The federal government, during a fourth round of talks with protesting farmers, proposed that it would buy key crops like cotton, maize, and pulses from farmers in Punjab at a minimum safety price (MSP) for the next five years.
The decision was announced by federal minister Piyush Goyal, who met farmers with his Cabinet colleagues Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai, after the meeting.
MSP is the price fixed by the government to protect farmers from a steep decline in crop prices.
“Cooperative societies like the NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers Federation) and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) will enter into a contract with those farmers who grow tur dal, urad dal, masoor dal or maize for buying their crop at MSP for next five years”, Goyal told mediapersons.
He further stated that cereals like arhar, tur, and urad, if brought at MSP, would lead to a reduction in imports, recover the depleted water level of Punjab, as well as provide economic pulses for consumers.
Regarding cotton, the minister said that the Cotton Corporation of India would procure the entire crop at MSP.
He further informed the media that farmer leaders would convey their decision regarding the proposal by Monday.
Meanwhile, farmer leader and General Secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Sarvan Singh Pandher said that discussions on the government’s proposal would be held, while the "Delhi Chalo" march will continue on 21 February if there is no result.
“We will have discussions on the proposal by the gov't in the next two days...The gov't will also deliberate on the other demands...We will continue with the 'Delhi Chalo' march on Feb 21 if there is no result”, Pandher said.