Following the conclusion of the fourth round of talks with the Centre, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced on Monday that they would consider the government's proposal to guarantee the purchase of five crops at the minimum support price (MSP), and that the 'Delhi Chalo' march has been postponed until February 21.
Until then, peaceful protests will continue at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, situated along the Haryana entry points.
Pandher stated, "Our decision to proceed to Delhi is on hold. We will move forward peacefully on February 21 at 11 a.m. Until then, we will strive to present our concerns to the Centre."
The Centre's proposal includes the purchase of three pulses—arhar, tur, and urad—along with cotton and maize at the MSP. It is suggested that central agencies such as the NCCF, NAFED, and the Cotton Corporation of India will enter into a five-year contract to procure these crops from farmers.
The farmer leaders, including Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal, and Nityanand Rai, have asked for discussions and consent from farmers before finalizing the plan.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, addressing the media after the meeting, expressed that if MSP is provided for these crops, Punjab could lead in pulse production, marking a significant stride towards a second green revolution. He emphasized the importance of MSP for cotton and maize to encourage farmers to diversify crops, potentially reducing the country's reliance on imported pulses.
Read also | Farmers' protest: Internet services to remain suspended in parts of Punjab till February 24
