Protests by farmers hit industry hard, exports down, say bizmen

If farmers are protesting and their issues are not resolved by the government, what is the fault of the Industry, why are they adamant on ruining the industry by blocking roads and railway tracks every fourth day? Industry has asked them not to sow anything in the fields for a year, will it be agreeable to the growers? These are few questions raised by the disappointed industry from the farmers, who are sitting on a protest for long.

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Talking to The Tribune, former president of the Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO), SC Ralhan, said never in his lifetime, he had seen such protests and strikes as being done by farmers.

“This is simply blackmailing by the farmers. We also have issues with governments. We meet the authorities and apprise them of the problems and get the same resolved. If they are having issues, why cannot their delegation talks to the government? They want to go in hundreds to show their strength. It is the industry, which is suffering. Customers have stopped coming to Ludhiana when they get to know that it will take 8-10 hours by road as they have to pass through diverted routes during protests. We go to buyers but then we cannot take stocks with us. By blocking rail and road traffic in protest, the farmers are creating trouble for the industry,” Ralhan said.

He said without support from the AAP-led state government, such protests were not possible. “I feel things would be improved when the present government will be changed in the state,” he said.

Ajit Lakra, vice-president, Apex Chamber of Commerce, and head, Textile Division, Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organisation (FICO), said exports of textiles had come down to 30 per cent in the past three years. Thanks to ongoing strikes and protests by the farmers, as industrialists have failed to place orders timely.

“Nobody is interested in doing business with us due to the strikes. The morale of the industry has also come down and there is no growth. Traders and industrialists are bearing losses. Transportation cost has increased as it is taking long time to reach destinations. There is wastage of time. All these factors add to frustration of businessmen in the state. Besides, none wants to start or expand business in such a negative situation,” he said.

The industrialists maintained that initially, when the farmers began their protest, the entire industry was with them. But now, what can the industry do when it is also facing downfall trends due to their agitations? “Our business has been affected badly in the past three years, there has been no growth. Through video calls, we ask customers to place orders but this is neither satisfying to the buyers nor the industrialists. The bicycle industry’s growth has also declined due to the long protests of farmers,” said Charanjit Vishkarma, chairman of the United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers’ Association (UCPMA), here.

Ayush Aggarwal, state secretary, Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal, on the basis of feedback from traders and industrialists, claimed that due to the ongoing protests at the Shambhu border, there are transportation losses to the tune of Rs 300 crore per week in the state.

“We are paying Rs 300 crore more on transport as everything goes through diverted routes,” he said, adding that during the previous protests by the farmers, the industry had incurred total losses of Rs 5 lakh crore in Punjab.

He said many industrialists had already established new units outside the state due to the protests. “If situation in state was not improved and borders not cleared, more industry will move out from the state,” he said.

The farmers sitting on protest at the Punjab-Haryana Border want implementation of about 14 demands, including a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP).