The ninth round of talks between protesting farmer unions and three central ministers got underway here on Friday afternoon to break the over-a-month-long deadlock on the three new agri laws
Centre to hold 9th round of talks with protesting farmers today
The Centre is hopeful of positive discussions, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Thursday
He urged other growers -- who have not yet got one -- to enroll soon
Both sides may discuss alternatives before meeting on Jan 15
The eighth round of talks between the Centre and protesting farmers on Friday failed to break an over-a-month-long deadlock
The Union government will hold the eighth round of talks with the representatives of farmer unions protesting at the borders of Delhi against the three agricultural laws
Security was increased along the borders of the national capital ahead of a tractor rally of farmers on Thursday morning
He also expressed confidence that the protesting unions will focus on farmers' interests and help the government reach a solution through constructive dialogue
Officials said while the central government wanted farmers to discuss the three Acts clause by clause, the farmers wanted nothing less than an assurance of total repeal
Farmers have been protesting on different borders of the national capital since November 26
The country's rabi foodgrains production including wheat in the ongoing 2020-21 crop year is expected to be better than the previous year's record of 153.27 million tonne
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar refrained from predicting whether the seventh round of talks will be the last one, saying he is not an astrologer
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"Discussions on the three farm laws and MSP are continuing and will continue in the next round of talks on January 4," Tomar told reporters after the meeting ended
Three union ministers joined farm leaders on Wednesday to share langar food arranged by protesting farmers
Sources said they discussed and finalised the government's position for the Wednesday meeting
The government is in talks with protesting farmer unions as well and is trying to end the logjam through dialogue, he added
Talks could happen on December 29 at 11 am on the modalities of when and how the three farm acts will be repealed, say farmers
Tomar also asked the agitating farmers to stop the protest and come to the discussion table