Kisan Andolan: Farmers to Gherao Governor & Hold ‘Mahapanchayat’ in Lucknow on November 26

Alok Verma, state spokesperson for the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), told on Sunday that farmers' unions have decided to gherao governors of all states on the specified date to bolster their demand for the MSP law.

"Farmers from across Uttar Pradesh will arrive in Lucknow on tractors on November 26 to geharo the governor and submit a memorandum to her, in addition to holding a mazdoor-kisan mahapanchayat at Eco Garden to press for their demands," he said, adding that around one lakh farmers were expected to participate in the agitation.

Other demands include raising the sugarcane purchase price to Rs 500 per quintal, prohibiting action against farmers for burning crop residue, providing free electricity to farmers, dismissing and arresting Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra 'Teni' for his 'involvement' in the Lakhimpur violence, lifting the tractor-trolley ban, and compensating farmers for crop damage caused by unseasonal rains.

Over forty Indian farmers' unions came together in November 2020 to form Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), also known as the "Joint Farmers' Force" or "United Farmers Front," to coordinate satyagragh (non-violent resistance) against the three farm acts that were started in September of that same year.

Why are farmers calling for an MSP law?

The minimum support price, or MSP, is the price at which the government purchases food grains produced by farmers. It act as a safety net against any abrupt or significant drop in farm prices. Essentially, it is a government intervention to protect agricultural products from unanticipated price drops.

Every year at the start of the sowing season, the Indian government announces MSP for 23 different agricultural crops, including cereal, pulses, oilseeds, and commercial crops. Based on the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices' (CACP) recommendations, this was decided upon after considering the opinions of the relevant state governments and federal ministries/departments.