Set up agriculture courts: Farmer leaders tell Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

The farmer leaders representing various organisations in Maharashtra have asked Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray that agriculture courts must be structured in the state to deal with farmers’ issues. They have also demanded more laws to protect farmers should be enacted by the state government to ensure that the agricultural produce is not bought below the minimum support price (MSP). 

Recently, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray chaired a meeting with the leaders from farmers’ organisations along with his cabinet ministers and senior government officials to discuss their views on the three farm bills passed by the Narendra Modi government. The state government intends to take a decision on its policy on these laws. 

The central government passed three agriculture bills - Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, Amendment to 1955 Essential Commodities Act - which are being opposed by farmers, especially in Punjab and Haryana. 

Although Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar earlier said that the farm bills won’t be implemented in the state, the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government is yet to take a final call.

Maharashtra All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) General Secretary Ajit Nawale said that the government should ensure that the farm produce is not bought below the MSP. He also said that the Maharashtra government will have to assure that it won’t give up on its responsibility for the farmers’ issue. 

The representative from farmers’ organisation in Maharashtra demanded that the agricultural courts should be structured similar to industrial courts. This would allow the farmers to take their issues in the courts easily, Nawale said. 

Meanwhile, Thackeray said that there was a need to address the shortcomings in the three farm laws passed by the central government. He said that the decision regarding the implementation of these farm laws will be taken by preparing a plan considering the suggestions put forward by the representatives of the farmers' associations.