Establishment of World Farmers’ Union and Bright Future of Farmers –A Revaluation
Dr. Ramjilal
Social Scientist, Former Principal, Dyal Singh College, Karnal (Haryana–India)
Email – drramjilal1947@ gmail.com
(Samaj Weekly)- The farmers of European countries – Australia, Belgium, England, France, Poland, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Czech Republic, Spain, Netherlands etc. are also pressurize their respective governments through their ‘save the future’ movements like the Indian farmers. The farmers of India, European countries and America are agitating for the redress of their problems. The farmers in European countries may have different reasons according to their local conditions, there is a long list of their demands. Most of the problems of Farmers of these countries are common. The standards set by the World Trade Organisation on the one hand, and the European Union on the other hand, are causing problems for the farmers of Europe. Agricultural regulations prepared by the bureaucracy of the European Union are the biggest causes that are troubling the farmers in European countries. Its regulations ‘limit’ the capacity to produce food. The bureaucracy has emphasized on ‘halving’ (50%) the use of pesticides by the year 2030. The conditions imposed by the European Union on farmers to leave 4% of their land as per stringent environmental standards, insisting on not using pesticides to grow crops, and ending subsidies or tax exemptions on diesel fuel have resulted in anger among farmers. A feeling of dissatisfaction and agitation arises. Besides, increase in the prices of agricultural inputs in all the countries of Europe, not matching the fair price of farmers’ produce, problems with environmental rules, importing cheap food grains, waiving of quota and duty on excess imports from Ukraine due to Ukraine-Russia war, and unfair competition in sugar, grains and meat etc. are other reasons. The biggest objective of farmers in all these countries is to get a ‘fair price for their produce’. In other words, just as the farmers of India are demanding MSP (C2+50%), similar demand is also the main agenda of the farmers’ movements of these countries.
Nature of European Farmers’ Movements
Like the Indian farmers’ movements, tractors marches are also carried out by the farmers in European countries. The tractors are well decorated by farmers with flags and banners. With the colourful flags and banners in the hands of farmers coming out on the streets and roads blowing the hooters of tractors. A very commendable method of protest was visible in Spain. They came out on the streets ringing the bells that are tied around the necks of cows in their hands, and beating the drums. In Spain, flags on tractors and banners in the hands of farmers with a motto, ‘There is no life without farming’ and ‘Life will come to an end’. In other words, this is similar to the way in which during the Farmers Movement-1 (2020-2021) in India, there was a proclamation ‘No Farmer, No Food’ and another proclamation was also to save ‘breed and crop’. Similarly, European Farmers are engaged in saving their ‘future’ through these Farmers‘ movements.
The most important example among the farmers’ movements of European countries is the Belgium farmers’ movement. The meeting of agriculture ministers of 27 countries of the European Union was being held on 26 February, 2024 at the European Union’s headquarter, Brussels, the capital of Belgium. About 100 meters away from the European Union’s head quarter (Brussels), farmers organised a tractors march by decorating 900 tractors with flags and banners. The farmers broke through the barriers – concrete barriers and barbed wire – and proceeded towards the headquarters of the European Union. They strongly opposed the anti-farmer liberal policies of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the European Union (EU) because agricultural trade is in favour of multinational companies and corporate. Consequently, marginal farmers are getting ruined due to not getting the fair price for their produce. The protesting farmers threw eggs and firecrackers at the police, and also set fire to old tires (pile of rubber) and straw on the roads. The water cannons were used by the police in retaliation. But the drone did not drop tear gas shells from the sky as was done by the police at Shambhu border.
>(https://www.dailypioneer.com/2024/world/farmers-converge-on-eu—s–hq-in-fresh-show-of-force.html)
Attitude of the governments of European Countries towards the Farmers’ Movement:
The attitude of the governments of European countries towards the farmers’ movement is sympatric. The governments these countries use police against the farmers very minimally. In European countries, right wing representatives also support the farmers because they think that agriculture and farmers are the basic factor of the growth and power. In other words, governments of these countries opine that the agriculture is the basis of the country. It would be appropriate to give the example of France. An International Farmers’ Fair is organised every year in France. In this International Farmers’ Fair, the ruling and opposition parties organise their own events. Such events have been taking place in India in the last century. In these fairs political and cultural conferences used to be organised. Despite, the opposition of French farmers, the 60th International Agricultural Fair was organised. When the French President ,Emmanuel Macron, arrived at this fair, the Farmers protested against him by whistling. The French President publicly announced what his behaviour was with the French farmers. But no police force was used against the farmers. It is totally contrary to the behaviour of the Indian ruling elite.
