2020 Indian farmers' protest Facts and Reason

 The 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest is an ongoing protest against the three farm acts which were passed by the Parliament of India in September 2020. Farmer unions and their representatives have demanded that the laws be repealed and will not accept anything short of it.

Why farmers are protesting?

Farmers' protest: Through the Bills, the farmers wanted freedom from indebtedness and remunerative price for their crop. Two private member Bills presented in Parliament in 2018 could hold the key to loosening the deadlock between the government and protesting farmers in North India.

Why farmers are protesting in Delhi?

Dilli Chalo. After failing to get the support of their respective state governments, the farmers decided to pressure the Central Government by marching to Delhi. On 25 November 2020, protesters from the Dilli Chalo ( transl. "let us go to Delhi") campaign were met by police at the borders of the city.

What is wrong with farmers Bill?

Over the next two decades, state governments set up large mandis which were run by regulated Agricultural Produce Market Committees or APMCs. Gradually, all large wholesale markets, which were the first touchpoints for farmers, were brought under APMC Acts.

They say these bills will help no one, except big corporates and destroy farmers' livelihood. These three bills may liberate farmers from the clutches of middlemen, also known as arhatiyas.  State governments will lose mandi tax, also a huge source of revenue for them, which is why they seem to be opposing the bills.

What is the new farmer Bill 2020?

The bill on Agri market seeks to allow farmers to sell their produce outside APMC 'mandis' to whoever they want. The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020, seeks to remove commodities like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes from the list of essential commodities.

As of 16 January 2021, the farmers' demands include:

Make minimum support price (MSP) and state procurement of crops a legal right. Assurances that conventional procurement system will remain. Implement Swaminathan Panel Report and peg MSP at least 50% more than weighted average cost of production.

Minimum support price (MSP) is a “minimum price” for any crop that the government considers as remunerative for farmers and hence deserving of “support”. It is also the price that government agencies pay whenever they procure the particular crop.

The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill does not give any statutory backing to MSP. Forget making it a legal right, there isn't even a mention of either “MSP” or “procurement” in the Bill passed by both Houses of Parliament last week