Farm law report months away, says member of govt-appointed panel

livemint.com:

NEW DELHI : The final report on farm laws by a government-appointed committee will only be ready in a few months, said a member of the panel, as farmers geared up for a protest this week to press long-standing demands over MSP and other farm-related issues. The member who did not wish to be named said the committee that was constituted two years ago to address farmers’ grievances, including on minimum support prices (MSP), is trying to forge a consensus at the earliest. Because of the delay, farmers from Punjab and Haryana are planning to march to Delhi on Tuesday.

“We have made a lot of progress since the setting up of the committee, and we need to iron out certain issues. There is a lot of effort going on in extending support to farmers, and many meetings have been held. The issue is very complex.

There are many angles and dimensions to it, and the committee must consider everything," said the person quoted above. “Not only farmers but also other entities such as consumers, industry, and the inter-secure linkages are involved. When a committee comes out with a report, they must address micro and macro issues," the member said.

“It’s not just MSP. There are various crops, regions and issues involved. There are cereals, perishables, storable, and exportable.

You will have to think about small and large farmers, and all must be given weightage, which is going on. We hope to come to a consensus. Most of the terms and concerns have been addressed.

It’s one or two issues for which we are having many meetings. So far, we hope to do it at the earliest, maybe in a few months," the member said. Farmers’ groups, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have called for a march to press the Central