Leaders of around 25 farmer organisations today met and handed over to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar a letter in support of Centre's new agriculture laws.

This comes at a time when the government is trying hard to initiate talks with several other farmer organisations who are protesting against the farm laws across the country.

Farmers have been protesting at borders of Delhi for over a month against the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

The three farm laws, enacted in September, have been projected by the government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country.Reaching out to farmers protesting the three farm laws for the last 22 days, Union Minister for Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar has written a letter to them saying the minimum support price (MSP) is going to continue.

Farmers' agitation continues 

Amid the prevailing deadlock between farmers and the Central government over the new farm laws, the agitation of farmers entered the 32nd day on Monday. Farmer unions have held several rounds of talks with the government and attended a meeting called by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Meanwhile, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a joint front of almost 40 farmer organisations, wrote a letter to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare accepting the Centre's offer for dialogue and proposed December 29 as the next date for the meeting.

Earlier today, the Agriculture Minister said even former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar - who served as the Agriculture Minister during the UPA government -- wanted to implement reforms in the farm sector but could not due to 'external forces'.

Tomar stated that many Chief Ministers had tried to implement the same farm laws that the Narendra Modi government has formulated for agriculture sector reforms in the country but could not implement them due to these external pressures.

Source: Times Now