52% farmers oppose new farm laws but more marginal, small farmers back them: Survey

NEW DELHI: A perception survey of over 5022 farmers from across regions shows that while 52% were opposed to the three new farm laws the biggest reason (57% of them) for the opposition was that they felt that they will now be forced to sell their crop produce at a lower price in the open market. Of those opposed to the laws 33% farmers said they felt that the government will end the system of minimum support price (MSP).A significant 59% respondent farmers want the MSP system to be made a mandatory law in India.
Of the 35% farmers who supported the laws, 47% favour them because they believe it will give them freedom to sell their crop anywhere in the country. The survey carried out by Gaon Connection on the “Indian farmer’s perception of the agri laws” shows that a bigger proportion of marginal and small farmers, who own less than five acres land, support these farm laws in comparison to medium and large farmers.
However, of the 52% opposing the farm laws, over 36% were not informed about the details of these laws. Similarly, of the 35% supporting them, almost 18% were not informed about the laws. Hence, there is a section of farmers who are supporting or opposing the farm laws without having information about them.
The rapid survey conducted between October 3 to 9 covered 53 districts across 16 states. Of those surveyed, 72% farmers, or three-fourth, owned less than five acres of land. Overall, around 63% farmers reported that they have sold their crop produce at MSP. Percentage of farmers selling their agricultural produce at MSP was more in the case of medium and large farmers (75%) in comparison to the small and marginal farmers (58%). This shows that more medium and large farmers are dependent on MSP. Also the concern over the end of the MSP system in the near future, was more among farmers who sell their agricultural produce at MSP (49%) than farmers who do not sell their agricultural produce at MSP (24%).
As per the survey 39% farmers felt that because of the new agricultural laws, mandi system/APMC will collapse in the country and this concern was more among the farmers in the northwest region (72%). Overall 46% respondent farmers said they thought the three bills will lead to big corporates/private companies exploiting farmers.
In the monsoon session of the Parliament, three new agri bills were passed and enacted as laws. The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, seeks to give freedom to farmers to sell their produce outside of the notified Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) market yards. The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, gives farmers the right to enter into a contract with agribusiness firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters, or large retailers for the sale of future farming produce at a pre-agreed price. The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, is meant to remove commodities like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, onion, and potato from the list of essential commodities and do away with the imposition of stock holding limits.