‘Maharashtra too should roll back its farm laws’

The procedure to roll back the farm laws in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to repeal them, will take place during the winter session of the Parliament, which starts next week. But what does this decision mean for Maharashtra? mid-day speaks to two key leaders of the state to find out what it holds for the farmers on ground and the Maharashtra Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) in general.

Speaking to mid-day, Dr Ajit Nawale, who had taken a lead role in mobilising the protests against the farm laws and took part in discussions with the state government, said, "The Centre's roll back of the three farm laws is a victory for the farmers' movement. The Maharashtra government had also formulated similar laws for the state at the legislative assembly. They should be rolled back too and without any further delay. This remains the Kisan Sabha's primary demand from the state government."

Nawale, who is also the state general secretary of the CPM-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha, said, "Along with this, the demand for protection to farmers in terms of Minimum Support Price (MSP) is still pending and the central government should act on it fast. The Maharashtra government has also proposed regulations in the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) laws to give protection to farmers for MSP, but they have not been implemented yet. We hope that these regulations are also duly implemented by the state government."

Activists shout slogans during a protest against the farm laws at Sion Circle on September 27 this year. File pic

Dr Ashok Dhawale of Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha, Maharashtra, said, "The repeal is no doubt a victory, but we have already lost over 700 innocent farmers. Following the footsteps of the central government, the state too had proposed key changes in the farm laws. They should also roll back the laws that were proposed at the legislative assembly."

State farm bills

>>The amendment bills - Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, Farmers' Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 and Essential Commodities Act, 1955 - were introduced by Agriculture Minister Dada Bhuse, Marketing Minister Balasaheb Patil and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, respectively.

>>Farming agreement shall not be valid unless the price paid to the farmer (against its produce) is equal to or greater than MSP, states the first amendment bill.

>>The second amendment bill states, "No trader shall trade in any scheduled farmers' produce unless such trader has a valid licence of a competent authority." It is against the provision of the central law that allows trade of agricultural produce based on just a PAN card, which was strongly opposed by the farmers' outfits.

>>The third bill has proposed an amendment for the state to have the powers to regulate or prohibit the production, supply, distribution, imposing limits under extraordinary circumstances, which may include famine, price rise and natural calamity. The current law provides the power only to the Centre in this regard.