SKM Rejects Centre’s Proposal on Crop Diversification, 5-Year MSP Contract for 5 crops

New Delhi: Farmers’ collective Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has outrightly rejected the proposal by three central ministers for a five-year contractual MSP for five crops as well as the push for crop diversification.

It has given the call to organise peaceful demonstrations, public meetings, torchlight processions in the constituencies of Members of Parliament from Bharatiya Janata Party and National Democratic Alliance across India.

SKM, the collective that spearheaded the year-long farmers’ movement and forced the government to repeal the three farm laws, said the Centre’s proposal was a bid to divert and dilute the demand of MSP@C2+50% for all crops with guaranteed procurement, which was promised in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s election manifesto in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. This was originally recommended by the National Farmers Commission chaired by M S Swaminathan and submitted in 2006, the SKM said in a statement.

The proposal for 5-year minimum support price for five crops was given by three central ministers to SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, which have been leading a protest by farmers of Punjab and Haryana since February 13. After the fourth round of later talks, the organisations said they would put their protest “on hold” for two days and get back to the government after discussions with its members.

Read the full SKM release below:

Nothing Below MSP@C2+50% with Guaranteed Procurement Acceptable to Farmers

SKM out-rightly rejects the proposal by the Union Ministers at Chandigarh to have a five years contract with farmers to procure 5 crops namely Maize, Cotton, Arhar/Tur, Massur and Urad at MSP of A2+FL+50% and promote crop diversification. This proposal, in the view of SKM, is to divert and dilute the demand of MSP@C2+50% for all crops with guaranteed procurement which was promised in the BJP Manifesto in 2014 General Election and originally recommended by National Farmers Commission chaired by M S Swaminathan and submitted in 2006. SKM declared that nothing below MSP@C2+50% for all crops with guaranteed procurement is acceptable to the farmers of India. If the Modi Government is unable to implement the promise made by BJP, then let the Prime Minister be honest to tell that to the people. 

The Ministers are not ready to clarify whether the MSP they proposed is based on A2+FL +50% or C2+50%. There is no transparency in the discussion though discussions have taken place four times. This is against the democratic culture established by SKM during the 2020-21 historic Farmers Struggle at Delhi Borders. During those negotiations, every point of discussions and the stand of farmers were placed for the public information by the SKM.

SKM demands the Union Ministers to clarify why the Modi Govt.is silent on the demands of loan waiver, no privatisation of electricity, comprehensive public sector crop insurance scheme, Rs.10000 monthly pension to farmers above 60 years age, dismiss and prosecute Ajay Mishra Teni, Union MoS (Home) the main conspirator of Lakhimpur Kheri massacre of farmers among others.

In order to intensify the farmers struggle, to expose the anti-farmer policies and corporate corruption of the Modi Government among the people, with the demand of end the brutal repression on farmers agitating at Punjab Borders and oppose the dictatorial mindset of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, SKM has given the call to organise peaceful Demonstrations / Public Meetings/ TorchLight Processions in the Constituencies of MP’s of BJP and NDA across India.

SKM strongly condemned the BJP led Haryana State Government for unleashing brutal attacks on the farmers agitating on the border and also on the farmer activists within Haryana. The pellets were used to fire the farmers and in the brutal lathi charge and pellet firing three farmers lost vision.  The Haryana Police and the Para Military Forces have damaged the vehicles and motorcycles of those farmers and kisan leaders who have visited the agitating farmers in the border. The NCC and General Body meeting of SKM scheduled on 21, 22 February will take stock of the situation and will plan future actions to intensify the struggle till all the demands are met.