
As German cabinet recently passed legislation to amend laws regarding farming, protests, occurring in its anticipation, were increased in magnitude. Let’s take a look at what the legislation is, and how it has been received there.
Crux of the Matter
Protests
Germany recently passed farm laws which have drawn protest from the farmers across the nation. Several states have witnessed tractor rallies.
Reason?
- The legislation would reduce the use of glyphosate herbicide, and stop its use completely 2024 onwards.
- It also restricts the use of fertilizers and insecticides.
The law has been brought to check Germany’s insect population decrease. It has reduced drastically due to excessive use of pesticide. Insects are considered vital for ecological balance.
Major Reaction
The protest are lead by ‘Land schafft Verbindung’ (LsV) (Country Creates Connection) movement, which claims that the laws were passed without consulting the farmers. LsV claims that the restrictions would inflate costs, which would increase food imports and harm the local farmers. They also claim that food import causes more carbon emission and may not qualify German food standards.
- Farmers have demanded to repeal the legislation and analyse the impact of other infrastructure on insect population instead.
- Opposition groups like the Green party have claimed that insect population reduction is caused more by ‘industrial-scale farming’.
- The Left party has blamed ‘market inequality’ for the crisis, blaming monopoly of large corporations which “prohibit fair prices and render ecological solutions infeasible.”