Why do Indian farmers march to New Delhi and what are their demands?

On Tuesday, authorities in Haryana, a state bordering Delhi, used tear gas to disperse farmers attempting to reach the fortified capital, evoking memories of the 16-month-long farmers’ agitation two years ago. Barbed wire, spikes, and cement blocks have been employed to seal multiple entry points into Delhi. In anticipation of the planned March to Delhi by farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and other northern states, large gatherings have been banned in the capital, and internet services suspended in various Haryana districts.

Apart from organizations in Punjab and Haryana, unions from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh are also joining the march, seeking government intervention to address challenges in the agriculture sector crucial to the country’s food security.

The protests are being led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee. Organizers claim the participation of over 200 farm unions in the March to Delhi.

The SKM, pivotal in the 2020-2021 protests that led Prime Minister Narendra Modi to repeal three farm laws, accuses the government of failing to deliver on promises made to farmers, including doubling their incomes. In response, the SKM has called for a nationwide rural and industrial strike to express dissatisfaction with the government.

The farmers want a minimum support price

The farmers are pressing for legal assurances on a minimum support price (MSP), serving as a safety net for the farming community, along with requests for farm loan waivers and the reversal of policies perceived as detrimental to farmers.

The MSP, representing the price at which the government buys crops from farmers, offers a stable income amidst market uncertainties, providing assurance to farmers for their produce.

Protests are directed against the proposed privatization of the electricity sector, as state governments currently provide subsidized electricity, contributing to reduced input costs for farmers.

Additionally, farmers are advocating for compensation for those who lost their lives during the 2020-2021 protests. Approximately 750 individuals have been identified as killed during the protests.

The protests also aim to ensure the fulfilment of promises made by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2021. Despite the withdrawal of the three farm acts, concerns persist about BJP-ruled states attempting to reintroduce them through alternative means, including recent budget proposals seeking to privatize post-harvest activities.

Although Modi’s government established a committee to address farming issues, its exclusion of representatives from major grain-producing states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh has hindered progress. Farmers continue to grapple with enduring challenges, including crop failure-induced debt leading to suicides and agricultural output reduction due to climate change-induced extreme weather and diminishing water sources.

The government tries to negotiate with the farmers

Despite negotiations between a government delegation and protesting farmers, the talks have proven unproductive. On Tuesday, clashes between farmers and Indian police at the border between Haryana and Punjab led to tear gas being deployed, and some farmers were detained. Authorities further fortified the borders of Delhi and Haryana, cutting off farmers from the capital.

Farmer raised concerns about isolating them from the country and the decision-making process, given the heightened security measures at Delhi’s and Haryana’s borders.

The 2020-2021 protests centered around laws introduced by the BJP government, facilitating direct sales of produce to bulk buyers and simplifying contract farming. While Prime Minister Modi asserted that these laws aimed to empower farmers, they faced opposition, leading to the resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the food processing minister, who deemed the legislation “anti-farmer.” Eventually, in 2021, Modi withdrew the three farm laws.

In 2022, Modi’s administration pledged to establish a panel of farmers and state officials to devise strategies ensuring support prices for all farm produce. However, farmers claim the BJP government has not fulfilled this promise, accusing them of falling behind on the commitment made.

Farmers are a significant part of India’s population

The upcoming march precedes a general election, with expectations favouring the BJP as the likely winner.

The outcome of the protest and whether it leads to viable solutions remains uncertain.

Farmers constitute a significant portion of India’s population, making up two-thirds of the 1.4 billion people and contributing nearly a fifth to the country’s gross domestic product, as per government statistics. This demographic holds substantial electoral influence, prompting political parties to vie for their support.

BJP is criticised for its perceived “anti-farmer and anti-worker policies.” In an effort to secure the farmers’ votes, the Modi government recently bestowed the nation’s highest civilian honours on former Prime Minister and agricultural leader Chaudhury Charan Singh, along with MS Swaminathan, a key figure in the agricultural revolution of the 1960s and ’70s.