Dr Gurdev Singh Khush, Agronomist

Reacting to the farmers’ protest over the Central agriculture laws, Dr Gurdev Singh Khush, a World Food Prize winner, says it’s time Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets the protesters to end the deadlock. In an interview with Sanjeev Singh Bariana, the US-based agronomist and geneticist who graduated from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, tells why the farmers are justified in raising their demands.

How do you view the ongoing farmers’ agitation on the Central farm laws?

I am concerned. My understanding is that the agriculture laws were passed without much consultation either with farmer organisations or state governments. Agriculture is a state subject.

Are the demands of farmers justified?

Farmers are justified in asking for the continuation of minimum support price (MSP) and mandis. This system of MSP and mandis has served the country for more than 50 years. Why change the system that has served the farming community and the country well?

Farmers from other parts of the country are also taking part in the protest, but why has Punjab become its face?

Farmers all over the country are unhappy with the agriculture laws. Since Punjab farmers have taken the lead in articulating their concerns, it has been labelled as Punjab farmers’ agitation. Now farmers from other states have also joined the protest.

Has the government responded appropriately?

I wish the government could be more sensitive in handling the agitation. Initially, the government ignored the protest, thinking it would peter out by itself. When the protest continued, it invited the farmer representatives to Delhi for discussion. Only the agriculture secretary met farmers and they returned empty handed. This shows that the exercise had not been fair.

What’s the way out for both farmers and the Centre?

Only solution to the present impasse is the government must listen to farmers and understand their viewpoint and then negotiate sincerely. The Home Minister and the Agriculture Minister should meet the farmer representatives and arrive at a negotiated settlement. A give and take on both sides would be helpful.