Sowing Dissent, Harvesting Repeal: Reflections on India’s Farm Law Reforms

Abstract

In 2020, the Government of India introduced three farm laws aimed at restructuring the agricultural marketing framework. Instead of generating consensus, these legislations provoked large-scale resistance from farmers and allied stakeholders, resulting in a prolonged agrarian movement that ultimately led to their repeal in November 2021. This study analyses the views and concerns of farmers, consumers, and commission agents regarding the enactment and withdrawal of these laws. The analysis draws on primary data collected through face-to-face and telephonic interviews with 150 respondents, including 60 farmers, 60 consumers, and 30 commission agents, from the districts of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, and Ludhiana in Punjab. The findings indicate that farmers largely opposed the laws due to apprehensions about the erosion of the APMC system, ambiguity surrounding the Minimum Support Price mechanism, and asymmetrical power relations inherent in contract farming arrangements. Commission agents feared occupational displacement with the dilution of regulated markets, while consumer opinions remained divided, with many expressing concerns over price instability and hoarding following amendments to the Essential Commodities Act. The study argues that although agricultural reforms are imperative, they must be designed through transparent, participatory, and federal processes to foster trust and ensure equitable and sustainable agrarian transformation.