They sell our wheat to us at thrice the price

Women farmers and farm workers who have been fighting for their land rights, were protesting in Mumbai against the new farm laws so they don’t lose out more from the sale of farm produce below the MSP

The new laws against which the farmers protesting against are The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 ; The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 ; and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 . They were first passed as ordinances by the central government on June 5, 2020, then introduced as farm bills in Parliament on September 14 and hastened into Acts on the 20th of that month.

Back in her village, Mathurabai cultivates 7.5 acres of land. Her recent experience with private traders has made her more determined to protest against the new laws. The traders paid her Rs. 900 for a quintal of wheat, she said, which was far less than Rs. 1925 – the approved MSP for wheat in 2020-2021. “They sell the same wheat to us in the market at thrice the price. We are the ones who grow it, and still we are asked to pay much more,” said Mathurabai.

— source ruralindiaonline.org | Feb. 1, 2021