Centre, farmers make some headway; another meeting on Dec 5 to break logjam

A breakthrough in the farmer unions' key demand for an assurance on continuation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement system is also said to be in the works

The fourth round of talks between protesting farmers and the Centre on the three agriculture Acts seemed to make some headway, with the government willing to consider some of their objections to the legislation.

Their demands include a having level playing field in taxes between proposed private mandis under the new Acts and the existing agriculture produce marketing committees (APMCs), and traders’ mandatory registration even if they trade outside those.

Sources said a breakthrough in the key demand of the farmers’ union for an assurance on continuing minimum support prices (MSPs) in procurement was also in the works.

In their present form, the