Explained: Why Farmers Are Opposing the India-US Trade Agreement
Farmers in Punjab and Haryana have been protesting against a proposed bilateral trade agreement between India and the United States. They are concerned that opening India’s agricultural market further to American products could place millions of Indian farmers at a serious disadvantage because the two agricultural systems are very different in size, costs and government support.
India’s Soil Is Sick, and So Is the Food on Your Plate: New Study
Most of the food we eat comes from the soil. But across India, the soil is badly damaged and missing key nutrients that crops need to grow well and carry the minerals our bodies depend on, a new report says. As a result, you can eat a full plate of food and still not get the nourishment you need.
Once in a Generation, Rats Return to Mizoram’s Fields
In parts of Mizoram, farmers are experiencing a surge in rodent numbers that is damaging their crops. Large groups of rats have been entering fields and eating rice, soybeans and other produce. Many of these farmers practise jhum cultivation, which means clearing forest patches and growing crops there for one or two seasons. Rats are entering these farms, eating produce before harvest, and causing heavy financial losses for families who depend on a single yearly crop for food and income.
Punjab Farmer’s Health Declines as Hunger Strike Reaches 50th Day
The health of Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a 70-year-old farmer from Punjab, is deteriorating as he enters the 50th day of his indefinite hunger strike on Jan. 14. He has refused medical intervention while continuing his fast to demand a legal guarantee of minimum support price for crops.
Punjab Farmer’s Fast Enters Crucial 40-Day Mark
A 70-year-old farmer leader in Punjab reached his 40th consecutive day of indefinite fasting to demand a legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) for crops on Jan. 4. A fast beyond 40 days in older adults may lead to the depletion of fat and muscle, increasing the risk of organ failure and sudden cardiac complications.
‘Dilli Chalo’ March: 15 More Farmers Injured by Police Tear Gas
Fifteen more farmers were injured on Dec. 14 at the Shambhu border after Haryana police deployed tear gas against protesters who were attempting to move toward the capital city as part of their “Dilli Chalo” march, held in support of their longstanding agricultural demands.
8 More Protesting Farmers Injured With Tear Gas Shells
Eight more farmers sustained injuries on Dec. 8 when Haryana police discharged tear gas shells at protesters attempting to enter Delhi on foot to voice their demands for legal guarantees for Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and other longstanding grievances. The incident is the latest in a series of crackdowns this month, which have already resulted in injuries to at least 15 other farmers.
Farmers’ Protest: 15 Injured and Hospitalised After Haryana Police Use Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets
At least 15 farmers were injured and hospitalised after the Haryana police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters at the Shambhu border on Dec. 5. The demonstrators, who were seeking to enter Delhi, are part of a movement demanding government to address agricultural issues for the last five years.
What’s the Farmer’s Share When Vegetables Reach Your Table?
When you buy vegetables from the market, have you ever wondered how much of the money you spend actually ends up in the pockets of the farmers who grow them? A study by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) suggests that only about one-third of the money you spend on tomatoes, onions and potatoes, commonly referred to as TOP, ends up with the farmers.
Supreme Court to Form Panel to Resolve Farmers’ Grievances ‘For All Times’
The Supreme Court has said it will establish a multi-member committee dedicated to permanently resolving the grievances of farmers. The decision includes ongoing dialogues between the Punjab and Haryana governments and the farmers protesting along the Shambhu border. The talks are intended to facilitate the removal of tractors and trollies that have been blocking a crucial highway since Feb. 13.
Kerala Govt Ignores Malayalam Film Industry Abuse
An official investigation report on allegations of abuse and exploitation within the Malayalam film industry details 17 different forms of exploitation faced by women across 30 industry categories. However, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has stated that his administration will not independently initiate action against individuals named in the report unless a woman comes forward with a complaint.
Farmer Protests May Hurt BJP Despite Little Media Attention
The grievances of the farmers, expressed through their “Dilli Chalo (Let’s go to Delhi)” movement and ongoing protests, reflect deep-rooted issues in the agricultural sector that have significant implications for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the ongoing elections. Though out of sight for many news readers, these protests are a manifestation of widespread discontent among the rural electorate, which forms a substantial portion of the voter base in northern states such as Punjab and Haryana.
The Worsening Plight of Farmers Over the Past Decade
The central government set a target to double farmers’ incomes by 2022, from 8,058 rupees a month to 22,610 rupees, necessitating an annual income growth rate of 10.4%. It also promised that agricultural produce would be procured at a “minimum support price” (MSP) of at least one and a half times the comprehensive cost of production. Despite these plans, the reality on the ground has been starkly different, according to an analysis by the Financial Accountability Network – India.
Indian Economy’s Shift from Agriculture to Services
India, traditionally an agrarian nation, has seen a significant shift in its economic structure. While agriculture once employed the majority of the workforce and contributed substantially to the Gross Value Added (GVA, or the value of goods and services produced), its economic significance has diminished over time, according to a data report, which shows that, in contrast, the services sector has expanded significantly. This shift has both positive and negative implications for the country and its people.
Farmers’ Protest: Supporting Social Media Accounts Suspended
Dozens of social media accounts on X, previously known as Twitter, have been suspended in India due to their support for farmers’ protests, according to a media report. The censorship is being seen as a crackdown on dissent ahead of the upcoming general elections.
Is It Right for India to Export Food Amid Domestic Hunger?
India’s agricultural narrative is marked by contradictions between government claims of self-sufficiency and the harsh realities of hunger and farmer distress. The government’s assertion of surplus and self-sufficiency should be examined against the backdrop of India being home to 270 million hungry people, making it the country with the highest number of undernourished individuals globally, says a report by the media outlet DownToEarth.
3 Protesting Farmers Lose Eyesight After Being Hit by Pellet Guns
During the ongoing farmers’ protests, three farmers have lost their vision due to the Haryana police’s use of pellet guns, according to a media report. Given that pellet guns are considered less lethal than firearms yet can cause internal organ damage and blindness, is it permissible for law enforcement officials to employ such weapons?
Can Farmers Afford Cost of Living in India?
India’s national average monthly farm income is 5,298 rupees and the average monthly total income is 10,695 rupees, according to data from the latest National Sample Survey. It’s scant, indeed, but more troubling is that this average fails to reflect the circumstances of the majority of farmers, as shown by The India Forum amid an ongoing farmers’ protest around Delhi.
Why Farmers Are Returning to Delhi for Protests
A significant resurgence of agricultural dissent is anticipated in Delhi. Preparations are underway for thousands of farmers, along with a convoy of 2,000 tractors, to converge on the borders of Delhi. It’s a part of a planned protest, with farmers preparing to make their way to the national capital. The farmers have set an ultimatum for the government until Feb. 12.
Over 150 Daily Suicides Among Farmers and Daily-Wage Workers in 2022
Of the 170,924 deaths by suicide reported in India in 2022, more than 56,280 occurred among daily-wage workers and those in the farming sector, according to the latest report released by the National Crime Records Bureau.