A vote of no confidence from the farmers

A vote of no confidence from the farmers

Article:

1. Yogendra Yadav, national president , Swaraj India and Avik Saha, national convenor of Jaikisan Andolan, analyse how the reasons behind the sluggish agricultural growth and failure of government on this count.

Important Analysis:

2. Farmers of India expressed vote of no confidence against the government.

3. Representatives of farmers from across the country will be marching under the banner of All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee(AIKSCC), umbrella body of 201 farmer organizations.

4. The author gave the following arguments on why the farmers express their vote of no-confidence against the government.

5. Stagnant agricultural growth:

• The government has failed to fulfill its manifesto promises of highest priority to agricultural growth, increase in farmer’s income and rural development.
• The government’s economic survey 2018 has conceded that farmers real income has “remained stagnant”.
• No higher public investment in agriculture.
• Public investment in agriculture declined in terms of its share of GDP.
• The new farm insurance scheme, the Praadhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, has consumed much money as compared to earlier schemes without increasing the proportion of farmers.
• The promise of “welfare measures”for farmers above 60, small farmers and farm laboueres not achieved.
• The National Land Use Policy was never enacted.
• The Agricultural produce market committee(APMC) act was not reformed.

6. MSP promise:

• The government did not fulfill its promise of “cost+50%” as MSP.
• Stopping the bonus over the MSP announced by the state government.
• The percentage increase in MSP has been lower.

7. Drought:

• The government not responded positively to nationwide droughts in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
• Cut in contribution to States from the national disaster relief fund.

8. MGNREGS poor implementation:

• Lack of political will in implementing the MGNREGS, which has hit the rural poor and farm labourers.
• From imposing minimum export price on potatoes in 2014 to imposing sugar from Pakistan, the government has followed anti farmer trade policies.
• Exports discouraged especially.
• Imports of lentil, channna, wheat, sugar and milk powder was allowed that led to a crash in prices.

9. Demonetization:

• Shoddily implemented policy of demonetization dealt a severe blow to agricultural markets.
• This led to demand contraction and fall in prices.

10. Livestock sector:

• The government’s halfhearted attempt to regulate livestock market by imposing ban on livestock movement has disrupted the livestock economic cycle.
• This led to loss of income and problem of animals destroying crops.

11. Adivasi farmers:

• The government has diluted the forest rights act and various other environmental laws.

12. Land acquisition act:

• Attempt to nullify the historic land acquisition act of 2013 by the government.