Thread by @balsher_sidhu

My PhD focuses on making Indian agriculture more sustainable, but I oppose the new farm laws. I'm often asked how I explain this contradictory view.

Short ans: There is no contradiction.

Long ans: Indian agriculture today is extremely unsustainable, & needs major reform, (1/n)

but these new laws have little to do with sustainability, as much as some world-renowned experts would like you to believe (👁️ @ShamikaRavi,

https://twitter.com/ShamikaRavi/status/1356828571872882689

).

If we want to improve Indian ag, we need to understand the history that brought us here. (2/n)

When India gained independence in 1947, she was a big food importer which jeopardized national food security. Indian govt focused on NW India (Pb, Hr, UP etc) to increase production through groundwater extraction, ag chemical subsidies, cheap loans buy farming machinery. (3/n)

And within a few years, India became a net food exporter. One big enabling policy was that of assured procurement of wheat & rice at a minimum price (MSP) from farmers. MSP assured farmer income, and filled govt godowns for public distribution system (PDS) to feed the poor. (4/n)

Problem began a few years ago as farmers continued to produce more than needed wheat/rice, because govt only procures wheat/rice (and cotton to a lesser extent) at MSP. With the new farm laws, govt wants to let corporates in & reduce the burden of MSP on budget. (5/n)

Modi and team claim that MSP will remain, but farmers (who the govt never consulted before bulldozing these laws through the Parliament) believe the govt is dismantling MSP procurement in mandis. Don't get me wrong, farmers in NW India DO need to shift away from rice. (6/n)

Farmers know that, being the first ones to be affected by groundwater depletion & soil/water deterioration due to chemicals & stubble burning. But you can't force farmers to drop everything and stop growing rice/wheat in a day. Incentives & time are needed for that. (7/n)

Some like @ShekharGupta propose Punjab (avg farm household income INR 2,16,000) learn from Bihar (INR 42,000)

https://twitter.com/shekhargupta/status/1335993644373852160

. Pray tell, who in this world would take an EIGHTY percent pay cut, regardless of how sustainable that would make you?! (8/n)

So yes, Indian ag needs to become sustainable, and govt needs to incentivize farmers to shift cropping patterns, gradually. Farming equipment & tube well expenses have multi-year Return on Investment. If I buy equipment today to grow rice, I can't NOT grow rice next year. (9/n)

Govt needs to make long-term multi-decadal plan to reform India ag. And incentivize more sustainable crops by assuring procurement at an MSP similar to what farmers get for growing rice/wheat. Policies only work when there is an alternative! That's public policy 101. (10/n)

Summary: The new farm laws have nothing to do with making Indian ag more sustainable. If past experience in other countries tells us anything, corporatization makes ag LESS sustainable because corporations can ruin and run, which farmers can't. (11/n)

Sustainability push needs to come from the govt, not corporates. For the poorest farmers, economic sustainability trumps environmental sustainability. Farmers that made India food secure decades ago, need your support today.

Kisaan mazdoor ekta zindabad. Jai Hind. (12/n)

Tagging folks who have been supporting farmers all these months. @KisanEktaMarch @KisanEktaMarch @Devinder_Sharma @HartoshSinghBal @pb11catch22 @rakhitripathi @ReallySwara (13/13) The end.