Beed: Farmers Stage 'Rasta Roko' Over Crop Insurance, MSP, India-US Trade Deal

Farmers in Beed, Maharashtra staged a Rasta Roko protest on Monday, demanding a range of compensation and policy changes from the government. The United Kisan Morcha and Kisan Sangharsh Samiti organized the rally, which saw hundreds of farmers, agricultural workers, and others take part. Key demands included guaranteed remunerative prices for crops, timely crop insurance payouts, compensation for losses from heavy rain, and the scrapping of the proposed India-US free trade agreement.

Farmers accused the Narendra Modi government of failing to deliver on promises made in the 2014 election manifesto to provide remunerative prices based on production costs plus 50% profit. Sushila Morale and Prakash Bhansali addressed the protest, with Morale alleging that heavy rainfall in 2025 had caused massive losses for Beed and other Maharashtra farmers, who suffered damage to agricultural land and topsoil.

Despite assurances, farmers were still awaiting crop insurance compensation of ₹17,500 per hectare. The protesters also criticized the proposed India-US free trade agreement, arguing that it could harm Indian farmers by increasing imports of agricultural commodities. They demanded the agreement be cancelled. Other demands included the implementation of loan waivers, improved electricity supply for agriculture, and the withdrawal of an 18% GST on fertilisers, seeds, and pesticides.

The protesters highlighted issues affecting agricultural labourers and the closure of schools in rural areas, citing a NITI Aayog report that showed 92,000 schools had been closed nationwide. Former MLA Janardan Tupe and others participated in the protest, urging the government to address the multiple crises faced by farmers and workers.