The 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest was a protest against three farm acts that were passed by the

Parliament
[22]
of India in September 2020. The acts, often called the Farm Bills, have been described as "anti-farmer laws"
[23][24]
by many farmer unions, and politicians from the opposition who say it would leave farmers at the "mercy of
[25][26]
corporates". The farmers have also demanded the creation of a minimum support price (MSP) bill, to
ensure that corporates cannot control the prices. The union government, however, maintains that the laws will
make it effortless for farmers to sell their produce directly to big buyers, and stated that the protests are based on
[27][28][29]
misinformation. Related endemic legacy issues include farmer suicides and low farmer incomes.
Despite India being largely self-sufficient in foodgrain production and having welfare schemes, hunger and
nutritionremain serious issues, with India ranking as one of the worst countries in the world in food security
[30]
parameters.

Soon after the acts were introduced, unions began holding local protests, mostly in Punjab. After two months of
protests, farmer unions—mainly from Punjab and Haryana—began a movement named Dili Chalo (transl. Let's
go to Delhi), in which tens of thousands of farming union members marched towards the nation's capital. The
Indian government ordered the police and law enforcement of various states to attack the protesters using water
cannons, batons, and tear gas to prevent the farmer unions from entering into Haryana first and then Delhi.
November 2020 saw a nationwide general strike in support of the farmers and thousands converging at various
[31][32]
border points on the way to Delhi. Eleven rounds of talks took place between the central government and
farmers represented by the farm unions between 14 October 2020 and 22 January 2021; all were inconclusive
[33][34][35][36][37][38][39]
with agreement on only two relatively minor points.

While a section of farmer unions have been protesting, the Indian Government claims some unions have come
[40][41]
out in support of the farm laws. By mid December, the Supreme Court of India had received a batch of
[42][43]
petitions asking for the removal of blockades created by the protesters around Delhi. Farmers have said
[44]
they will not listen to the courts if told to back off. Their leaders have also said that staying the implementation
[45]
of the farm laws is not a solution.

The Supreme Court of India stayed the implementation of the farm laws in January 2021. Farmer leaders
[46][47]
welcomed the stay order, which remains in effect. A Supreme Court appointed committee submitted its
[48][49]
confidential report before the court on 19 March 2021. Six state governments (Kerala, Punjab,
[50]
Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Delhi and West Bengal) passed resolutions against the farms acts, and three states
[51]
(Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan) have tabled counter-legislation in their respective state assemblies.
[52][53][54]
None of the counter-legislation passed the respective state governors.

On 26 January 2021, India's Republic Day, tens of thousands of the farmers held a farmer's parade with a large
convoy of tractors and drove into Delhi. The protesters deviated from the pre-sanctioned routes permitted by the
[55][56][57][58][59]
Delhi Police resulting in violence and clashes with the police. Later protesters reached Red Fort
[60][61][62][63]
and installed farmer union flags and religious flags on the mast on the rampart of the Red Fort.
[64]
On 19 November 2021, the union government decided to repeal the bills, and both houses of Parliament
[65]
passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021 on 29 November. Following the announcement of the repeal of the
farm laws, farmer unions continued with the demand for guaranteed minimum support prices (MSPs), reminding
the government of the aim of doubling farmers' income by 2022; and the 2004 MS Swaminathan–headed
[66]
National Commission on Farmersreports. The Supreme Court appointed committee report was released by a
[49][67]
committee member on 21 March 2022.

What are the three big questions related to

Farmer's Agitation?
In the meantime, there are three big questions raising over the current scenario of Indian agriculture
and the conditions of Indian farmers.
The history of the peasant movement in India is old and many protests have been witnessed during
the last hundred years in Punjab, Haryana, Bengal, South and Western India.

This time too, something similar has happened and the farmers believe that what they wanted is not
even mentioned in the new law. The central government has been trying to convince that in reality the
new law will benefit the farmers as now farmers will be able to sell their crops to private companies
directly and earn more money. But the reality is somehow not that bright as showcased. The farmers
fear that it might trap them as the prey of privatisation and they will be left at the mercy of
multinational companies and big corporate houses.

What farmers want and what they got in the new agricultural law?
Take a look at the three new laws that have caused controversy. According to The Farmers Produce
Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation), 2020 law, farmers can sell their produce outside
the mandis notified by the APMC i.e. Agriculture Produce Market Committee without paying taxes to
other states.

The second law is - Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and
Farm Service Act, 2020. According to this, farmers can do contract farming and market it directly. The
third law is - Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. In this, apart from production, storage,
sale of grains, pulses, edible oil, onions have been deregulated except in exceptional circumstances.

The third law is - Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. In this, apart from production,
storage, sale of grains, pulses, edible oil, onions have been deregulated except in exceptional
circumstances.

The government argues that with the new law, farmers will get more options and there will be good
competition on the price. In addition, private investment in agricultural markets, processing and
infrastructure will be encouraged. Whereas the farmers feel that their existing protection will also be
lost by the new law.

What will be the future of Indian Agriculture?

The growing challenge in the Indian agriculture sector is more than demand. Farmers need new
markets for their produce. This is perhaps the intention of the government to reduce the influence of
mandis in the new law. But experts believe that one thing has been lacking in this process. Professor
R Ramkumar says that "if there is a good discussion between the farmers' organization and the
government, then there is a possibility to understand each other's problems and each other's
attitude".