1. Political: UCC likely to see huge protests from non-majority communities, perhaps equal to or more intense than land reforms and agri reforms protests.

To the office-goers who think the #FarmersProtest is misguided and that the laws are actually good for them. Imagine this: Imagine that the government, without asking you or anyone, passed laws that made it possible for your employer to pay you as little as ten rupees a month.

Now imagine that when you said this was unfair, they told you this is for your own good because you have also been given the freedom to work anywhere in the world, for any company of your choice. They also tell you that if you want, you can even work for individuals.

Now, I am sure this was really easy for you to imagine if you work over the internet. But in order to really understand this, imagine what would happen if you couldn't. What if you had to go to work physically every day and what if your work involved physical movement of goods.

I think you will be extremely pissed. I think you will not like it at all. You have a life that involves commuting to work. You have your expenses sorted out. It is easier for you to deal with your salaried life than to manage ten thousand work engagements spread out all over.

Now imagine that you told the government you don't like this decision and that you will like things to go back to the way they were. Imagine you are ignored completely. Imagine you gather up your fellow office-goers and march to the seat of power to make your voice heard.

#FarmersAgitation #FarmerPolitics #FarmersProtestHijacked Learn the truth.
Arhtiyas (commission agents) who have been the main link between farmers and procurement agencies in the two states of Punjab and Haryana, launched their campaign against the Centre’s agri-marketing

ordinances early as the three bills cleared by Parliament will adversely affect their business. There are over 30,000 registered Arhtiyas in Punjab and Haryana who are deeply entrenched in the system. They exercise a strong influence on agricultural activities and the politics of

both states. These 30,000 employ another 300,000 sub agents or sidekicks or people who would not have made it into doing anything anyplace were it not for the patronage network of these 30,000. But there are only 1500 farming villages in Punjab. 330,000 / 1500 is about 220 people

on average per village doing the work of middlemen.
Why is this the case?
We had a food shortage and a ship to mouth existence until the 1970’s. Norman Borlaug pioneered a variety of wheat which gave 10 X the yield but needed 3X the fertiliser. The Punjab was chosen as the

battleground against hunger. Enterprising Sikh farmers worked hard to Create what we know as the green revolution. Since there were huge shortages laws were made which didn’t allow for stockholding or selling at farm gates. Essential Commodities Act - APMC Act (farmers were

1

Farm Acts, Let’s Spread Reality

1. The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill

Allow farmers to sell their produce outside d Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC)

@TajinderBagga @KapilMishra_IND @MODIfiedVikas

#HonestFarmersWithPmModi

2

APMCs r Govt Controlled Mandis. So farmers clearly hv more choice who dey wanna sell NOW

APMC is an obsolete institution has now become farmers oppressor, a monopoly cartel fixing low prices for d farmers' produce, forcing distress sales, 1st good Pt

#HonestFarmersWithPmModi

3

2. The Farmers (Empowerment & Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance & Farm Services Bill

Dis Bill makes provisions for d setting up of a framework for contract farming

Farmer & an ordained buyer can strike a deal EVEN before d production happens

#HonestFarmersWithPmModi

4

3. The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020

The FPTC (Promotion & Facilitation) Ordinance allows intra-state & inter-state trade of farmers produce beyond d physical premises of APMC markets

State Govts can’t levy any market Fee/Cess outside APMC areas

3rd good Point

5

Benefits

1 Can avoid APMC/Middleman & sell d produce anywhere to anyone

2 Bypass d Essential Commodities Act & be free to store inventory

3 Free to make contracts & transfer risk to Businessmen in deals made over a crop EVEN before yield is made

#HonestFarmersWithPmModi

The Farm Law Protests mask the Blatant Inequality of Rural Punjab where Dalit farm labour derisively known as seeri are oppressed.

If these poor labour demand any pay increase, they are boycotted by landlords often with collusion of district administration.

When these labourers start demanding pay increments, the landlords rain down on them with majoritarian might. Any collective action is crushed with village-wide “boycotts.”

The boycotted Dalit farm labour of Punjab are unable to procure sauda, the household supplies. Milk becomes out of reach, so does fodder for the precious livestock. They are barred from using the common shamlatland for grazing the paltry cows and goats which they own.

In village Mahan Singh Wala, this rural apartheid was announced by the gurdwara. In places like Amirke, Faride Wala, Dhotian, Sardarpura, Gandav, Sakohan, Lehra Khana and Khiva Khurd, the labourers either faced violence or had to walk miles to procure the household supplies.

All these boycotts were recorded within a matter of few months in the year 2012.

In fact, over time, this has become a time-tested political strategy in rural Punjab and such boycotts could potentially last for years.

Ever wondered how MSP for crops is calculated ?

Below is an attempt to present a simplified view, followed by some pertinent questions (just to have better understanding, not taking sides)&

The MSP is usually based on the recommendations by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP

This estimation is usually done based on three types of calculation methods. These are A2 method, A2+FL method and C2 method.

As per the A2 method, MSP is set 50% higher than the amount farmer spends on farming including spending on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, and labour.

C2 method includes A2 factors + economic value of the efforts of family members working on the farm + the value of other spending including rent and other assets. After calculating these, MSP is set at 50% above the derived amount.

A2+FL method is middle ground between the other methods were the MSP is set 50% higher than the amount that derives the amount farmer spend on farming on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, and labour and the value of labour provided by the family members for agriculture.