Set up panel to redraft Act, ensure MSP to farmers: Agri scientists to Centre

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, January 7

Agriculture scientists led by a former vice chancellor of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University (HAU) have suggested to the Centre to keep the new Agriculture Acts in abeyance for one year and redraft the Act by setting up a committee having representation from diverse sections of the society, including farmers.

The Agriculture experts held an online meeting today chaired by former HAU vice Chancellor Dr KS Khokhar. The meeting has retired agricultural scientists from different states, agricultural universities and ICAR institutes as participants to discuss the present scenario emerging due to the ongoing farmers’ agitation. NS Verma, former Associate Director and Head of Extension Education at the HAU, was convener.

Dr Khokhar stated that the participants agreed that the demand of the farmers to give statutory provision to the minimum support price (MSP) of their produce is genuine. “The Government is also not having any objection to continue it and prepared to give a written guarantee, hence, it should be given a legal sanction through a new Act,” he said.

Besides, the former VC stated, since both the Government and the farmers are posturing their rigid stands with regard to new Agriculture Acts, the agriculture scientists suggested that these Acts should be held in abeyance at least for one year. “ln the meantime, when the aforesaid Acts are not under implementation, a committee having representatives of farmers, agricultural experts, economists, lawmakers, and other stakeholders should be constituted to redraft the Agriculture Acts so that these are acceptable to all who are having a stake,” he maintained.

The participants appealed to government to show magnanimity for accommodating the point of view of the farmers and also urged the agitating farmers to maintain their stir peaceful in any eventuality and restrain themselves from falling prey to any clandestine design to flare up the situation. The participants also pay homage to the farmers who lost their lives during the 42 days of agitation.