Indian farmers are gearing up to march to the capital, New Delhi, on Wednesday to amplify their calls for increased crop prices, as indicated by a protest leader following unsuccessful rounds of negotiations.
Farm union representatives are advocating for assurances of state assistance or the establishment of a minimum purchase price for farmers’ agricultural produce.
Protest leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal informed reporters, “On March 6, farmers from across the country will converge on Delhi using various modes of transportation such as trains, buses, and flights.”
Additionally, farmers are planning to stage railway line blockades nationwide on March 10 to further emphasize their demands.
The demonstrations commenced in early February with hundreds of farmers from Punjab aiming to escalate their campaign to Delhi. However, their progress was impeded by law enforcement and paramilitary forces at Shambhu, located at the border with the neighboring state of Haryana, approximately 200 km (125 miles) from the capital.
While the government annually announces support prices for over 20 crops, state agencies predominantly purchase rice and wheat at these levels, benefiting only a small fraction of farmers engaged in cultivating these specific crops.
Following the repeal of farm laws in 2021 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, a commitment was made to establish a committee comprising farmers and government officials to explore avenues for ensuring support prices for all agricultural produce, aiming to address the concerns raised by the farming community.
The upcoming march and subsequent protests underscore the persistent challenges faced by Indian farmers and their unwavering determination to secure fair prices for their crops, reflecting the ongoing dialogue and tensions between the agricultural community and the government regarding agricultural policies and support mechanisms.