Farmers and agriculture experts on Tuesday rejected the Union Budget 2022-23, saying it did nothing to revive the distressed agriculture sector. The United Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of farmers’ unions that led the movement against the now repealed agricultural laws, called on farmers to be prepared for another “large-scale struggle” over minimum support prices and other issues. It claimed that the share of agriculture and allied activities in the budget has come down to 3.8 per cent from 4.3 per cent last time.
“Overall, this budget has shown that the government does not care about the welfare of farmers despite the ‘jumla’ (rhetoric) of adding ‘kisan welfare’ to the name of its ministry. It is as if the government, under its defeat over three anti-farmer laws, is ready to take revenge on the farming community,” the SKM said.
It pointed out that the government has not constituted the committee on MSP even after 50 days of its written promise. “While farmers are demanding MSP guarantee for all crops, the budget speech only mentions procurement of paddy and wheat from 1.63 crore farmers, which is about 10 per cent of all farmers in the country.”
SKM condemns this anti-farmer budget and calls upon the farmers of the country to be ready for yet another big struggle for Minimum Support Price and other burning issues.
Farmers said that they were expecting some big announcement for the sector, instead the government has shown no interest in increasing farmers’ income as announced in 2017. He says that the budget is silent on all important issues related to agriculture.
“During the Delhi Morcha, with the repeal of agricultural laws, another big demand was to provide MSP for all crops. The government had assured to take a decision on it after the formation of the committee but nothing happened. In fact, the government has also reduced the allocation for procurement of wheat and paddy,” said farmer Satnam Singh, who was a regular visitor to the Delhi Morcha.
Amarjeet Singh, another farmer from Jalandhar, said, “This budget has dashed our hopes.”
Satwinder Singh Sandhu of Batala, who has 50 acres of agricultural land, asked why the government is silent on the issue of diversification, while it asks Punjab to reduce the area under wheat and paddy. Satwinder Singh said, “Without diversification, this is not possible and diversification needs government support by creating fair markets for diverse crops, but there is nothing on it in the budget.”
Prof Gian Singh, economist and former head of the department of economics at Punjabi University Patiala, said the budget talks of promoting chemical-free natural farming, but “heavy burdens while shifting a state like Punjab from one crop to another. Financial support is required to switch from one farming method to another to make it viable for the farmers.
“There is no word on how farmers can go ahead with organic and natural farming,” said agricultural expert Professor Kesar Singh Bhanagu, retired professor of economics.
BKU (Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan said that they too are fighting for chemical-free natural farming, but it requires budgetary allocation. The announcement of natural farming without a budget is just a ‘jumla’. With natural farming, there is a huge drop in yield and to compensate it, farmers need financial assistance. At the same time we need new seeds and a fair market for such products and this requires a complete policy,” Kokrikalan said.
“What is in this budget to increase the income of farmers? The central government seems to have avenged the farmers for their protest. The government has also reduced the amount allocated under the MSP head, indicating that less purchases will be made at MSP. The government’s promise of doubling farmers’ income by 2022 is contrary to its actions,” said Jagmohan Singh, general secretary BKU (Dakonda).
Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav also alleged that the government “avenged” the farmers for leading a successful movement against the now repealed agricultural laws.
He said that silence has been kept regarding farmers in this budget as there was no mention of doubling farmers’ income or commenting on schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
“As far as farmers are concerned, the message of this budget is clear. The government, humiliated by the farmers’ movement, has come out to take revenge from them. The budget was characterized by silence,” Yadav said in a video message on Twitter.
He said that there is no allocation, announcement or communication about farmers in the Union Budget for 2022-23.
(with PTI inputs)
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