New agriculture reforms in India in 2020: An exploration of the conditions for their successful implementation

In 2020 the Government of India has enacted three landmark farm laws that are supposed to bring about considerable improvements in the lives of farmers in India. These Acts are related to the marketing of farmers’ produce, contract farming with assured prices, and hoarding of agricultural produce. It is expected that if properly implemented it will immensely help augment farm production and income, attract investment and technology by providing essential freedom and incentives to the producers and traders of agricultural commodities both directly and indirectly. However, there has been tremendous opposition and agitation by farmers’ associations especially in Punjab and Haryana demanding repeal of these Acts. Litigation is pending in the Supreme Court of India against the implementation of these Acts. The Central Government has suspended the execution of the laws for one and half years. Despite agitation by some sections of farmers, the study finds that these Acts will bring beneficial changes to the lives of the stakeholders and, therefore, need to be implemented by plugging the loopholes and by taking the key players into confidence to achieve the desired beneficial objectives.