infrastructure and services, and diversifying its many rural economies to generate alternative sources of employment and income, all while empowering hardworking farmers through cooperatives and collective action.
The recommencement of the march and protests toward Delhi precisely exhibits India’s deep-seated systemic challenges facing its agricultural sector. The protests, in particular, reflect an urgent need for reforms that shield both the economic security and well-being of Indian farmers. It also simplifies the demand to provide systematic solutions to the structural inequalities that perpetuate the agrarian distress the population has long suffered from. By inviting local farmers to transparent and engaging dialogue, and taking tangible steps in implementing equitable and nondiscriminatory policies, India can project itself to building and sustaining a more buoyant agricultural system that contributes to the nation’s socio-economic development.
Author: Kay Adu-Gyamfi