Farmers' protest highlights: Farmers have rejected govt's proposal on MSP

Farmers' protest march updates: Catch all the latest updates on the farmers' protest here

Amid a tense stand-off between the government and farmers, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha - an umbrella organisation of farmer unions not directly linked to those leading this round of protests - has rejected a five-year contract to buy three types of pulses, maize, and cotton at the old MSP. The SKM on Monday evening criticised the proposal as "diverting and the focal demands of farmers", and insisted on nothing less than the purchase of "all crops (23, including the above five) with guaranteed procurement (as) promised in the BJP manifesto (before the) 2014 general election". This procurement, the SKM stressed should be based on the C2+50 per cent MSP, or minimum support price, formula of the Swaminathan Commission and not the existing A2+FL+50 per cent method.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reiterated his government's commitment to support farmers in exploring new avenues in agriculture. Addressing an event in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, the prime minister emphasized the importance of working towards a common goal of having Indian food products on dining tables across the globe. His remarks came amid a protest by a section of farmers over their various demands such as a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops. "We are assisting and encouraging farmers to take our country's agriculture on a new path," he said. He emphasised the focus on natural farming and millets. "This is the right time for investment in superfoods like millets," he said.

Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni said that farmers in Haryana have decided that if the government doesn't agree to the demands of protesting farmers by  February 21, they too will join the agitation.

Protesting farmers will gherao the residences of BJP leaders in Punjab for three days starting Tuesday, The New Indian Express reported today. Tolls across Punjab will be ‘liberated’ to allow free passage of vehicles.

The fourth round of discussions between the panel of Union ministers and the protesting farmers was held in Chandigarh on February 18, with farmers asserting that the government should avoid wasting time and find a solution to their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops. The central government has proposed purchase entire quantities of masoor, urad, arhar, maize and cotton over the next five years at their Minimum Support Price (MSP) throughout the country to break the logjam in talks with protesting farmers. The purchases will be made through Nafed and NCCF without any capping. 

"We have received a proposal from the three Central ministers after the latest round of talks on Nafed and NCCF purchasing entire quantities of masoor, urad, arhar, cotton and maize all over India at MSP for the next five years. We will now discuss this among our Union members and come back with a view," Abhimanyu Kohar,  spokesman of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha(SKM) (apolitical), one of the main groups that is leading the protests, said.

Piyush Goyal, the minister of commerce and industry, along with Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai held the fourth round of talks with the farmer leaders over their demands. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had also joined the meeting.  Goyal said "innovative" and "out-of-the-box" idea came up during the discussions and the farmer leaders would decide on the government's proposal by Monday morning.

9:50 PM

We reject Centre's proposal: Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal

We reject Centre's proposal of procuring pulses, maize, cotton at MSP for 5 years: Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal

9:22 PM

Farmers have rejected govt's proposal on MSP

Amid a tense stand-off between the government and farmers, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha - an umbrella organisation of farmer unions not directly linked to those leading this round of protests - has rejected a five-year contract to buy three types of pulses, maize, and cotton at the old MSP.
 

The SKM on Monday evening criticised the proposal as "diverting and the focal demands of farmers", and insisted on nothing less than the purchase of "all crops (23, including the above five) with guaranteed procurement (as) promised in the BJP manifesto (before the) 2014 general election".

 

This procurement, the SKM stressed should be based on the C2+50 per cent MSP, or minimum support price, formula of the Swaminathan Commission and not the existing A2+FL+50 per cent method.

5:56 PM

Govt encouraging farmers to take agriculture on new path: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reiterated his government's commitment to support farmers in exploring new avenues in agriculture. Addressing an event in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, the prime minister emphasized the importance of working towards a common goal of having Indian food products on dining tables across the globe. His remarks came amid a protest by a section of farmers over their various demands such as a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops. "We are assisting and encouraging farmers to take our country's agriculture on a new path," he said. He emphasised the focus on natural farming and millets. "This is the right time for investment in superfoods like millets," he said.

4:59 PM

If govt doesn't agree to demands by February 21, Haryana too will join agitation: Farmer leader Charuni

"There is time until 21st February. The government should think and understand that these two things (Oilseeds and Bajra) are very important (for procurement). Just like they mentioned pulses, maize and cotton, they should include these two crops too. If these two are not included, we will have to think about it again...Yesterday, we took a decision that if the government doesn't agree by 21st February, Haryana too will join the agitation," Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni at Kurukshetra, Haryana.

