Since the farmers’ protest began in India in November 2020, their camp outside of the capital city of Delhi has grown into a mini town. Protesters have been sleeping on the ground and in the trucks through the cold winter months. Many farmers have died.
Protesters in Delhi oppose three agricultural laws implemented by the Indian government last year. Before the reforms were introduced, farming was closely monitored by the government. Farmers had to sell the crops through government-regulated markets. And only the government was allowed to stock significant amounts of crops.
The reform allows the private business to buy the products directly from the farmers and to store any desired amount of crops. It also defines the contracts between the farmers and private companies, for example allowing them to set a price for the product before even planting it.
Farmers are afraid that the new laws will deprive them of the guaranteed prices system that they had before the reform; and that the prices of the crops will gradually decrease. forcing them to sell the land and find another job to avoid hunger.