Jaipur farmers, traders oppose contract farming

The commodity traders and farmers in Jaipur are opposing the state governments move to introduce contract farming, direct marketing and establishment of private sector mandis. The proposal was cleared on Monday. Supporting the act the state agriculture minister Prabhu Lal Saini said a new act would benefit farmers the most.

But the opposition is palpable with the commodity markets in Kota on a day's strike today.

The others are planning a meet to chalk out future course of action.

Rajasthan Khadya Padarth Vyapar Sangh has called the decision a "black bill" and said the move would not only hurt traders but would also be detrimental to the interests of the farmers.

"If implemented, the decision would be a death knell for traders and farmers in the state," said Giriraj Bhutra, vice-president, Khadya Padarth Vyapar Sangh.

He said the only parties that would reap benefits are private entrepreneurs, especially MNCs and it was a conspiracy to turn traders unemployed.

"We will call a meeting with our associate state executives to decide what to do next," he added.

Rajendra Tambi, additional secretary of the Sangh said traders would have nowhere to go in the face of contract farming and direct marketing.

"We had opposed this earlier also and the government was forced to retract the decision, we will do so again," he said.

Tambi believes if the act materialises it will "hit farmers in a big way" as there will be no competition in the market and they will be left at the mercy of MNCs.

According to Federation of Trade and Industry statistics over 400,000 including traders, commission agents, labourers and others associated with 237 mandis in the state would be the worst hit by the decision.