A team of Union ministers met leaders of protesting farmers in Chandigarh on Sunday for the fourth round of talks.

After the late-night meeting, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said a panel of three Union ministers — Goyal, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Arjun Munda and Home Minister Minister Nityanand Rai – proposed a five-year plan to purchase pulses, maize and cotton crops from farmers at minimum support prices.

Farmer leaders, on the other hand, said they will discuss the government’s proposals at a forum in the next two days and then decide on the future course of action.

The meeting was held amid protests by farmers camping on the Punjab-Haryana border demanding legal assurances on MSP, among other demands. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also attended the meeting.

At the end of the four-hour meeting, Goyal said “innovative” and “out-of-the-box” ideas were raised during the discussion, adding that farm leaders would take a decision on the proposal on Monday morning.

“Cooperative societies like NCCF (National Cooperative Consumer Federation) and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) will sign contracts with farmers who grow ‘tur dal’, ‘urad dal’, ‘masoor dal’ or maize in the next five years. MSP buys crops,” Goyal said.

There is no limit on the purchase quantity, the Commerce and Industry Minister said, adding that a portal will be developed for the purpose.

Goyal said the proposal would save agriculture in Punjab, improve groundwater levels and prevent already stressed land from becoming infertile.

The Union Minister said farmers pointed out that they want to grow maize crop but they want to avoid losses if prices fall below the floor.

Goyal mentioned the steps taken by the Narendra Modi-led government in the agriculture sector and said that from 2014 to 2024, the Center procured crops worth Rs 180 crore at MSP, while from 2004 to 2014 During this period, only crops worth Rs 550 crore were procured at guaranteed prices.

The commerce and industry minister said if farmer leaders take a decision on the government’s proposals by Monday, then they will continue discussions as he urged farmers to call off their protests.

However, he emphasized that farmers’ other demands are “deep-seated and policy-driven” and that it is impossible to find solutions without in-depth discussions.

“Elections are coming and a new government will be formed…discussions on such issues will continue,” Goyal added.

What do farmers say?

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said issues such as MSP laws, Swaminathan Committee recommendations and loan waivers were discussed during the meeting.

Sarwan Singh Pandher, another farmer leader, said: “We will discuss it at the forum on February 19-20, take input from experts and take a decision based on it. “

Pandel said discussions on loan forgiveness and other requirements are still ongoing and we expect these issues to be resolved within the next two days. The ‘Delhi Chalo’ parade is currently on hold, he said, adding that if all issues are not resolved, the parade will resume at 11 am on February 21.

Position of the Chief Minister of Punjab

Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Minister is pushing for a legal MSP for crops to protect the interests of farmers. Mann said that during the discussion he raised the issue of importing beans from Mozambique and Colombia.

Imports exceeded $2 billion, Mann said, adding that if MSP was provided for the crop, Punjab would lead the country in pulses production. He said that this will be the second green revolution.

The Punjab chief minister also said farmers in the state can cultivate cotton and corn only after getting guaranteed MSP for these crops. Mann stressed that guaranteed marketing of these crops could incentivize farmers to further diversify their crops.

Mann attended the meeting as an advocate for farmers and said the final decision must be made by stakeholders. He added that all means must be taken to maintain peace, law and order during the protests.

Last week, farmers in Punjab began marching towards the national capital. However, they were stopped by security personnel at Shambhu and Khanauri points on the Punjab-Haryana border and they continued to pressure the Center to accept their demands, including legal security for MSP’s crops.

The farmers also demanded implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations, pension for farmers and farm workers, farm debt waiver, no hike in power tariffs, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Additionally, their demands include restoration of the Land Acquisition Act 2013 and compensation to the families of farmers who died during the previous unrest in 2020-21.

(With PTI input)