Background of India’s Farmers’ movement -2
During the Corona period, three ordinances were issued by the Government of India on 5 June, 2020. These ordinances were introduced in the Parliament as per Section-143 of the Constitution. After the approval of the President, these were implemented on 27 September, 2020. These three bills are: 1.Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill 2020; 2. Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Bill, 2020 3. Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020. It was propagated by the government that these laws were ‘farmer friendly’. Whereas, the farmers considered them ‘anti-farmers’ and termed them as ‘black laws’ and considered them beneficial for the corporate and rich business companies. The farmers believed that these would destroy both the ‘crop and breed’ of the farmers. This is a well known fact that farmers started ‘Delhi Chalo Movement’ on 25 November, 2020. This movement lasted for 378 days and about 750 farmers died in it. On 19 November, 2021, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi withdrew these three laws after a unilateral announcement and Parliament passed a new bill. After the President’s approval on this bill, these three laws were repealed. Farmers celebrated 11 December, 2022 as ‘Victory Day’. After the repealing of all three laws, farmers also ‘returned home’. This Farmers’ movement is written in golden letters in the pages of history, but the promises made to the farmers were not fulfilled. Therefore, farmers had to start Kisan Andolan-2.
Farmers’ Movement-2: Main Demands of Farmers
Main demands of farmers in Kisan Andolan -2 (13February, 2024–) – Formulation of law regarding Minimum Support Price (MSP -C2+50%), recommendations of Swaminathan Commission – investment in infrastructure, research and development, waiver of agricultural loans of farmers, concession in electricity rates to farmers, repeal of the electricity Amendment Bill 2020, withdrawal of cases filed against farmers during the farmers’ movement-1 (2020-21) and India’s exit from WTO (Quit WTO). The Demand for, Justice to the victims of Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reducing import duty on agricultural products – fruits, milk, vegetables, meat and increasing allowances, monthly pension of ₹ 10,000 to every farmer above 60 years of age, under MNREGA Minimum daily wage of ₹ 700 per day for minimum agricultural work and guarantee of 200 days of work in a year, exemption of farmers from pollution, laws, improving Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme, implementing Land Acquisition Act 2013, pesticides, seeds, making amendments in the Fertilizer Act and improving the quality of seeds of all crops including cotton etc
The Indian Government’s Approach towards Farmers’ Movement
The approach of the government in India is contrary to the governments of European countries. The Prime Minister of India has called India as ‘the mother of democracy’, but the real situation is that strikes and movements take place every day somewhere in the country. The government is unable to solve the problems. We can give the latest example of this from Kisan Andolan – One (ONE) and Kisan Andolan – Two (Two). Kisan Andolan – One (2020-2021) lasted for 378 days and in this, about 750 farmers died due to untimely death. The Farmers have launched ‘Farmers’ Movement -2 (TWO) to get the implementation of their the suspended demands. Instead of finding a democratic solution, the government is hammering nails on the national highway, erecting concrete walls and barricades, using police and paramilitary forces, using tear gas through drones, spraying cold water through water cannons, house arrest, putting them behind the bars in jails and lathi charging the farmers are really undemocratic. The government’s viewpoint regarding Farmers’ Movement- 1 and Farmers’ Movement- 2 is not justified on the basis of universal democratic standards.
According to the report of Jan Chowk journalist, Amrik from Punjab, “Tear gas was used indiscriminately on peaceful protesting farmers and labourers due to which thousands of farmer-labourers are suffering from asthma, chest pain and eye problems. Rubber bullets were fired. SLR and 12 bore rifle were used, due to which the farmer was martyred. Farmers were illegally detained by Haryana Police. On February 23, about 500 farmers and laborers of Punjab were injured.’
