India’s new season paddy rice purchases from local farmers rose 21% by the end of October as New Delhi tried to allay farmers’ concerns that new agricultural laws mean the federal government will stop buying food grains at guaranteed prices. India recently approved reforms of its agriculture sector that will allow farmers to sell to institutional buyers and big retailers such as Walmart, but farmers have protested, saying the new legislation could pave the way for the government to stop buying grain at guaranteed prices, leaving farmers at the mercy of private buyers.
