Will attempt to improve them: Member of Supreme Court committee on farm laws

Shetkari Sanghatana chief Anil Ghanwat a member of the committee appointed by the Supreme Court to hold talks with agitating farmers said on Tuesday that the new farm laws partially implement what his outfit has been demanding for decadesHis attempt will be to improve them he said while coming out in support of reforms including permission for contract farmingWe are not lauding the Centres three acts that are described as giving freedom to farmers It was the Shetkari Sanghatana headed by late Sharad Joshi which had pressed for these changes first Ghanwat whose organization has been accused of backing the Centre on the issue despite representing farmers saidNow the current government has tried to implement them to some extent My role in the committee will be to protect the interest of farmers and improve these laws he saidSharad Joshi an economist who had worked with the World Bank founded the Shetkari Sanghatna in the late 1970sAmong other things he wanted freedom for farmers from restrictions on sale and export of produceThe demands have been met to some extent after 40 years of our relentless struggle We have been and still are of the opinion that farmers should get the freedom to choose cropping pattern and get access to technology Ghanwat saidWe are completely against the cess charged by the government at Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees The Centre had done away with the cess but due to some external pressure it was later included in the laws he saidThe committee will note the objection to the cess as it is always charged to farmers though traders are supposed to pay it he saidThe Supreme Court has given us a framework and we will hold talks with farmers leaders who are opposing the current acts We will try to find a solution by hearing their siderdquo Ghanwat saidAsked about apprehension that farmers will lose their land in contract farming he said Contract farming is already going on at the local level Besides a buyer company is interested in produce and not in farming I am not aware of any case of land grabbing by a corporate houseThe Supreme Court has time and again rapped Centre over farmer suicides and to end them reforms are necessary Ghanwat addedThe Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the implementation of controversial new farm laws and decided to set up a four member committee to resolve the impasse between the Centre and the farmers unions protesting against the laws at Delhi bordersThe top court stayed the implementation of the Farmers Empowerment and Protection Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce Promotion and Facilitation Act and the Essential Commodities Amendment ActThe panel will comprise Bhupinder Singh Mann President of Bhartiya Kisan Union Anil Ghanwat of Shetkeri Sanghatana Pramod Kumar Joshi director for South Asia International Food Policy Research Institute and agriculture economist Ashok GulatiThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever