IAHRW International Journal of Social Sciences Review

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Impact of Three Farm Laws (2020) on the Current Agrarian Structure: A Case Study of Five Villages


Affiliations
1 Department of BA Programme, Miranda House, Delhi University, Delhi, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Indian Agrarian structure mainly comprises three classes namely, farmers (kisaan), middlemen (Arthiyas), and laborers (mazdur). Three farm laws were passed in September 2020, and it was stated by various experts that these farm laws would impact the current agrarian structure and this would introduce the big corporations into the agricultural sector, eliminate the middlemen from the structure, introduce private mandis besides the state controlled APMC mandi and make the farmers (who are the owners of the soil ) the tillers on their own land due to the introduction of contract farming. It was also alleged that these farm laws favor capitalists who are now eyeing the agricultural sector. This led to the historical kisaan Andolan with farmers of Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh playing a major role in the Andolan. This study aims to understand the potential impact of three farm laws on the current agrarian structure using the case study method. Structured interviews were conducted in five villages of Punjab and Haryana (the states from which played a major role in Andolan) across different castes like Sikh Jatts in Punjab and; Sainis, Rodes, Jatts in Haryana. Interviews of laborers were also conducted which included laborers from different castes like Baazigars, Dhanuk, Kevat, Yadavs, Kamat (only Baazigars were from Punjab others were migrant laborers). Middlemen were also interviewed. All three classes were interviewed as a remarkable unity was seen among the three classes during the Andolan. It was found that a sense of trust ran across the three classes and almost all of them were fearful that private players (big corporations) would enter the agricultural sector and the whole well-organized agrarian structure would collapse and the entry of private mandis will destroy the statecontrolled mandis. This study also aims to understand why big corporations are eyeing the agricultural sector and what kind of profits they will be able to extract from the agricultural sector.

Keywords

Farm Laws, Agrarian Structure, FAPAFS Act, FPTC Act, ECA Act
User
Subscription Login to verify subscription
Notifications
Font Size

  • Adani in the Eye of the Storm as Himachal Apple Prices Crash (2021, September 2). The wire. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://thewire.in/agriculture/adani-in-theeye- of-the-storm-as-himachal-apple-prices- crash

  • Agnihotri, A., & Damodaran, H. (2020, December 15). Explained: Who are arhtiyas, also part of the farmers' protest? What is their role? The Indian Express. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/the-arhtiyabusiness- 7098629/

  • Bhatia, D. (Director). (2009). Nero's guest [Film]. Mistral Movies. https://www.you tube.com/watch?v=4q6m5NgrCJs (Original work published 2009)

  • Engels, F., & Marx, K. (1948). Manifesto of the communist party (F. Engels, Ed.; S. Moore, Trans.). International Publishers.

  • Essential Commodities (Amendment)Act (2020, September 27). The Gazette of India. Jayapalan, N. (2001). Sociological theories. Atlantic Publishers and Distributors (P) Limited.

  • Marx, K. (2008). A contribution to the critique of political economy. Book Jungle.

  • Mustafa, F. (2020, September 29). Farm bills 2020 explained: What are arguments for and against the laws? The Indian Express. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/an-expert-explains-farm-acts-andfederalis m-6622769/

  • Singh, H. (2021, February 28). The BJP government's efforts to remake India's agricultural economy for large private players. Caravan Magazine. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://caravanmagazine.in/essay/farm-laws-adani-reliance

  • The Farmers (empowerment & Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 (2020, September 27). The Gazette of India.

  • The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2020. (2020, September 27). The Gazette of India.


Abstract Views: 277

PDF Views: 0




  • Impact of Three Farm Laws (2020) on the Current Agrarian Structure: A Case Study of Five Villages

Abstract Views: 277  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Gurmangeet Kaur Pandey
Department of BA Programme, Miranda House, Delhi University, Delhi, India

Abstract


Indian Agrarian structure mainly comprises three classes namely, farmers (kisaan), middlemen (Arthiyas), and laborers (mazdur). Three farm laws were passed in September 2020, and it was stated by various experts that these farm laws would impact the current agrarian structure and this would introduce the big corporations into the agricultural sector, eliminate the middlemen from the structure, introduce private mandis besides the state controlled APMC mandi and make the farmers (who are the owners of the soil ) the tillers on their own land due to the introduction of contract farming. It was also alleged that these farm laws favor capitalists who are now eyeing the agricultural sector. This led to the historical kisaan Andolan with farmers of Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh playing a major role in the Andolan. This study aims to understand the potential impact of three farm laws on the current agrarian structure using the case study method. Structured interviews were conducted in five villages of Punjab and Haryana (the states from which played a major role in Andolan) across different castes like Sikh Jatts in Punjab and; Sainis, Rodes, Jatts in Haryana. Interviews of laborers were also conducted which included laborers from different castes like Baazigars, Dhanuk, Kevat, Yadavs, Kamat (only Baazigars were from Punjab others were migrant laborers). Middlemen were also interviewed. All three classes were interviewed as a remarkable unity was seen among the three classes during the Andolan. It was found that a sense of trust ran across the three classes and almost all of them were fearful that private players (big corporations) would enter the agricultural sector and the whole well-organized agrarian structure would collapse and the entry of private mandis will destroy the statecontrolled mandis. This study also aims to understand why big corporations are eyeing the agricultural sector and what kind of profits they will be able to extract from the agricultural sector.

Keywords


Farm Laws, Agrarian Structure, FAPAFS Act, FPTC Act, ECA Act

References