April 18, 2026

Farm Talks Inconclusive As Farmers Want Laws To Go

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2020-12-02 02:57:10

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Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator. Author of Cyber Scams in India, Digital Arrest, The Money Trap and The Human Hack

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The standoff between the Centre and the farmers continued as the talks between the two on Tuesday remained inconclusive. The farmers want a repeal of the new agriculture laws and are not budging from their stand. The government, on its part, gave them a patient hearing but did not commit anything. It wanted the farmers to constitute a smaller group but they insisted that the government talk with everyone. It also wanted to constitute a panel to discuss the laws and find a solution but the farmers rejected that suggestion. It maybe the farmers are adopting a hard stance to get more concessions but if the talks get prolonged, there would be problems.

Obviously, repealing the laws is out of question. Changing the status quo is not easy. The farmers are used to the MSP and mandi sale system. There are many intermediaries who benefit by it. The state government rakes in a huge amount of tax on mandi sales. These are interested elements that will resist change.

But the farmers will achieve little by being adamant. The Centre must impress upon them that the state laws enacted by Punjab and other Congress-rules states are just posturing. Agriculture is a subject on which both the Centre and the states can bring in laws but in a conflict, the Central law will always prevail. Then, it must somehow ensure that the MSP system will remain for as long as needed.

It must also convince the farmers the benefits of moving to the new system. The farmers are worried that the corporate sector will run all over them in the new system. The government must show them how the intermediaries are doing more than that now. It must also explain to them the checks and balances the new laws have to prevent a complete takeover of agriculture by the corporate sector.

In short, the government must convince the farmers that their fears are unfounded. The farmers must also understand that the new laws are here to stay. They will have to prepare for a life under the new laws. They must seek all clarifications from the government. If need be, they can ask the government to notify the same by issuing rules and guidelines under the new laws. But seeking a repeal of the new laws will prolong the issue and hamper the growth of the sector.