(REUTERS): India’s agriculture minister today (Thursday) has asserted that the government was ready to consider further changes to divisive reforms that have triggered the biggest protests by farmers in years.
“The government is ready to consider any additional objections of the farmers if they have any,” Narendra Singh Tomar said, urging the farmers’ leaders to come in for another round of talks to end the impasse over new agricultural legislation
The agriculture minister further said that the ultimate aim of the legislation was to increase farmers’ income. “Through these laws the government has eased restrictions on private investment in the agricultural sector,” he added.
“The current system of procurement where the state set prices would continue,” he added. Huge crowds have been out on the streets around Delhi since November demanding the government repeal the laws that they say will leave them at the mercy of private buyers.
On Wednesday, farmers rejected earlier compromises from the government, including a promise that private market places could be taxed by the state governments at the same rate as state markets.
In this regard, protest leaders have threatened to intensify their demonstrations from Saturday by blocking national highways and by boycotting public events held by leaders of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party.
Small farmers fear that once big corporate players enter the market, they will lose government guarantees on prices. Six rounds of talks have so far been held between the government and the farmer unions but the deadlock continues.
