Punjab govt reaffirms commitment to safeguarding farmers' rights under national agricultural policy

Reaffirming the commitment of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government to firmly stand with farmers of the state, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian has assured farmer union leaders that the state government will not allow farmers' interests to be affected by the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing.

The Agriculture Minister was holding in-depth discussions with farmer unions’ leaders on the draft policy on “National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing here at Punjab Bhawan, on Thursday.

“The state government is concerned as this policy could have serious implications for the State and its farmers, so we want to analyse and consult on the each and every aspect of the draft policy shared by the GoI,” said the Agriculture Minister, while adding that agriculture experts and other stakeholders will also be consulted soon to analyse it thoroughly so that not a single point is left unconsidered.

Gurmeet Singh Khudian, along with Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Mr. Anurag Verma, Chairman of Punjab State Farmers' & Farm Workers' Commission Dr. Sukhpal Singh, Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Mr. Ramvir, appealed the farmers to send their suggestions and comments in this regard to the Agriculture department.

Farmer Unions’ leaders Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Dr. Darshan Pal, Ruldu Singh Mansa, Dr. Satnam Singh Ajnala and other leaders expressed deep concerns over potential privatisation, monopolistic practices in the disguise of the Policy.

It could be an attempt to reintroduce the contentious provisions of the three farm laws, which were repealed by the Union Government following the farmers’ protests, they added.

They also urged the state government for further examination before sending a response to the Centre so that Punjab and its farmers interests could be fully secured.

The high-level meeting was also attended by Special Secretary Agriculture Harbir Singh, Director Agriculture Mr. Jaswant Singh, Director of Research at PAU, Ludhiana Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt and senior officials of Punjab Mandi Board and Agriculture department.