India’s controversial farm bills become law despite protests

 India’s president on Sunday approved three controversial agricultural bills amid nationwide protests by farmers who say the new laws will stunt their bargaining power and instead allow large retailers to possess control overpricing.

Farmers’ organisations say one among the three laws could lead on to the govt stopping buying grain at guaranteed prices, a move that might disrupt wholesale markets which have thus far ensured fair and timely payments to farmers.

President Ram Nath Kovind’s approval is probably going to further stir protests, leading farmers’ organisations said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already lost a key political ally from the northern Indian state of Punjab, one among India’s two bread basket states, where farmers form an influential voting bloc.

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The country’s main opposition Congress party has also backed the protests.

Under the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill — one among the laws already approved by parliament — growers can directly sell their produce to institutional buyers like big traders and retailers.

Nearly 85 per cent of India’s poor farmers own but five acres of land and that they find it difficult to directly negotiate with large buyers.

Modi’s administration has clarified that the wholesale markets will operate as was common , and therefore the government only aims to empower farmers to sell on to buyers