FTAs harm farmers’ interests: AIKS
Vuyyuru: All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) president Ashok Dhawale expressed concern that India's proposed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with countries such as the United States, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom could severely impact the agricultural sector and harm farmers' interests.
He made these remarks on the third day of the Andhra Pradesh Koulu Rythu Sangham (Tenant Farmers' Association) 4th State conference, held at Vuyyuru in Krishna district on Monday. The conference was chaired by Koulu Rythu Sangham state president Y Radhakrishna, along with M Rajasekhar and Lakshmi Sailaja Kurimella.
During the session, the association's State secretary, Maganti Haribabu, presented the annual report, highlighting the struggles undertaken and achievements made by the organisation across the state since the previous conference.
Speaking at the event, Dhawale alleged that the Central government, which had previously promised to repeal the controversial farm laws following the farmers' agitation in Delhi, is now reintroducing similar measures under a different guise. He expressed concern that initiatives such as the proposed National Platform for Agricultural Marketing would weaken Agricultural Market Committees and adversely affect farmers.
He demanded that both the Central and State governments provide legal protection to tenant farmers and enact a comprehensive tenancy protection law as soon as possible. He also called for measures to ensure crop loss compensation and guaranteed procurement of produce. Urging farmers to unite, he called for intensified struggles in the coming days and appealed to tenant farmers to raise their voices at the grassroots level to secure their rights.
Key Insights
- This topic is currently trending
- Experts are closely monitoring developments
- It may impact future decisions
