'Govt always open to talks with farmers' unions over three new laws'

The government on Tuesday said it will remain open to discussions with protesting farmers unions to resolve issues over three new agriculture laws passed by Parliament in September last yearIn written replies to Lok Sabha on several questions related to farmers protest Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the government had so far held 11 rounds of negotiations talks with agitating farmers unions to resolve the issuesThe government has been engaged in serious sensitive and active discussions with the farmers unions to resolve the issues During various rounds of discussions government continuously requested the farmers unions to discuss the provisions of the farm laws so that if there is an objection to any provision the advancement can be made towards resolution of those the minister saidBut the farmers unions insisted only on the repeal of the farm laws he addedGovernment is always open to discussion with farmers unions and will remain open to discussion with agitating farmers to resolve the issue Tomar saidAlso Read Govt plans slew of bills in Monsoon Session Opposition to corner it over Covid management fuel priceIn all the rounds of discussions with the farmers unions the minister said the government had stressed that instead of insisting on the demand for the repeal of the laws the unions should discuss about their concerns on the clauses of farm Acts so that their concerns can be resolvedThousands of farmers mainly from Punjab Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh have been camping at Delhis borders for more than seven months in protest against the three laws that they say will end state procurement of crops at MSP Minimum Support PriceSupreme Court has put on hold the implementation of the three laws till further orders and set up a committee to find solutionsDuring the 10th round of talks held on January 20 the Centre had offered to suspend the laws for 115 years and form a joint committee to find solutions in return for protesting farmers going back to their respective homes from Delhis bordersThe farmers unions have been agitating against the three laws The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce Promotion and Facilitation Act 2020 The Farmersrsquo Empowerment and Protection Agreement On Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and The Essential Commodities Amendment Act 2020rdquoThe demands of agitating farmers unions are repealing the three farm laws keeping farmers outside the penalty provision on straw burning under Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance 2020 withdrawing the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 and issuesrelated to procurement at Minimum Support Price MSPGiving top priority to the interest of farmers government vide letter dated 9th December 2020 addressed to farmers unions explained point by point how the concerns expressed by the farmers were being taken care of in the proposal of the Government of India Government also proposed to constitute a small group consisting of representative of farmers unions who can deliberate on farm laws clausewise in a timebound manner and can also consider other issues related to farmers which representatives of farmers unions have not agreed However farmers unions never agreed to discuss the farm laws except for demanding their repeal Tomar saidThe minister said these laws are intended to provide an ecosystem where the farmers can enjoy the freedom of choice relating to sale of farmers produce which facilitates remunerative prices to farmers through competitive alternative channels for selling their produceThese farm Acts will facilitate direct buying from farmers in trade area by traders processors exporters Farmer Producer Organizations FPOs agriculture cooperative societies etc so as to facilitate farmers with better price realisation due to reduction in supply chain and marketing cost to enhance their income he addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever