In an attempt to end the impasse with farmers who have been protesting, the Indian government provided guaranteed support rates for pulses, corn, and cotton, Trade Minister Piyush Goyal announced following a week of violence between demonstrators and security personnel.
Tear gas and roadblocks were deployed months in advance of a general election that is scheduled for May, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is vying for an unprecedented third term, to dissuade the farmers, who constitute a significant voting bloc.
Following the protesters’ stop at a distance of approximately 200 km from New Delhi, who are demanding better prices backed by law for over two dozen crops, lengthy negotiations with farmers’ unions took place before to Sunday’s remarks.
According to Goyal, the government has suggested five-year contracts with a minimum support price, funded by cooperative groups it supports, for farmers who diversifying their crops to cultivate black lentils, red lentils, corn, and pigeon peas.
In the northern city of Chandigarh, Goyal told reporters, “These organizations will purchase the produce and there will be no limitation on quantity.” He also said that farmers who diversify and grow cotton would receive a similar price guarantee.
The farmers’ unions stated that, after internal consensus, they will make a decision on the plan in a day or two.
In addition to helping to replenish the declining water table, increasing the amount of crops planted to pulses instead of more water-demanding crops like wheat and rice will also reduce the amount of pulses imported.
India, the largest importer of pulses in the world, has had difficulty containing price hikes for black matpe and pigeon peas.
The biofuel and poultry sectors are driving up demand for corn domestically.
Thousands of farmers, who primarily cultivate rice and wheat, were trying to march to New Delhi to urge the request that the government guarantee a minimum price for all of their produce, but police stopped them with barriers and tear gas.