4:55 PM

If issue is not resolved, will request govt to let us go to Delhi peacefully: Farmer leader Pandher

"On the proposal given by the government, we will discuss in our respective forums and also with our experts, may be by tomorrow (Feb 19) or day after tomorrow (Feb 20). On the pending demands, the government said it will deliberate. Since the government has come up with a proposal, our programme of going to Delhi at 11 am on February 21 has been put on standby. Both us and the government will try to find a resolution through talks. If due to some reason it doesn't happen, then we will request the government to let us go to Delhi peacefully," said Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee.

4:52 PM

Central govt to begin purchasing maize by distillers at guaranteed price from farmers

The central government has begun rolling out the standard operating procedure (SoP) of its scheme through which cooperatives such as NAFED and NCCF will enter into pacts with distillers for assured supply of maize at ₹2,291 per quintal for producing ethanol, The Hindu Businessline reported today. The first agreement under the scheme between a distiller of Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh and NAFED is likely to be signed on Monday.

 

3:05 PM

Will hold discussions over govt's proposals, says farmer leader Pandher

"The Union ministers have put forth their proposal in front of the nation. We will hold a discussion over it. A farmer lost his life in Khanauri yesterday. Our leadership is going there," says farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher.

2:16 PM

Toothpaste and kites: Farmers come up with 'jugaad' to counter effects of tear gas

Protesting farmers from Punjab and Haryana  have come up  'desi' ways on the ground to counter the damage from tear gas shells as they continue to hold protests asking for the fulfillment of their demands, The Quint reported today. Some farmers were seen applying toothpaste around their eyes to reduce the burning from the tear gas shells and others were seen flying kites to bring down the drones. Others employed protective gear to counter the effects of tear gas.

 

12:52 PM

News update: Farmers to gherao residences of BJP leaders in Punjab from February 20

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers' unions, has called for taking the demonstrations to BJP leaders’ doorsteps. Farmers will gherao the residences of BJP leaders in Punjab for three days starting Tuesday, The New Indian Express reported today. Tolls across Punjab will be ‘liberated’ to allow free passage of vehicles.

12:45 PM

Farmers' protest LIVE: Expert says execution of proposals will be crucial, as govt waits for response

Agriculture policy expert Devinder Sharma said that the Centre's proposals are just an extension of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM AASHA) scheme. He was quoted as saying by The Indian Express that  the proposals are much short of the demands of the farmers.

The proposal mentions three to four crops. What about the other crops like spices, vegetables, plantations, and oil seeds?, Sharma added.

12:02 PM

Avoid delays, accept farmers' demands: Farmer leader Dallewal to govt

The Centre should not dilly-dally and accept the demands of farmers before the model code of conduct comes into force, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal had said ahead of the meeting with a team of Union ministers here on Sunday. The Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be announced next month.

11:12 AM

Govt proposed cooperatives NCCF, NAFED to enter 5-year deal with farmers to buy pulses at MSP: Piyush Goyal

After the fourth round of talks with farmer leaders in Chandigarh, Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said that discussions were held in cordial atmosphere.

10:10 AM

Farmers' march on 'standby' till February 21 as farmers deliberate on central govt's proposals

Farmer leaders stated that the 'Delhi Chalo' march has been put on 'standby' as the central government has given a proposal on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) during the fourth round of talks, news agency ANI reported today.

 

The farmer leaders stated that they will hold talks on the Centre's proposal on MSP and the march will resume 'peacefully' on February 21.

9:23 AM

News update: Centre offers to buy 5 crops at MSP for 5 years

The central government has suggested a proposal to purchase entire quantities of masoor, urad, arhar, maize and cotton over the next five years at their Minimum Support Price (MSP) throughout the country to break the logjam in talks with protesting farmers. 

 

However, it is not very clear whether the purchases will be made only from Punjab and Haryana who are mainly agitating or from the entire country. The farmer leaders claimed that the purchases would be made from the entire country.

9:20 AM

News update: "We had asked for MSP guarantee on purchase of pulses," says Punjab CM Mann

After the fourth round of talks between Union Ministers and farmer leaders, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated that the farmers has requested a guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) on the purchase of pulses. Addressing the media persons on Monday, Mann said that he was in the meeting as an advocate of the farmers.

"The discussions went on for five hours. I talked about the benefits for Punjab. We had asked for an MSP guarantee on the purchase of pulses, which was discussed today," Mann said.