‘Happened in US 40 Years Ago’: 87 US Farmers’ Unions Speak Out for Indian Farmers’ Protest – The Wire

New Delhi: Citing damning examples of Reagan era policies that have led to irreparable damage to the USs farmers, 87 farmers unions in the country have extended solidarity to the ongoing protests by farmers in India.

In a strong letter, the organisations draw a sharp connection between how agriculture has been affected by forces of neoliberalism in both India and the US. The unions began the letter by quoting Ghazipur protester Ringhu Yaspal, who says, Agriculture has turned into a slow poison. Its better to die fighting here.

The unions called the ongoing protests at Delhis borders one of the worlds most vibrant protests in history.

Their rallying cry is to repeal the three unjust laws that were passed without their knowledge or consultation. We extend our solidarity to countless farmers who are peacefully and boldly standing up for their rights and dignity, with other farmers from across the globe.

One of the key demands of the movement is for farmers to receive a Minimum Support Price (MSP) currently assured for just a few crops for all produce, including vegetables, the unions note.

The unions extol the virtues of MSP, noting that it is a key price signal to other traders, and ensures that farmers receive a fair price for crops.

A security person keeps vigil near barbed barricades at Ghazipur border during the ongoing farmers protest. Photo: PTI

Notably, the unions recognise the role of the US government in creating the current imbroglio.

The US has been a key opponent of Indias limited use of MSP at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The US, with Australia, Canada and European allies, has claimed that Indias MSP distorts trade.

In a two-part analysis forThe Wire,Indra Sekhar Singh had essayed the after-effects of US policies on agri-business and the model India has sought to follow with these farm laws.

The unions also exhorted the Biden administration to make agricultural policies conducive to farmers.

While the U.S. agricultural sector receives inordinately large support compared to many countries, access to that support remains inequitable. In particular, Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian-Pacific and other people of color producers, who lack secure land tenure and are concentrated in vegetable and small-scale cattle sectors, have been excluded historically. Support flows to larger agribusiness farming operations instead of the independent family farmers whose voices we amplify.

The unions note that it is their understanding that what Indian farmers are enduring now happened in the US almost four decades ago.

Reagan era furthered the farm crisis through deliberate federal policy changes, with systematic erosion of parity prices and other deregulatory efforts. Get big or get out has been our governments mantra. Farmers with the means to consolidate have been rewarded for growing monoculture commodities. Tribal nations and traditional producers as well as small farmers who have always practiced or shifted to diversified agroecological farming have effectively been subsidizing the US agriculture sector. It is rare for these food producers to make a living without supplemental income. Unsurprisingly, farm suicides in rural America are 45% higher than the rest of the population.

The WTO has worsened an already unequal playing field between the Global South and Global North, the unions note. What every nation-state can do, at the very least, is protect small farmers from deregulatory efforts, such as the three farm laws in India, that diminish the limited bargaining power that farmers have, pushing them off their farms, they said.

Finally, the unions urged governments in the US and India to support independent farmers and localised food systems.

We have great respect for the unified struggles the farmers and farmworkers of Samyukt Kisan Morcha have built, and we stand with them, the unions announced.

Below is the list of signatories:

1. A Growing Culture2. Abanitu Organics3. AFGE Local 33544. Agri-Cultura Cooperative Network5. Agricultural Justice Project6. Agroecology Commons7. Agroecology Research-Action Collective8. Alabama State Association of Cooperatives9. Alianza Nacional de Campesinas10. Alliance for Progressive South Asians (Twin Cities)11. American Sustainable Business Council12. Americana World Community Center13. Ancestor Energy14. Association for Farmers Rights Defense, AFRD Georgia15. Black Farmers & Ranchers New Mexico/National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association16. Buttermilk Falls CSA17. Center for Regional Agriculture Food and Transformation18. CoFED19. Community Agroecology Network20. Community Alliance for Global Justice21. Community Alliance with Family Farmers22. Community Farm Alliance23. Community Food and Justice Coalition24. Compassionate Action for Animals25. Disparity to Parity26. Earth Ethics Action27. East Michigan Environmental Action Council/Cass Commons28. Echo Valley Hope29. Ecologistas en Accin30. Ecosocialist Working Group, International Committee, Democratic Socialists of America31. Fair World Project32. Family Farm Action Alliance33. Family Farm Defenders34. Farm Aid35. Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance36. Farmers On The Move37. Farmworker Association of Florida38. Ground Operations39. Health of Mother Earth Foundation40. i4Farmers41. Imagining Transnational Solidarities Research Circle42. Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy43. Institute for Earthbound Studies44. Just Transition Alliance45. Land Core46. National Latino Farmers & Ranchers Trade Association47. National Family Farmers Coalition48. Natures Wisdom49. NC Climate Justice Collective50. NeverEndingFood51. North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project52. Northeast Organic Farming Association Vermont53. Northeast Organic Farming Association, Mass. Chapter54. Northeast Organic Farming Association-Interstate Council55. OPEIU 3956. Peoples Architecture Commonwealth57. Pesticide Action Network North America58. Philadelphia Community farm59. Real Food Media60. Regenerative Organic Alliance61. Regenerative Rising62. Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA63. Rural Advancement Fund of the National Sharecropper Fund64. Rural Coalition65. Rural Development Leadership Network66. Rural Vermont67. Safe Food and Feed Foundation68. Santa Cruz Permaculture69. Science for the People70. Science for the People Twin Cities71. Seeds for All72. Shaping Change Collaborative73. Sierra Club-USA74. Southeastern African-American Farmers Organic Network75. Steward Foundation76. Texas Drought Project77. The Carbon Underground78. United People Community Organization, Market, and Farms79. University of MN Food Recovery Network80. Uprooted & Rising81. US Food Sovereignty Alliance82. Utopia Cornucopia83. Vision for Change Foundation84. Vitis and Ovis Farm85. Washington Biotechnology Action Council86. Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice87. Womens Environmental Institute

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'Happened in US 40 Years Ago': 87 US Farmers' Unions Speak Out for Indian Farmers' Protest - The Wire