Protest against Contract Farming Ordinance in Odisha

FARMERS' organisations all over are opposing Modi government’s decision to amend APMC Act and other acts facilitating contract farming and big capital in agriculture endangering food security of crores of citizens and country’s farmers. Ironically this move, which is a long pending anti-farmer agenda of BJP, was made in the name of special economic package to fight the pandemic. In line with BJP governments in UP, MP, Gujarat and Karnataka, the BJD government in Odisha has also brought in an Ordinance facilitating contract farming in the state.

CPIML held a protest in Rayagada against promulgation of this anti-farmer ordinance by Odisha Government. The central committee member of the party Tirupati Gomango led this protest and demanded to withdraw the Ordinance and in place of this bring a legislation to recognise the rights of share cropper farmers. He said that share-croppers make the majority of farming community in the country and they are deliberately un-recognised and deprived of their rights as farmers by all governments. The new Ordinance will further deepen the corporate capital’s exploitative claws into the farmers’ lives and the livelihood of farmers will be in greater danger. A memorandum was submitted through the DM during the protest which was also addressed by Brundaban Bedika and Padmini Gomango.