Farmer Power (The 2020-21 Movement, The State and Agricultural Reforms in India)

In September–October 2020, roughly 300,000 Indian farmers marched to New Delhi to protest three new farm laws, stationing themselves on national highways around the capital for more than a year. This unprecedented movement—firmly rooted in democracy, civil disobedience, and peaceful resistance—created a powerful new political space and became one of the most significant farmer-led mobilizations in recent history.

For more than a decade prior, farmer groups had tried to draw attention to agricultural issues overlooked by successive governments. But the 2020–21 uprising marked a turning point, standing out as a landmark event in the global history of social movements.

Farmer Power examines the movement’s origins, evolution, and distinctive character on the world stage. It also provides a broader look at India’s agricultural landscape: the struggles of small and marginal farmers, the plight of agricultural laborers, and the structural limitations of the procurement system. The book evaluates key policy interventions made by the Indian state over the past two decades and offers insight into the ongoing challenges of rural livelihoods.

A comprehensive and timely account, Farmer Power is essential reading for anyone interested in agricultural politics, social movements, and the realities of rural India.