<p dir="ltr">Eminent geneticist and Chairman of National Commission on Farmers (NCF) M S Swaminathan on Tuesday took to Twitter amid the ongoing farmers protests in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to express concerns about the future of farmers in the country.</p>

<p dir="ltr">In a series of tweets Swaminathan, known to be the father of green revolution in India, highlighted that despite of a bumper crop this year, farmers are not satisfied with the procurement price. As a result of this they are unable to pay their loans.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The procurement price issue, is rooted in the Modi-government&rsquo;s 2016 banknote demonetisation and the cash crunch that followed.</p>

<p dir="ltr">After the Modi government announced demonetisation on November 8 last year, many experts experts thought the cash crunch would impact farm produce as it was right at the start of the rabi sowings.</p>

<p dir="ltr">An <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-crops-of-wrath-demonetisation-4699598/">Indian Express article </a>says the experts were proven wrong. A good monsoon after recurring droughts for years and the timely onset of winters motivated the&nbsp;farmers to sow, even if they had to borrow capital.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The report adds that farmers tackled the cash shortage by replacing cash with deferred payments to purchase seeds, fertilisers and pesticides. And the informal credit networks that were established ensured a bumper crop, the report says.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Farmers, however, bore the brunt of demonetisation&nbsp;when they received lesser prices&nbsp;for their harvest, the report says.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Swaminathan in his tweets talked&nbsp;about the same problem.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Though there&#39;s a bumper crop this year, farmers are dissatisfied with procurement price &amp; unable to repay institutional &amp; private loans</p>
&mdash; M S Swaminathan (@msswaminathan) <a href="https://twitter.com/msswaminathan/status/874597081708601344">June 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Without repaying debts, farmers won&#39;t get fresh kharif credit. This is why they want loan waivers as well as remunerative procurement price</p>
&mdash; M S Swaminathan (@msswaminathan) <a href="https://twitter.com/msswaminathan/status/874597807935455233">June 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>He went on to say that without repaying the debts, farmers will not get a fresh credit for the next (kharif) season and this is why they are demanding loan waivers and remunerative procurement price.</p>

<p>Swaminathan added that though loan waivers are necessary they&nbsp;don&#39;t provide a &quot;secure long-term credit system&quot;. He stressed that there should bea&nbsp;&nbsp;balance between short term gains like immediate loan waivers and benefits of long term structural changes like improving agricultural infrastructure.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Loan Waivers mean that money which could have gone to strengthening agricultural infrastructure will not have adequate funds.</p>
&mdash; M S Swaminathan (@msswaminathan) <a href="https://twitter.com/msswaminathan/status/874598080556875782">June 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>He also said that the Modi government&nbsp;has &quot;implemented several Farmers&rsquo; Commission recommendations&quot;.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Modi Govt has implemented several Farmers&rsquo; Commission recommendations. These include providing improved seeds, soil health cards (1/2)</p>
&mdash; M S Swaminathan (@msswaminathan) <a href="https://twitter.com/msswaminathan/status/874599271210799104">June 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Farmers&#39; Commn recos on improved insurance, irrigated area increase &amp; Farmer&rsquo;s Welfare added to <a href="https://twitter.com/AgriGoI">@AgriGoI</a> responsibility implemented (2/2)</p>
&mdash; M S Swaminathan (@msswaminathan) <a href="https://twitter.com/msswaminathan/status/874599679874318337">June 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
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M S Swaminathan took to Twitter on Tuesday to express his concern about the future of farmers in India amid the ongoing farmers protests in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra

