NEW DELLHI — The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers’ organisations, on Friday announced a nationwide agitation beginning May 27. As part of the protest, farmer unions and agricultural workers have been asked to burn copies of the Centre’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) order and the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) report in villages across the country.
Escalating its confrontation with the Narendra Modi government, the SKM accused the Centre of launching a coordinated assault on farmers through a “fraudulent MSP regime”, rising diesel prices and a worsening fertiliser shortage.
The announcement came after the SKM resolved to intensify its nationwide campaign against the Union government’s agricultural and economic policies, alleging that farmers were being pushed deeper into debt and distress while corporate interests continued to benefit.
Addressing an online press conference, SKM leaders alleged that the government had “surrendered to corporate lobbies, global agri-business interests and US pressure”. They claimed that decisions related to fuel imports, fertilisers and trade agreements were harming Indian agriculture and threatening food security.
The farmers’ body appealed to its affiliated organisations to hold demonstrations across rural India against the increase in diesel and fertiliser prices, as well as the alleged black marketing of fertilisers.
MSP “Fraud” Allegation
Farm leaders sharply criticised the Centre’s MSP announcement for Kharif crops for 2026-27, accusing the government of refusing to implement the Swaminathan Commission recommendation of MSP at C2+50 per cent — a long-standing demand of farmer organisations.
According to SKM leaders, the government continues to use an outdated formula for calculating MSP that excludes several production costs and undervalues farmers’ labour.
The organisation claimed that cotton farmers lose more than ₹2,300 per quintal compared to what they would receive under the C2+50 formula, while tur growers allegedly lose over ₹2,500 per quintal.
Describing the current procurement system as a “paper MSP”, the SKM alleged that a majority of farmers do not actually receive the declared support price in mandis.
The farmers’ coalition further claimed that cultivators of 20 major crops suffered collective losses worth nearly ₹27 lakh crore between 2016 and 2025 due to what it called “deliberately depressed procurement prices”.
Diesel Prices and Fertilizer Shortage
The SKM also criticised the recent increase in fuel prices, saying high taxes on diesel were placing an additional burden on farmers who depend on fuel for irrigation, transportation and mechanised farming.
The organisation demanded tax-free diesel for agricultural use, including the removal of road and infrastructure cess and excise duties imposed on fuel.
Farm leaders further alleged that shortages of urea and DAP fertilisers had led to widespread black marketing, forcing farmers to buy fertilizers at inflated prices.
According to the SKM, the price of DAP fertilizer has more than doubled since 2014, while potash prices have also risen sharply under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) regime.
“The fertiliser policy is benefiting corporations while farmers are forced to pay exorbitant prices every cropping season,” the organisation alleged.
Opposition to India-US Trade Deal
The SKM also opposed the proposed India-US interim trade agreement, claiming it would open Indian agriculture to heavily subsidised American farm imports.
The organisation argued that Indian farmers, already struggling with rising input costs and inadequate support prices, would not be able to compete with US agriculture, which it said receives massive government subsidies annually.
The farmers’ body also accused the Centre of undermining federalism by allegedly discouraging states from offering bonuses above MSP procurement rates.
Nationwide Mobilisation
As part of its mobilisation programme, the SKM announced a National Council and General Body meeting on June 17, followed by an All India Convention in New Delhi on July 28 to decide the next phase of protests.
The organisation said it would continue its agitation until key demands — including a legal guarantee for MSP at C2+50 per cent, a comprehensive farm loan waiver, rollback of fertiliser price hikes and withdrawal of what it called “pro-corporate” reforms — are met.
The SKM, which had led the year-long farmers’ protest against the now-repealed farm laws, said the latest agitation aims to build a “united pan-India resistance” against policies affecting farmers, agricultural workers and rural livelihoods.
