Hyderabad: Viju Krishnan, the National General Secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), raised alarms about growing corporate dominance in agriculture. He stated that four major companies now control 46% of the sector, criticizing the BJP government for allowing this shift.
At a seminar hosted by the Aribandi Foundation on Thursday, Krishnan linked economic policies since 1990 to a rise in farmer suicides, noting over 450,000 deaths in 30 years. He accused the BJP of breaking promises to double farmers’ incomes and ignoring the Swaminathan Committee‘s recommendations.
Krishnan mentioned no farmer suicides in West Bengal and Gujarat but criticized cuts in labor funding. He opposed adding meters to agricultural motors, which he believes would financially strain farmers.
He argued that support prices, tied to lower production costs, favor corporations and hurt farmers, especially cotton growers. He recalled protests against three agricultural laws, repealed after significant farmer casualties.
Krishnan condemned the new agricultural marketing policy, saying it mirrors the repealed laws and maintains global subsidy inequalities. He warned of losses from free trade agreements and urged adapting farming to combat climate change, suggesting dairy integration and diverse crop cultivation.
