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Separating Wheat from the Chaff: Farm Acts, Farmers’ Protest and Outcomes

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  • Lakhwinder Singh
  • Baldev Singh Shergill

Abstract

The farmers’ protest at the outskirts of Delhi has completed one year and still continuing. It was triggered after the Government of India enacted three farm Acts in September 2020 (now repealed) that strive to initiate sweeping reforms in agricultural produce selling, procurement, and storage and public distribution of essential commodities. In this context, an attempt has been made in this article to examine the claim of both the government and the farmers’ unions leading the protest movement. The contribution of this study is manifold: in terms of tracing the evolution of the current farmers’ protest movement, farmer unions’ negotiations with the government, loss of human lives, and outcomes. It is found that farm Acts are structurally flawed and risk the food security of the country besides preparing ground for eviction of smallholders from agriculture altogether. The analysis of the field survey based on characteristics of 460 deceased farmers during the participation in the protest reveals that they belonged to the lowest rung of the farmers. The support to the family members left behind has come from various quarters but is inadequate. The article argues that the state autonomy to take policy decisions regarding farm Acts should be protected. The union government should develop institutional mechanism to take along all stakeholders for resolving the international and inter-state issues concerning agriculture sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Lakhwinder Singh & Baldev Singh Shergill, 2021. "Separating Wheat from the Chaff: Farm Acts, Farmers’ Protest and Outcomes," Millennial Asia, , vol. 12(3), pages 390-410, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:millen:v:12:y:2021:i:3:p:390-410
    DOI: 10.1177/09763996211063600
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sukhpal Singh & Lakhwinder Singh & Kamal Vatta (ed.), 2021. "Covid-19 Pandemic and Economic Development," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-981-16-4442-9, June.
    2. Sucha Singh Gill, 2021. "New Farm Acts and Emerging Market Forms: Implications for Farmers," Millennial Asia, , vol. 12(3), pages 316-331, December.
    3. Yoginder Kumar Alagh, 2018. "Economic Policy in a Liberalising Economy," SpringerBriefs in Economics, Springer, number 978-981-13-2817-6, October.
    4. Baldev Singh Shergill, 2021. "Basic Human Needs and Non-state Actors in Punjab: Understanding the Lives of Poor Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic," Springer Books, in: Sukhpal Singh & Lakhwinder Singh & Kamal Vatta (ed.), Covid-19 Pandemic and Economic Development, pages 209-222, Springer.
    5. Sukhpal Singh, 2021. "Reforming Agricultural Markets in Punjab in the Federal Context for Post-COVID-19 Recovery," Springer Books, in: Sukhpal Singh & Lakhwinder Singh & Kamal Vatta (ed.), Covid-19 Pandemic and Economic Development, pages 69-82, Springer.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sukhwinder Singh & Nikhil Srinivasapura Venkateshmurthy & Kerry Ann Brown & Avinav Prasad Maddury & Rajesh Khatkar & Prashant Jarhyan & Dorairaj Prabhakaran & Sailesh Mohan, 2023. "Agricultural and Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Farmer Household Dietary Diversity in India: A Comparative Study of Visakhapatnam and Sonipat," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, February.

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