Eminent geneticist and Chairman of National Commission on Farmers (NCF) M S Swaminathan on Tuesday took to Twitter amid the ongoing farmers protests in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to express concerns about the future of farmers in the country. In a series of tweets Swaminathan, known to be the father of green revolution in India, highlighted that despite of a bumper crop this year, farmers are not satisfied with the procurement price. As a result of this they are unable to pay their loans. The procurement price issue, is rooted in the Modi-government’s 2016 banknote demonetisation and the cash crunch that followed. After the Modi government announced demonetisation on November 8 last year, many experts experts thought the cash crunch would impact farm produce as it was right at the start of the rabi sowings. An Indian Express article says the experts were proven wrong. A good monsoon after recurring droughts for years and the timely onset of winters motivated the farmers to sow, even if they had to borrow capital. The report adds that farmers tackled the cash shortage by replacing cash with deferred payments to purchase seeds, fertilisers and pesticides. And the informal credit networks that were established ensured a bumper crop, the report says. Farmers, however, bore the brunt of demonetisation when they received lesser prices for their harvest, the report says. Swaminathan in his tweets talked about the same problem. Though there's a bumper crop this year, farmers are dissatisfied with procurement price & unable to repay institutional & private loans — M S Swaminathan (@msswaminathan) June 13, 2017 × Without repaying debts, farmers won't get fresh kharif credit. This is why they want loan waivers as well as remunerative procurement price — M S Swaminathan (@msswaminathan) June 13, 2017 × He went on to say that without repaying the debts, farmers will not get a fresh credit for the next (kharif) season and this is why they are demanding loan waivers and remunerative procurement price. Swaminathan added that though loan waivers are necessary they don't provide a "secure long-term credit system". He stressed that there should bea balance between short term gains like immediate loan waivers and benefits of long term structural changes like improving agricultural infrastructure. Loan Waivers mean that money which could have gone to strengthening agricultural infrastructure will not have adequate funds. — M S Swaminathan (@msswaminathan) June 13, 2017 × He also said that the Modi government has "implemented several Farmers’ Commission recommendations". The Modi Govt has implemented several Farmers’ Commission recommendations. These include providing improved seeds, soil health cards (1/2) — M S Swaminathan (@msswaminathan) June 13, 2017 × Farmers' Commn recos on improved insurance, irrigated area increase & Farmer’s Welfare added to @AgriGoI responsibility implemented (2/2) — M S Swaminathan (@msswaminathan) June 13, 2017 ×

Father of Indian Green Revolution weighs in on farmers protest debate, says 'farmers dissatisfied with procurement price & unable to repay loans'

<p>Mandsaur, the epicentre of the farmers&#39; agitation in Madhya Pradesh, remained peaceful today with authorities relaxing curfew for 12 hours from 8 am to 8 pm.<br />
<br />
As the situation eased, markets reopened and locals stepped out to stock essentials such as vegetables and milk.<br />
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District Collector O P Srivastava said normalcy was returning and there was no report of any untoward incident.<br />
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Curfew, which was imposed after five people were killed in police firing during a farmers&#39; protest on June 6, was relaxed for 12 hours in five police station areas of the district. Internet services, however, remained suspended in the area.<br />
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&quot;If the situation remains normal, curfew will be withdrawn tomorrow,&quot; Srivastava said.<br />
<br />
Farmers in the state began protests over low prices for their crops on June 1. The Mandsaur-Neemuch region, about 300 km from the state capital Bhopal, became the nerve centre of the gathering storm of farmer distress. Later, protests spread to some other parts of the state.<br />
<br />
On the allegation that 26-year-old farmer Ghanashyam Dhakad died in police custody, the district collector said the authorities were looking into the charge and that appropriate action would be taken if anyone was found guilty.<br />
<br />
He said the kin of the deceased would be provided Rs 1 crore as compensation and a member of his family would be given a government job, as announced by the state government for the five other victims.<br />
<br />
The last rites of Dhakad were performed at his native Badavan village in the violence-hit Mandsaur district.<br />
<br />
Villagers had alleged that he was beaten up by policemen, leading to his death.<br />
<br />
Earlier today, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan sat on an indefinite fast at Dussehra Maidan in Bhopal for &quot;restoration of peace&quot;. He has appealed to farmers to come to Dussehra Maidan and have a dialogue with him.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


Markets reopened and locals stepped out to stock essentials such as vegetables and milk as curfew was relaxed for 12 hours

Mandsaur, the epicentre of the farmers' agitation in Madhya Pradesh, remained peaceful today with authorities relaxing curfew for 12 hours from 8 am to 8 pm. As the situation eased, markets reopened and locals stepped out to stock essentials such as vegetables and milk. District Collector O P Srivastava said normalcy was returning and there was no report of any untoward incident. Curfew, which was imposed after five people were killed in police firing during a farmers' protest on June 6, was relaxed for 12 hours in five police station areas of the district. Internet services, however, remained suspended in the area. "If the situation remains normal, curfew will be withdrawn tomorrow," Srivastava said. Farmers in the state began protests over low prices for their crops on June 1. The Mandsaur-Neemuch region, about 300 km from the state capital Bhopal, became the nerve centre of the gathering storm of farmer distress. Later, protests spread to some other parts of the state. On the allegation that 26-year-old farmer Ghanashyam Dhakad died in police custody, the district collector said the authorities were looking into the charge and that appropriate action would be taken if anyone was found guilty. He said the kin of the deceased would be provided Rs 1 crore as compensation and a member of his family would be given a government job, as announced by the state government for the five other victims. The last rites of Dhakad were performed at his native Badavan village in the violence-hit Mandsaur district. Villagers had alleged that he was beaten up by policemen, leading to his death. Earlier today, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan sat on an indefinite fast at Dussehra Maidan in Bhopal for "restoration of peace". He has appealed to farmers to come to Dussehra Maidan and have a dialogue with him. (PTI)

