The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called upon MPs and MLAs to oppose the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement, warning that such deals lead to 'economic colonisation' of the Indian agricultural sector.

  • Strong opposition to the India-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and demand to repeal all existing FTAs.
  • Demand for a legal guarantee of MSP based on the M.S. Swaminathan Commission recommendations.
  • Call for comprehensive loan waivers and ₹25 lakh compensation for families of farmer suicide victims.
  • Allegations of corporate duopoly in FCI silos involving Adani and Leap India.

New Delhi: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body representing approximately 500 farmers' organizations, has issued a formal appeal to all Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs). The memorandum highlights the "deep agrarian, economic, and social distress" currently plaguing farmers and laborers across the country, urging representatives to intervene against the proposed India-United States Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

The SKM contends that Free Trade Agreements serve as a blueprint for the "economic colonisation" of India. According to the group, these deals facilitate the unchecked import of agricultural products, which erodes the viability of domestic farming, allows foreign entities to capture food processing markets, and forces changes in cropping patterns that jeopardize India's food self-reliance.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the friction between neoliberal trade policies and grassroots agricultural needs is reaching a breaking point. While the government views FTAs as a gateway to global markets, the SKM views them as a Trojan horse that could dismantle the protective barriers keeping small-scale farmers afloat against heavily subsidized Western agribusinesses.

Central to their demands is the passage of an Act ensuring a Minimum Support Price (MSP) as recommended by the National Farmers Commission, headed by M. S. Swaminathan. The farmers are seeking guaranteed procurement for all crops to eliminate market volatility. Additionally, the group is pushing for a comprehensive loan waiver to curb rural indebtedness and a compensation package of ₹25 lakh for the families of those who committed suicide due to agrarian distress.

The intersection of trade liberalization and agricultural instability often creates a systemic risk where food security is traded for industrial market access.

The SKM's demands extend beyond agriculture into labor rights. They are calling for the scrapping of the four Labour Codes, a mandated minimum wage of ₹31,000 for all workers, and the restoration of MGNREGA to provide 200 days of work at a wage of ₹700. They also seek the withdrawal of the draft Electricity Bill, the Seeds Bill 2025, and the draft National Food Security Act.

In a stinging critique of corporate influence, the SKM alleged that a duopoly consisting of Adani and Leap India has taken hold of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) silos. The group claims that 77.5% of grains will be controlled by these two entities, characterizing it as a "corporate takeover of agriculture" that threatens India's sovereignty.

Did You Know?: The M.S. Swaminathan Commission recommended that MSP should be at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production, a benchmark that remains a central point of contention in Indian farm protests.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is the SKM opposing the India-US Free Trade Agreement?
The SKM believes FTAs encourage agricultural imports that undercut local prices, damage the livelihood of small farmers, and undermine national food security.

2. What are the primary demands regarding labor and wages?
The group demands the repeal of the four Labour Codes, a minimum wage of ₹31,000, and an increase in MGNREGA work days to 200 per year.