Union tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda defended the farm laws recently passed by Parliament and signed on by President Ramnath Kovind amid widespread protests, saying t the acts would transform the lives of farmers in India by allowing them to sell their produce in the international market while getting maximum possible returns without having to deal with middlemen.

“This law will double the income of farmers, increase yield and ensure quality production,” Munda told the media at the state BJP headquarters on Saturday.

The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 have been challenged by the Opposition at the Centre while some states have also decided to knock at the door of the apex court against the laws.

While Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Punjab have said they might not implement the new laws, Kerala and Punjab have declared their intention to challenge them in the Supreme Court.

However, Munda said that the Congress party and some other Opposition parties were spreading confusion regarding the acts in order to politicise the matter.

“Farmers from Congress-ruled states were also consulted before framing the laws. The government is working in favour of farmers and aims at ensuring maximum benefit and conducive working environment for farmers,” the Union minister said.

He said the Opposition was only concerned about the benefits of capitalists, while it was overlooking the benefits of farmers. “From a global perspective, this bill is in the interest of farmers. In the open market, farmers will now be able to sell their crop without any tax,” Munda added.

There is immense potential of fish farming in the country, and the latest agrarian law includes fisheries. The laws, he said, will provide e-trading opportunities to farmers. “At least 10,000 farmer groups are being formed in the country. These groups will work in the direction of adding small farmers to bring their crops to market,” Munda said, adding that farmers will get an assurance of price before sowing and the price will increase as per the market value.

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, provides for contract farming, under which farmers will produce crops as per contract with corporates for a mutually agreed remuneration. Opposition parties fear that investors would bind farmers in unfavourable contracts which could lead to exploitation.