MP farmers' protest: Mandsaur limping back to normalcy

<p>Five persons were killed on Tuesday&nbsp;as the farmers&#39; agitation turned violent in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh, prompting the authorities to clamp curfew in the trouble-hit area.</p>

<p>Some eyewitnesses alleged that the victims suffered bullet wounds, but Mandsaur district authorities denied that police fired on the protesters, who were on a rampage. While the Congress called for state bandh tomorrow, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan blamed the opposition party for instigating the violence.</p>

<p>Mandsaur collector SK Singh confirmed death of five persons and said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered. As tension prevailed, mobile internet service were suspended in Mandsaur, Ratlam and Neemuch districts since morning to check spread of rumours.</p>

<p>Singh also told PTI that police categorically told him that they did not fire at the protesters.</p>

<p>The deceased were identified as Kanhaiyalal Patidar, Bablu Patidar, Chain Singh Patidar, Abhishek Patidar and Satynarayan. Abhishek and Satynarayan died en route to a hospital in Indore, police said.</p>

<p>Curfew has been imposed in Pipalya Mandi police station area of Mandsaur district where the incident took place, while prohibitory orders restricting movement under section 144 of CrPC have been imposed in rest of the district, the collector said.</p>

<p>&quot;Police have told me that neither did they fire nor did they have any orders to fire,&quot; Singh added.</p>

<p>In-camera autopsy of bodies was going on and the cause of death will be known after it, the collector said, adding that families of the deceased will get financial aid.</p>

<p>According to eyewitnesses, protesting farmers torched vehicles and indulged in stone pelting in Parshvanath area under Pipaliya Mandi police station limits of the district.</p>

<p>The CM announced a financial help of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the deceased.</p>

<p>&quot;I request the farmers to be patient. Do not fall in the trap of anyone. The government stands with farmers. We will solve all problems through discussion,&quot; Chouhan tweeted while blaming Congress for the violence.</p>

<p>Farmers in western Madhya Pradesh are protesting since June 1,&nbsp;demanding higher minimum support prices (MSP) among others.</p>

<p>In Ratlam, the district collector Ashok Bhargava imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC following the violence in neighbouring Mandsaur district.</p>

<p>Ratlam superintendent of police Amit Singh announced a reward of Rs 10,000 each for information about absconding farmer leaders D P Dhakad, Rajesh Bharava, Bhagwati Patidar (said to be Congress members) and others who were allegedly involved in violence in the district on Sunday in which two police personnel had been injured.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the state Congress and the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangh have given a call for bandh tomorrow across the state to protest the farmers&#39; death in Mandsaur.</p>

<p>&quot;We have called for a massive MP bandh tomorrow,&quot; state Congress chief Arun Yadav told PTI.</p>

<p>The Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Ajay Singh, demanded resignation of Chouhan, saying the incident of firing in Mandsaur is shameful for a chief minister who claims to be a farmer&#39;s son.</p>

<p>&quot;All the claims of the chief minister have proved false so far. Now the government is using bullets to suppress farmers&#39; voice. Chouhan should resign immediately,&quot; the Congress leader said.</p>

<p>The main opposition party also constituted a committee of MLAs &quot;to investigate&quot; the Mandsaur firing incident. Singh and the state Congress chief would visit Mandsaur tomorrow.</p>

<p>Senior Congress leader and MP Jyotiraditya Scindia also condemned the incident. The BJP government dealt with the agitation through bullets instead of talks, he said.</p>

<p>&quot;This is a black day in the history of the state. It is shameful that the state government is crushing farmers&#39; agitation. Farmers&#39; demands are genuine,&quot; Scindia added.</p>

<p>Trouble was reported from many parts of western Madhya Pradesh as farmers&#39; stir continued for the sixth day today.</p>

<p>In Indore, police used lathi charge following stone- pelting during a march by farmers.</p>

