Farmer bodies protest against farm bills in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Members of different farmer bodies, Left parties, trade unions and Congress party staged demonstrations in the capital city and other parts of the state on Friday demanding rollback of the farm bills passed in both the houses of the Parliament recently.
The farmer leaders argued that these bills will make farmers helpless before the big corporate houses. Companies will behave like private moneylenders. They threatened the government to intensify it further if the Centre does not fulfill their demands.
Navnirman Krushak Sangathan, a farmers' body, staged demonstration in front of the Krushak Bhawan here protesting against the bills. Sangathan's convenor Akshaya Kumar said the government is trying to snatch dignity away from farmers by helping big corporate houses. "Contract farming system will make farmers as agricultural labourers. Companies will behave like zamindars. We will protest this Bills," he added.
Members of several farmer organisations under the aegis of All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) took the lead in organising protests across the state including the capital city.
AIKSCC state convenor, Suresh Panigrahy said the bills may end the MSP system and affect the mandi facilities of the government. "Small and marginal farmers and sharecroppers cannot get benefit out of these bills. Farmers will loose better price and prestige because of the contract farming," he added.
Members of Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh staged demonstration at AG Square. "We demand the Centre to ensure in the law that minimum support price (MSP) system should not be repealed. Contract farming should be stopped in the country. Government should not amend the Essential Commodities Act because many poor people who depend on certain essential commodities like potatoes and rice will face the heat of black marketing and hoarding," said Sachin Mohapatra, state president of Mahasangh.
The major two farm bills passed in the houses of the Parliament are- The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.
Western Odisha farmer leader, Lingaraj said big corporate houses will control the agriculture market. Farmers cannot negotiate with the companies for better price they need. As the bill has provision to allow big companies to stock commodities, farmers will get less prices, he added.
Farmers blocked the National Highway at Remuna in Balasore for a few minutes demanding withdrawal of the farm bills. Farmers under the banner of Prachi Chasi Meli took out a rally at Niali in Cuttack to show solidarity to the all India protest against the bills.
However, BJP leader Prithviraj Harichandan has clarified that the bills will not affect MSP of agricultural produces and Mandi system. "These Bills will help farmers, but some organisations mislead people," he added.