The farmers and the central government agreed on two issues, said Union agriculture minister Narendra Tomar after the sixth round of talks on Wednesday.
“Of the four agendas of farmers, two issues have been agreed upon. Talks will resume on January 4 on the two outstanding issues,” a report quoted Union agriculture minister Narendra Tomar as saying after the talks on Wednesday.
The central government offered concessions to farmers – the electricity amendment bill and penal provisions for stubble burning.
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The report quoted the farmers, who attended the talks, as saying that the central government had indicated that it would not repeal the laws, citing the requirement of the long process.
The representatives of 41 farmers’ organizations, who attended the talks, said they would respond after discussions.
The government has offered to withdraw the Electricity Amendment Bill and the penal provisions for stubble burning in the Air Quality Commission Ordinance, which were among the other demands of the agitating farmers.
Union agriculture minister Tomar said the talks would resume at 2 pm on January 4 on the two outstanding issues of the farmers.
“The farmers’ organizations should ask the elderly, the women and children to return home owing to the winter conditions,” Tomar said.
The representatives of the farmers’ groups said the government is not ready for legally enforced support prices for produce and said a committee may be formed to look into it.
“The minister (agriculture) said as a farmer’s son, he can understand the need for a legally enforceable support price. But it is not practicable due to enormous financial implications,” the report quoted Kavita Kuruganti, representative of a farmers’ group, as saying.