Modi says farmers already getting more for their produce, Nitish Kumar backs new laws

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the benefits of the new agricultural laws could already be seen on ground as the ordinances had come into effect earlier and farmers were getting better price for their produce. He termed the two agriculture bills passed by the Parliament on Sunday as “historic”.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar strongly backed the PM on the new laws, saying they were in “national interest and farmer interest” and pointed out how he had also ended the APMC Act in Bihar in 2006. The chief minister condemned the manner in which Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh, a JD(U) leader from Bihar, was heckled by opposition members in Parliament.

Bihar’s deputy chief minister Sushil Modi also joined in, saying the state’s honour and self-respect were harmed by the manner in which Harivansh was treated and that the people of Bihar will give a befitting reply soon.

“These reforms are necessary in order to free the farmers from various shackles and give new rights to the farmers as there would be no restrictions on selling their produce to anyone, anywhere and at a price and terms determined by the farmer himself,” the prime minister said. “A farmer now has various alternatives apart from the mandis. A farmer can now sell his produce where he gets more profit. Earlier system bred vested interests, which took advantage of hapless farmers.”

Modi said potato farmers in various states and oilseed farmers in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan had reaped 15 to 30% profit under the reformed system. “Oil mill owners purchased oilseeds directly from the farmers in these states. In states like Madhya Pradesh, UP, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal with surplus pulses, the farmers have got 15 to 25% more prices directly compared to last year since pulses mills have also purchased directly from farmers,” he said.

Modi clarified that krishi mandis will not be closed and will continue to operate as they had been doing before. He also assured farmers that the system of MSP will continue as before.