Chandigarh, March 12 — Farmers from Khanauri and Shambhu morcha have submitted a report to the government on implementing a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) on crops. The move comes ahead of the next round of discussions with ministers, facilitated by a Supreme Court-appointed committee, scheduled for March 19.
The report, prepared after consultations within SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, was handed over to former DIG Narinder Bhargav, who is mediating between the farmers and the government panel. Shambhu morcha convener Sarwan Singh Pandher confirmed the submission, stating, “It is not our job to frame a report; that responsibility lies with policymakers. We have kept it simple and raised key points, including parliamentary committee recommendations for a legal MSP guarantee and the OECD report on how government policies have taxed farmers.”
Apart from MSP, farmers have raised demands for loan waivers and the withdrawal of cases against protesters. The Central Government has proposed a five-year plan to procure pulses, maize, and cotton at MSP, though its specifics remain under discussion.
According to sources, the report will be reviewed by Agriculture Ministry officials and economists before the government presents its response on March 19.
The last round of talks between Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s three-member delegation and 28 farmer representatives took place on February 22.