Similarities between the farmers’ movement of European countries and the farmers’ movement of India:
The similarities between the farmers’ movement of European countries and the farmers’ movement of India are as follows:
1. Almost throughout the whole world the People living in metros and townships are against farmers’ because they do not have the knowledge about the problems faced by the farmers while doing agricultural work. Not only this, but most of the economists also seem to fail to understand their problems. The common belief of the urban people is that the farmers have tractors, cars, motorcycles, mobiles, wear nice dresses, etc. Therefore, they are neither poor nor farmers. It seems that travelling in cars and vehicles is the monopoly of urban educated people only. The children of farmers are educated and they do not get employment. Therefore, they have to work in the agricultural sector. But, due to education, modernity and awareness their lifestyle has made a drastic changes also It is unjustified to compare the farmers with the farmers of 19th and 20th century who had dirty and torn clothes on their bodies . Will this urban class be able to live in that situation? Do they want to see the modern farmers to look like the indigo producing farmers or the farmers of the princely state of Hyderabad when in the 1890s, plows were pulled by farmers and agricultural labourers instead of oxen to plow the land of feudal lords..
2. In both the regions, foreign BTBs produced by foreign and indigenous multinational companies are expensive, production is low, problem of insects, inputs used in agriculture – agricultural fertilizers, pesticides, urea fertilizers, diesel, labor, tractors and agriculture equipments are expensive. Due to drought, unseasonal rains, damage to crops due to hailstorms and floods, agriculture is becoming a costly and loss-making business.
3. Farmers of both the regions are continuously demanding ‘Minimum Support Price’ for their products. In India, farmers are struggling to get the Minimum Support Price (MSP) implemented legally based on the C2 + 50% formula.
>((https https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/agriculture/farmers-protests-in-Europe-and-india-common-goals/article67888471.ece)
4. There is a lot of opposition to the policies of the World Trade Organization in the farmer movements of India and the European region. The 13th Ministerial Conference (MC), of WTO (World Trade Organisation) could not resolve the impasse regarding agricultural subsidies. >(https://www.dailypioneer.com/2024/columnists/wto-deadlock-over-agricultural-subsidies.html/)
Apart from this, European farmers also oppose the policies made by the European Union.
Dissimilarities between the farmer movement of European countries and the farmer movement of India:
The following dissimilarities also exist in the farmer’s movements of both the regions:
In the European region, farmers are openly supported by the politicians of right-wing ideology and by the political parties. Because the farmers there are a big vote bank and most of the politicians come from farmer families. On the contrary, in India, the Indian political leaders having the sectarian ideology – Bharatiya Janata Party and its supporting parties do not support the farmers’ movement because they consider it politically motivated. We are of the opinion that politics affects the social, economic and political aspects of life ‘from mother’s womb to the lap of death’. Political leaders make policies, decisions, schemes and laws of governments and all these affect the farmers. The people who are politicians blame the farmers for doing politics. What a great contradiction? In India, Farmers’ Movement-One and Farmer Movement-Two have been openly supported by the Congress Party, Aam Aadmi Party and Left parties. Farmer leaders have thanked the leaders of these political parties for their support but do not allow them to share the stage. In most of the European countries, farmers’ movements have no hesitation in sharing the stage with politicians.
Not only in Europe and India, but farmers in every continent of the world have almost similar problems. Farmers all over the world know that many international organisations – WTO, World Bank, IMF, EU etc., multinational companies and corporate are against them. Therefore, we advocate that farmers all over the world should unite and struggle for their genuine demands. There is a dire need for the formation of ‘World Farmers’ Union’ (WFO) to conduct the farmers’ issues and struggle. This organisation should have offices in all the countries all over the world. The contribution and cooperation of farmers all over the world in the farmers’ movement in every country should be mandatory. Otherwise, many problems will arise in front of the farmers in the future and the farmers will not be successful in their struggle by remaining isolated.
The Communist Manifesto (1848) emphasised the unity of the proletariat of all countries with the proclamation, “Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains.” Following this proclamation, the farmers of the world should unite so that their interests can be protected from possible threats in the future. By establishing the World Farmers Union, farmers around the world can secure their ‘future’ – breeds and crops’. The establishment of World Farmers’ Union will prove to be a panacea for farmers and humanity. In brief, it will be a great leap for the welfare of the farmers and humanity all over the world.
