Farmers' suicides in India

These three bills aimed to significantly change the agriculture structure in Punjab and the rest of India. They were also enacted without the input of farmers' unions.<ref name=":5" /> Some saw the legislation as a way to strengthen Punjab's agriculture industry by allowing farmers to set their own prices, increase competition, and sell to private corporations at a higher profit. Others saw it as a way for corporate giants to exploit farmers by decreasing competition, buying at lower prices, and in turn farmers selling at lower profits.<ref name=":02" />

These three bills aimed to significantly change the agriculture structure in Punjab and the rest of India. They were also enacted without the input of farmers' unions.<ref name=":5" /> Some saw the legislation as a way to strengthen Punjab's agriculture industry by allowing farmers to set their own prices, increase competition, and sell to private corporations at a higher profit. Others saw it as a way for corporate giants to exploit farmers by decreasing competition, buying at lower prices, and in turn farmers selling at lower profits.<ref name=":02" />

Previously, farmers had to sell their goods at auction at the government agreed [[Minimum support price (India)|minimum support price (MSP)]] for each crop. The MSP serves as a minimum wage or a safety net for farmers. The original rules surrounding the sale, pricing, and storage of produce protected farmers from an unrestricted free market for decades. The new bills loosened the rules of the sale, pricing, and storage of produce with the goal of deregulation, giving power to private corporations. The farmers said that with the new bills, market forces could push prices even lower. Struggling farmers would see even lower profit margins as they could find it difficult to negotiate favorable deals with corporations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CNN |first=Esha Mitra, Rhea Mogul |date=2021-11-26 |title=Indian farmers forced Modi to back down on new laws. So why aren't they going home? |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/26/india/india-farmers-protest-one-year-intl-hnk-dst |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

Previously, farmers had to sell their goods at auction at the government agreed [[Minimum support price (India)|minimum support price (MSP)]] for each crop. The MSP serves as a minimum wage or a safety net for farmers. The original rules surrounding the sale, pricing, and storage of produce protected farmers from an unrestricted free market for decades. The new bills loosened the rules of the sale, pricing, and storage of produce with the goal of deregulation, giving power to private corporations. The farmers said that with the new bills, market forces could push prices even lower. Struggling farmers would see even lower profit margins as they could find it difficult to negotiate favorable deals with corporations.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mitra |first1=Esha |last2=Mogul |first2=Rhea |date=2021-11-26 |title=Indian farmers forced Modi to back down on new laws. So why aren't they going home? |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/26/india/india-farmers-protest-one-year-intl-hnk-dst |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

=== Farmer protests ===

=== Farmer protests ===