<p>A police officer said that people taking part in the march started throwing stones at the police near Devi Ahilyabai Fruits and Vegetable Market, which led to lathi- charge.</p>

<p>In Dhar, farmers blocked the Indore-Ahmedabad national highway for about three hours. Farmers also staged protests at Amjhera and Ghoda Chowpati in the city.</p>

<p>The shops in the local market remained closed all day in Neemuch city.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Mahendra Patidar, president of MP Patidar Samaj, said they would cremate the bodies of victims who died in Mandsaur district today only in the presence of the chief minister.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


The police in central India have imposed a curfew in certain areas where farmers have gone on a days-long protest to demand higher prices for their farm produce

Five persons were killed on Tuesday as the farmers' agitation turned violent in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh, prompting the authorities to clamp curfew in the trouble-hit area. Some eyewitnesses alleged that the victims suffered bullet wounds, but Mandsaur district authorities denied that police fired on the protesters, who were on a rampage. While the Congress called for state bandh tomorrow, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan blamed the opposition party for instigating the violence. Mandsaur collector SK Singh confirmed death of five persons and said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered. As tension prevailed, mobile internet service were suspended in Mandsaur, Ratlam and Neemuch districts since morning to check spread of rumours. Singh also told PTI that police categorically told him that they did not fire at the protesters. The deceased were identified as Kanhaiyalal Patidar, Bablu Patidar, Chain Singh Patidar, Abhishek Patidar and Satynarayan. Abhishek and Satynarayan died en route to a hospital in Indore, police said. Curfew has been imposed in Pipalya Mandi police station area of Mandsaur district where the incident took place, while prohibitory orders restricting movement under section 144 of CrPC have been imposed in rest of the district, the collector said. "Police have told me that neither did they fire nor did they have any orders to fire," Singh added. In-camera autopsy of bodies was going on and the cause of death will be known after it, the collector said, adding that families of the deceased will get financial aid. According to eyewitnesses, protesting farmers torched vehicles and indulged in stone pelting in Parshvanath area under Pipaliya Mandi police station limits of the district. The CM announced a financial help of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the deceased. "I request the farmers to be patient. Do not fall in the trap of anyone. The government stands with farmers. We will solve all problems through discussion," Chouhan tweeted while blaming Congress for the violence. Farmers in western Madhya Pradesh are protesting since June 1, demanding higher minimum support prices (MSP) among others. In Ratlam, the district collector Ashok Bhargava imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC following the violence in neighbouring Mandsaur district. Ratlam superintendent of police Amit Singh announced a reward of Rs 10,000 each for information about absconding farmer leaders D P Dhakad, Rajesh Bharava, Bhagwati Patidar (said to be Congress members) and others who were allegedly involved in violence in the district on Sunday in which two police personnel had been injured. Meanwhile, the state Congress and the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangh have given a call for bandh tomorrow across the state to protest the farmers' death in Mandsaur. "We have called for a massive MP bandh tomorrow," state Congress chief Arun Yadav told PTI. The Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Ajay Singh, demanded resignation of Chouhan, saying the incident of firing in Mandsaur is shameful for a chief minister who claims to be a farmer's son. "All the claims of the chief minister have proved false so far. Now the government is using bullets to suppress farmers' voice. Chouhan should resign immediately," the Congress leader said. The main opposition party also constituted a committee of MLAs "to investigate" the Mandsaur firing incident. Singh and the state Congress chief would visit Mandsaur tomorrow. Senior Congress leader and MP Jyotiraditya Scindia also condemned the incident. The BJP government dealt with the agitation through bullets instead of talks, he said. "This is a black day in the history of the state. It is shameful that the state government is crushing farmers' agitation. Farmers' demands are genuine," Scindia added. Trouble was reported from many parts of western Madhya Pradesh as farmers' stir continued for the sixth day today. In Indore, police used lathi charge following stone- pelting during a march by farmers. A police officer said that people taking part in the march started throwing stones at the police near Devi Ahilyabai Fruits and Vegetable Market, which led to lathi- charge. In Dhar, farmers blocked the Indore-Ahmedabad national highway for about three hours. Farmers also staged protests at Amjhera and Ghoda Chowpati in the city. The shops in the local market remained closed all day in Neemuch city. Meanwhile, Mahendra Patidar, president of MP Patidar Samaj, said they would cremate the bodies of victims who died in Mandsaur district today only in the presence of the chief minister. (PTI)

5 killed in police firing during Madhya Pradesh farmers' strike