Indian Prime Minister speaks to protesting farmers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held virtual talks with Indian farmers and asked them to explain how the government's agricultural policies have benefited them, a month into massive farmer protests that have rattled his administration.

Protesting farmers fear the government will stop buying grain at minimum guaranteed prices and corporations will then push down prices. The government says the three laws approved by Parliament in September will enable farmers to market their produce and boost production through private investment. “Through these agricultural reforms, we have given better options to the farmers,” Modi said in his live address. He reiterated that the laws were a much-needed reform that would benefit farmers and accused opposition parties of spreading fears of farmers' exploitation by corporations. However, many Indian farmers believe the overhaul will lead to lower prices and pave the way for corporate takeovers of their small farms, which average less than three acres in size.