Farmers of Punjab, who are protesting at Shambhu border, will leave for Delhi on Wednesday. In light of this, the farmers have arrived the border with heavy machinery like JCB and hydraulic cranes. This decision was taken following the meeting with the Centre. The Centre had proposed to give MSP (Minimum Support Price) on 5 crops i.e. cotton, maize, lentil, arhar and urad.
The farmers rejected this proposal with Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal saying that they had talked to experts and farmers regarding the Centre's proposal. Following that, they came to the conclusion that the proposal is not in the farmers’ interest. The demand for a guaranteed law on MSP should be fulfilled according to them. They also say there is no need of Rs 1.75 lakh crore to give MSP .
In view of the farmers' movement, the decision to ban internet in 7 districts of Haryana has been extended till February 20.
According to agricultural expert Devendra Sharma, MSP in 5 crops cannot solve the problems of farmers across the country. This is a Punjab based proposal. These four crops are still being sold at almost MSP or higher prices. The point is that the crops which are being sold below the MSP should be purchased at the MSP.
Farmers are making a major demand for making MSP law on the basis of Swaminathan Commission report on the 23 crops on which MSP is already applicable. Farmers do not want their entire crop to be bought by the government only, rather they want a guarantee on the minimum price for selling their crops in the open market. Farmers say that no government, private companies or public sector agencies should be able to buy their crops below the MSP.