Rajya Sabha clears Farm Bills Amid Unprecedented opposition

Parliament on September 20 passed two bills aimed at transforming agriculture in the country and raising farmers’ incomes.

The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 which were passed by Lok Sabha on 17th September 2020, were passed by the Rajya Sabha.

The Bills were introduced in Lok Sabha on September 14, 2020, by Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Narendra Singh Tomar, to replace ordinances promulgated on June 5, 2020.

Speaking about the Bills, Narendra Singh Tomar said that the Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken several landmark decisions in the last six years to ensure that farmers get remunerative prices for their produce, and for raising farmers’ incomes and livelihood status.

He again clarified that the procurement at Minimum Support Price will continue, assurance for this has been given by Hon’ble Prime Minister himself, rate of MSP has been increased considerably during 2014-2020, and MSP for the coming Rabi season will be announced in the coming week.

The Union Agriculture Minister said that full protection has been ensured to farmers in these legislations.

However, the opposition parties opposed the bill as anti-farmers and demanded that both the bills should be sent to a select committee for further deliberations.