Farmers and agricultural workers attend a rally against farm laws, in Barnala in the northern state of Punjab, India, on 21 February. It is one of a number of protests and rallies held in recent weeks in the country. \ REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui
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For more than two and half months, hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers have held protests in Delhi against three proposed agricultural bills.
At times violent, the protests have seen mass tractor rallies, trench digging, journalists arrested, internet blackouts and clashes with police leaving at least one farmer dead.
Celebrities have weighed in on the debate, with international pop-star Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg tweeting their support? for farmers.
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The government, led by prime minister Narendra Modi, says that the bills will help to reform agriculture and liberalise the agriculture sector.
It’s estimated that 40% of India’s workforce is directly involved in agriculture and currently most farmers sell the majority of their produce to government controlled wholesale markets for guaranteed set prices. One of the biggest changes the laws would bring would be to allow this system to change, with farmers able to sell directly to supermarket chains or online retailers.
This idea has split public opinion and opposition parties say the laws were brought in without proper consultation.
Up to 30 farm organisations are in consultation with the government but little ground seems to have been made.
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For more than two and half months, hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers have held protests in Delhi against three proposed agricultural bills.
At times violent, the protests have seen mass tractor rallies, trench digging, journalists arrested, internet blackouts and clashes with police leaving at least one farmer dead.
Celebrities have weighed in on the debate, with international pop-star Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg tweeting their support? for farmers.
The government, led by prime minister Narendra Modi, says that the bills will help to reform agriculture and liberalise the agriculture sector.
It’s estimated that 40% of India’s workforce is directly involved in agriculture and currently most farmers sell the majority of their produce to government controlled wholesale markets for guaranteed set prices. One of the biggest changes the laws would bring would be to allow this system to change, with farmers able to sell directly to supermarket chains or online retailers.
This idea has split public opinion and opposition parties say the laws were brought in without proper consultation.
Up to 30 farm organisations are in consultation with the government but little ground seems to have been made.
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