Tackling Agricultural Reforms After Farm Laws Repeal
The Modi government has been silent on the issues of trader collusion and farmers’ welfare, but the recent farm laws repeal should not stop it from addressing these issues. While the current governing party vouches for the need for reforms, they also tend to disregard the lessons learned from the 2014 Acts. In particular, a new bill has been proposed to delink the regulatory and operational roles of APMCs.
In his article, Shekhar Gupta, editor of ThePrint, explained that the repeal of the three farm laws opens the door for private investment in agriculture. But the government’s regulatory policy has hindered the growth of these large corporations, which are critical to the economy. Without legal guarantees, farmers felt uncertain about their economic future and were dissatisfied with the lack of political will on the part of the ruling party. Many farm union leaders, and even many politicians, headed to New Delhi to voice their concerns.
The repeal of three controversial farm laws has opened the door to a new round of agribusiness. Initially, the Government had pushed for a change in agricultural policy through three separate Farm Acts. However, the current situation has made reform even more challenging. The government has shifted its focus from promoting private investment in agricultural technology to convincing states to adopt model APMC laws. Although there is a broader appetite for agribusiness, the lack of agritech startups in the US and Europe will likely be a hindrance.
In the end, the Modi government’s decision to repeal the three controversial farm laws reflects the sentiments of the farmers. These farmers were able to remain in Delhi for over a year, but now they are moving on. They may not be able to achieve their goal, as the defeatism of the government creates an unfavorable environment for the reform process. And without political support and state force, it will be impossible for any reform to be successful.
The government has been criticized for its decision to repeal the three controversial farm laws, saying the repeal was not motivated by the change of heart but rather by the fear of elections. But despite the failure of the farm laws, the underlying issues still remain unanswered. The prevailing political climate is not conducive to any kind of reform, as the CAP was a stalwart of political opposition. In addition, the changes were controversial in the long run.
The new farm laws have been a big boon for the farmers. But as far as the government is concerned, the laws are more important than ever. The abolition of the farm laws will open up the market for agri-businesses and global venture capital. And the repeal of farm legislation will leave the farmer open to exploitation and fraud, and the country will no longer be able to feed itself.
Sources :- Escorts