Letter of U.S. Farmers' OrganizationsAn open letter written by 87 farmers' organization in the U.S. supports the fight of Indian farmers. The letter says of the Indian farmers: "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." The farmers' organizations point out that 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 organizations point out that this is an important means of ensuring farmers get a fair price for their crops. They state: "The U.S. has been a key opponent of India's limited use of MSP at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The U.S., with Australia, Canada and European allies, has claimed that India's MSP distorts trade." The letter further states: "[The] 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 government's 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 U.S. agriculture sector. It is rare for these food producers to make a living without supplemental income. Unsurprisingly, farm suicides in rural America are 45 per cent higher than in the rest of the population. [...] "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 colour producers, who lack secure land tenure and are concentrated in vegetable and small-scale cattle sectors, have been excluded historically. Support flows to larger agri-business farming operations instead of the independent family farmers whose voices we amplify. [...] "We have great respect for the unified struggles the farmers and farmworkers of Samyukt Kisan Morcha have built, and we stand with them." (thewire.in)
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