New Delhi, Sep 21 (UNI) Amid widespread protests by opposition parties and farmers across the country over the passage of farm sector bills in Parliament on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that some vested interests are trying to mislead the farmers on the historical reforms in agriculture and assured every farmer in the country that the system of MSP would continue as before.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone for nine National Highway Projects in Bihar and launching the project to provide internet services through Optical Fibre in the state today through video conferencing, the PM said, 'these reforms are necessary in order to free the farmers from various shackles. The historic laws give new rights to the farmers and there would be no restrictions on selling their produce to anyone, anywhere and at a price and terms determined by the farmer himself.'

The Prime Minister clarified that krishi mandis will not be closed and that they would continue to operate as they have been doing before. The Prime Minister said it was the NDA Government which is working for modernization and computerization of Mandis for the last 6 years.

Mr Narendra Modi also assured every farmer in the country that the system of MSP shall continue as before.

The Prime Minister said some vested interests are trying to mislead the farmers on the historical reforms in agriculture.

He said, the government procurement of pulses and oilseeds in the last 5 years is about 24 times more than the 5 years preceding 2014. During the Corona period this year, record purchases of wheat have been made from farmers during the Rabi season.

This year in rabi season, farmers were given Rs 1 lakh 13 thousand crore in MSP for the procurement of Wheat, Grain, Pulses and Oilseeds.

'This amount is also more than 30 percent over the previous year.

That is, during the Corona period, not only the record government purchases were made but also the record payments were made to the farmers. It is the responsibility of 21st century India to create new systems for the farmers of the country with modern thinking,' he said.
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Prime Minister said that the same vested interests which were exploiting the farmers have pushed the Swaminathan Committee Recommendations on MSP under the carpet for years. He said that every season the Government would announce MSP as always.

The Prime Minister said the earlier system bred vested interests which took advantage of hapless farmers.

Mr Modi said under the new reforms, the farmer has various alternatives apart from the Agriculture Markets (Krishi Mandis). A farmer can now sell his produce where he gets more profit.

Citing examples of Potato farmers in a state, and oil seed farmers in MP and Rajasthan, Prime Minister said, the farmers reaped in more than 15 to 30 percent profit under the reformed system.

He said Oil Mill owners purchased oil seeds directly from the farmers in these states. In states like Madhya Pradesh, UP, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal with surplus pulses, the farmers have got 15 to 25 percent more prices directly compared to last year since Pulses mills have also purchased directly from farmers.

In states like Madhya Pradesh, UP, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal with surplus pulses, the farmers have got 15 to 25 percent more prices directly compared to last year since Pulses mills have also purchased directly from farmers.

Referring to the state of farmers, the Prime Minister said ,'we have more than 85 percent farmers are either small or marginal and because of this their input costs increase and also cannot make profits because of low production.

The Prime Minister said if the farmers can form a union then they can ensure better input costs and better returns.

'They can enter into better contracts with the buyers. These reforms will increase investment in agriculture, farmers will get modern technology, farmers' produce will reach the international market more easily,' he said.

Mr Modi referred to how recently five Farmer Producer Organisations in Bihar have entered into an agreement with a very famous rice trading company.

Under this agreement 4 thousand tons of paddy would be procured from the FPOs. Similarly, the Dairies and Milk Producers can also benefit from the reforms, he said.

The Prime Minister said that reforms have also been introduced in the Essential Commodities Act.

He said certain provisions of the Act have hindered farmers' freedom.

Mr Modi said pulses, oil seeds, potatoes, onions etc have been removed from restrictions of the act. Now the farmers of the country can easily store large amounts of their produce in cold storage.

'In our country, when the legal problems related to storage will be removed, the network of cold storage will also develop further and expand further,' the PM said.

The comments by the PM come amid widespread protests by farmers across the country against the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and in Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 passed in Parliament on Sunday.
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