Both sides must seek accommodation

Both sides must seek accommodation

The most satisfactory part of the sixth round of talks between the government and the protesting farmers would appear to be the langar (shared food) hosted by the farmers.

The government has conceded nothing on the main demand to repeal the three new farm laws, but seems to have given away a mile and a yard on free power and the farmers’ responsibility for curbing stubble burning during winter. It is welcome that the farmers and the government have agreed to keep talking. That is better than not talking and things proceeding to a confrontation.

The government has already offered to give an undertaking that MSP would not be withdrawn. However, MSP is neither here nor there. The main question is whether there would be open-ended procurement of unwanted crops at the MSP.

Considering that the government actually carries out procurement of only a handful of crops although MSP has been declared for around two dozen crops suggests that MSP without being backed up with procurement would be the preferred option for the government.

The question to discuss is how to wean farmers away from grain in Punjab and Haryana and move them into the crops, of which India still imports huge quantities: lentils, oilseeds and fruit. Also on the anvil must be the government’s plans for creating farmer producer organisations that would even the playing field between farmers and larger companies that would buy their produce, along with the government’s plans for substantial investment in farmgate infrastructure.

Farmers are a respected and responsible constituency. The government gains nothing from bludgeoning them into submission. Reform of the kind the farm laws seeks is vital, but a process that must build consensus, rather than conflict.