Skyrocketing Prices of Pulses and the Agrarian Crisis: Impact of Neo-liberal Policies

This interview with Vijoo Krishnan, Joint Secretary All India Kisan Sabha, on the agrarian crises leading to farmer suicides and rising prices of food grains traces backs the agrarian crises to the new economic reforms and neo liberal policies adopted by various governments post its implementation. In addition to that, the current regime’s pro corporate policies have pushed the agricultural sector to the margins resulting in increased rate in farmers’ suicides. Vijoo explains how the minimum support prices which are being paid to the farmers are much less than the original cost of production, resulting in distress for the farmers. On the rising prices of food grains, Vijoo explains that since the new government has come to power, prices of commodities used in farming, like fertilizers, have gone up. Also the phenomena of black marketing has increased and that too mostly among BJP ruled states which have resulted in such high prices.