Ahead of farmer-Centre meeting, a huddle and resolution to stay put on MSP demand

The leaders were reacting to an audio clip of Abhimanyu Kohar, the spokesperson of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), which recently went viral. In the clip, he reportedly proposed an economic model suggesting that if 25-30 per cent of crops could be procured by the government at MSP, it would set a benchmark for the rest of the market players, preventing them from buying below that price. This, he argued, would be a way to ensure MSP for farmers.

Kohar explained to Haryana farmers that the government’s claim—that an MSP guarantee act would be a costly affair—is false.

He had previously stated that an MSP guarantee act would mean neither the government nor private players could buy crops below the MSP set by the government. He also emphasized that the MSP guarantee act would ensure a fixed price for farmers if their crops met the government’s set standards for moisture and other parameters.

Raminder Singh Patiala, national coordination committee member of SKM, however, said, “SKM has outrightly rejected this proposal of 25-30 per cent partial government procurement, reaffirming its demand for a legal guarantee on MSP for the entire production of all crops based on the Swaminathan Formula (C2+50%).” The SKM leaders have also urged farmer organizations engaged in talks with the central government to exercise caution regarding this matter.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha has made it clear that any agreement on partial procurement would ultimately favour corporate interests rather than benefit farmers, said Buta Singh Burjgill, president of BKU Dakaunda, a constituent member of the SKM.

The members observed that corporates would not adhere to the benchmark but rather create a cartel to exploit farmers.

SKM further emphasized that Punjab and Haryana farmers receive MSP only because the government procures 100 per cent of wheat and paddy in these states. Any compromise on partial procurement would be anti-farmer, and SKM and farmers would never accept it, said Boota Singh Shadipur, another presidium member of the SKM Punjab chapter.

Meanwhile, a 28-member delegation of KMM and SKM (Non-Political) will hold a second round of talks over their 12 demands with a panel of Union government ministers and Punjab government officials on Saturday late evening at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Sector 26, Chandigarh. The delegation has already reached the venue.