Madhya Pradesh Farmers’ Front Raises 26 Demands, Seeks Halt to Seven Proposed Nuclear Projects

Joint Kisan Morcha urges the state government to ensure MSP procurement, farm loan relief, adequate fertiliser supplies, fair compensation for land acquisition and time-bound action on farmers’ grievances

(SDNA) Bhopal. Farmers’ concerns over rising cultivation costs, crop losses, fertiliser shortages and mounting debt have once again come into focus in Madhya Pradesh, with the Madhya Pradesh Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (MPSKM) submitting a 26-point charter of demands to the state government.

The farmers’ platform has called for comprehensive relief measures, including compensation for crop damage, procurement of eligible crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP), farm loan waivers, uninterrupted access to agricultural inputs and fair rehabilitation for families affected by land acquisition. A key demand is an immediate halt to all seven proposed nuclear power projects in the state until their potential impact on communities, farmland and the environment is independently assessed.

Representatives of the Morcha submitted the memorandum on October 13 to senior state government officials on behalf of the Chief Minister. The communication was addressed to Chief Minister’s Secretary Arvind Dubey, Chief Secretary Ashok Varnwal, and Agriculture Production Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary K.C. Gupta.

MSP Procurement and Timely Payments Take Centre Stage

The Morcha has called for effective government procurement arrangements to protect farmers from distress sales and ensure remunerative returns for their produce.

Its demands cover paddy, wheat, maize, soybean, moong, urad, tur, jowar, bajra, kodo, kutki and cotton, among other eligible crops. The memorandum seeks adequate procurement infrastructure, sufficient gunny bags, smooth weighing operations and timely payments to farmers.

It has also called for compliance with payment rules in agricultural markets, including payment for produce on the same day wherever required under the applicable regulations.

According to the farmers’ platform, rising input costs and weaknesses in procurement arrangements are putting additional pressure on agricultural households. It has urged the government to move beyond announcements and implement measures that deliver tangible relief at the ground level.

Fertiliser Shortages, Electricity and Farm Debt Under Scrutiny

The availability of urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) remains among the issues highlighted in the memorandum. The Morcha has demanded adequate supplies of essential fertilisers at reasonable prices and improvements to the e-token distribution system.

It has also called for safeguards to ensure that eligible sharecroppers, tenant farmers, leaseholders and farmers cultivating jointly held land are not excluded from fertiliser distribution.

Eligible tribal and non-tribal cultivators farming forest and revenue land should also receive access to fertilisers, seeds, MSP procurement and cooperative society services, the memorandum states.

On financial relief, the Morcha has sought a farm loan waiver and a comprehensive debt-relief scheme. It has further demanded 10 continuous hours of daytime electricity for irrigation and corrective action on irregularities in agricultural electricity bills.

Morcha Demands Immediate Review of Seven Nuclear Projects

One of the memorandum’s most significant demands concerns the seven proposed nuclear energy projects in Madhya Pradesh, which the Morcha wants the government to halt immediately.

The organisation has argued that decisions concerning such projects should take into account their potential consequences for farmers, tribal communities, village assemblies, water resources, agricultural land and the environment.

It has called for independent impact assessments and greater scrutiny before any further steps are taken. The Morcha has also advocated giving priority to safer, decentralised renewable energy alternatives.

The demand places land use, environmental protection and the rights of local communities at the centre of the debate over the state’s proposed energy projects.

Compensation and Rehabilitation for Project-Affected Families

The memorandum has highlighted the concerns of families affected by the Ken-Betwa river-linking project, the Runjh and Majhgaon dams, and the Lalitpur-Singrauli railway line.

The Morcha has demanded fair compensation, rehabilitation and employment opportunities for affected farmers and families. It has also called for strict implementation of applicable land acquisition provisions and protection of the rights of displaced and project-affected communities.

In addition, the farmers’ platform has sought a review and withdrawal of allegedly unjustified cases registered during peaceful farmers’ protests.

Support for Small Farmers and Rural Livelihoods

Beyond procurement and compensation, the 26-point charter addresses several issues affecting small cultivators and the wider rural economy.

The demands include financial assistance for crop-residue, or narwai, management; adequate subsidies on agricultural machinery; and the establishment of community machinery banks to help small farmers access equipment without bearing the full cost individually.

The Morcha has also called for correction of discrepancies in land records and maps, revival of the farm-road scheme, and elections to agricultural market committees and cooperative societies.

Fair and remunerative prices for milk, fruit and vegetable producers have also been sought. Ensuring forest rights for eligible tribal farmers is another important component of the charter.

Farmers’ Organisations Seek Written Response and Clear Deadlines

Several representatives of farmers’ organisations and public-interest groups were present when the memorandum was submitted. Those named by the Morcha include Irfan Jafri of the Kisan Jagriti Sangathan; Prahlad Bairagi of the All India Kisan Sabha; Leeladhar Rajput and Babusingh Rajput of the Krantikari Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan; Mohanish; Vijay Kumar of the All India Revolutionary Kisan Sabha; Shivam Baghel of Kisan Satyagraha; and Samadhan Patil of the Jan Sangharsh Samanvay Samiti, Madhya Pradesh.

The Morcha has urged the government to issue clear instructions to the concerned departments, establish deadlines for resolving key demands and convene a meeting with representatives of farmers’ organisations.

It has also sought a written update on the action taken by the administration.

The platform maintains that sustained dialogue, accountable governance and concrete policy decisions are essential to addressing the challenges confronting Madhya Pradesh’s farming community.

Issued by: Irfan Jafri, Babusingh Rajput and Prahlad Bairagi
Madhya Pradesh Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (MPSKM)
A common platform of farmers’ organisations in Madhya Pradesh.

(SDNA)