New agri laws have given farmers new options and legal protection: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated six-lane widening project of Prayagraj-Rajatalab (Varanasi) section of National Highway 19 on Monday.Speaking on the event, Prime Minister said that new agricultural reforms have given farmers new options and legal protection.

“Earlier, loan waiver packages used to be announced but the benefits of such schemes never used to reach the farmers”,PM said adding that his government accepted the Swaminathan recommendation of giving 1.5 times more MSP to farmers.

“For the first time, produce of Varanasi farmers is being exported to foreign countries at a large scale. Varanasi’s Langda & Dussehri mangoes are spreading their fragrance in London & middle-east.Mango farmers need not go to other cities for packaging now”,he said while talking about the “infrastructure overhaul” by the Yogi government in UP. 

Also read: Farmers stay put at borders as protest continues

“The new agricultural laws have been brought in for benefit of the farmers. We will see and experience benefits of these new laws in the coming days”, he said about the new farm laws.

He also said that farmers are being empowered by giving them options for a bigger market, adding that the reforms are being done in the interest of farmers, which will give them more options.

“Shouldn’t a farmer get freedom to sell his produce directly to those who give them better prices & facilities”, he asked.

“The new Farm law doesn’t stop anyone who wishes to sell produce according to old system. Earlier, any sale outside Mandi was considered illegal & small farmers were cheated as they were not able to reach Mandi. Farmers now are protected by law against cheating & fraud”, he added.