Chennai
“The proposed Electricity Bill is against providing free electricity for farmers and the State government has already started fitting meters for recording the usage of free electricity given to farmers. The act on contract farming will take away my rights on farming and will make me cultivate the crops that corporates desire,” Perumal told DT Next. Farmers across the country are protesting against the three farm laws and the Electricity Bill claiming that they will destroy farming completely. Farmers are supported by political parties and protests are taken to the next level. However, the public has very little knowledge about the reasons for the protest with the central government claiming that the three laws would create a revolution in the field of agriculture.
Perumal, who has been farming in a 27 acres land, has been an active protester against the farm laws. He explained why the public too should be aware of the laws. “Farm bills are not just against farmers but is against the food security of the entire nation. The Essential Commodities Act has removed the limit of storing food grains which will pave way for hoarding and artificial price rise,” he added.
Also, the crops to be cultivated by farmers will be decided by the market demands. “If maize is in demand, the company that has signed a contract with farmers will force the farmer to plant maize. Likewise, if bananas are in demand, farmers will be forced to plant banana. If such practices continue, food grains will not be cultivated and there will be a threat to food security,” Perumal opined.
Perumal also said that the Contract Farming Act has several features against the rights of farmers. “Agriculture is dependent on monsoon and if monsoon fails, crops will fail. Under the contract farming law, if farmers fail to fulfil the agreement signed between the companies, they stand the chance of even losing their land,” said Perumal.
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