The Paschim Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samanwaya Samiti (POKSSS), a farmers' outfit of western Odisha, staged dharna across the region protesting against the farm Bills.
“Our main demand is ‘legal right’ for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers. But we fail to understand why the Government is not speaking on this important aspect of MSP if it is so interested for the development of farmers,” said Saroj, a leading farmer leader and social activist.
He further said that the new farm acts will sabotage the age old institutions including Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), FCI and State Mandi Board. Since MSP is not a legal right in the new act, there is every possibility that the farmers will not get it (MSP) in private mandis.This apart, in contract farming, in the name of gradation, FAQ or low quality, the corporate and company may not abide by the agreement.
Since the majority of the farmers are small, marginal and sharecropper, it will be difficult for them to wage legal battle against the corporate and company in case of violation of agreement, he warned.
“The Union Government passed the bill without discussing with any farmer organisation.
The farmers and the farming sector as a whole will come to an end with the implementation of the anti-farmer laws,” said convenor of POKSSS Askok Pradhan.
The POKSSS warned that they will organise meetings at village level across the region and sensitise people about the anti-farmer laws.
The farmers also staged dharna in Balangir, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Bargarh and Subarnapur districts.