Farmers protest: What was discussed in the meeting of farmers with the government, what will be the next step?

Farmer protest: Today, Monday 19 February, is the 7th day of farmers' protest. Farmers of Punjab-Haryana are sitting at Shambhu border. Under the 'Delhi Chalo Abhiyan', farmers started marching towards Delhi on February 13 but security personnel stopped them at the border.

The fourth round of talks between the protesting farmer leaders and the central government concluded late on Sunday (18 February). Know what conversation took place between the farmers and the government.

Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti, said that during the meeting, the central government presented some ideas including a five-year plan, after which the farmers have withdrawn the 'Delhi Chalo' march.

Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “We will discuss the proposals given by the Center with fellow farmers and take the opinion of experts. We will discuss the government's proposal in the next two days and the government will also consider it. We hope for a positive result.” Otherwise we will go to Delhi.” We will continue the march.

Agriculture-Farmers Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Commerce-Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai participated in the fourth round of farmer-government meeting. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Ma also participated in this talk. The meeting began at 8.15 pm on Sunday night at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Sector 26, Chandigarh and ended at 1 am.

What proposal did the government give to the farmers?

A panel of three Union ministers in a meeting with farmer leaders has proposed a five-year plan for procurement of pulses, maize and cotton crops at minimum support price by government agencies.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal said, “Cooperative societies like NCCF (National Cooperative Consumer Federation) and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) will sign contracts with farmers growing tuvar dal, urad dal, masoor dal or maize. Procurement will be done on MSP in the next five years.

The ministers also said there would be no limit on the quantity purchased and a portal would be developed. “This will save Punjab’s agriculture, improve groundwater levels and prevent land from becoming barren, which is already a major cause of stress,” Goyal said.

The Center also proposed that the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) would purchase cotton at MSP from farmers for five years through a legal agreement.