The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a conglomerate of various farmers' bodies, called off their indefinite protest on the Chandigarh-Mohali border on Wednesday after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann conceded to the majority of their demands.
Following a meeting with farmer union leaders, the CM announced a new schedule for staggered paddy sowing on 14 and 17 June, reducing the number of total zones from four to just two.
The border belt across the fence has been exempted from the zonal restrictions, and farmers in this region can begin planting paddy on June 10. It was previously decided to begin paddy cultivation in stages by dividing the entire state into four zones based on the date of transplantation from 18 June to 26 June.
During a meeting with SKM representatives led by Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the CM instructed farmers to go to paddy nurseries as soon as possible so that paddy transplantation could take place within the time frame specified.
Mann stated that the state government has already issued a notification to purchase the entire crop at the MSP of Rs 7275 per quintal. He also assured farmers that the state government is close to finalizing modalities for procuring maize on MSP to support its ambitious crop diversification programme.
On the issue of MSP for Basmati, the CM said he would call on Union Home Minister Amit Shah tomorrow to press the Central government to immediately announce MSP for Basmati in order to encourage farmers to switch to it from water-guzzling paddy, thereby conserving water.
Mann also informed SKM members that he would take up the contentious issue of BBMB with Shah in order to reach an expeditious resolution that would satisfy all stakeholders. He urged union leaders to give him at least a year to implement farmer-friendly agricultural reforms.
"Please bear with me, and I assure you that I will keep your organization calm," he said.
The CM stated that his office and residence are always open to resolving any issue concerning farmers' welfare with an open mind and through mutual dialogue to the satisfaction of all stakeholders. At the same time, he urged them to avoid agitation and, if they had any grievances against the government, to sit across the table and work out an amicable solution.
