A lapse in the passing of the farm laws was that the views of the states were not sought directly. However, consulting the states on the question of the recently-enacted farm laws cannot be a substitute for a thorough review of agricultural policies in India. The “food problem” needs to be understood in terms of a population’s access to food, not merely its availability. First, the expenditure on food referred to includes processed food, or food that has gone through a manufacturing process. The debate on the farm laws must be used as a moment to have a larger debate on the inter-linkages between farm holdings, farm incomes, access to food, enhancing the productivity of agriculture, and creating enough room for the growth of other sectors.

Source: Hindustan Times December 24, 2020 13:06 UTC