Read last night in an autobiography that in Punjab, farmers did not like Sheep or its meat as it was considered unclean, because it eats human waste. Shepherds were called by farmers to help clean the farming land of human waste, and also fertilize it with sheep' ewe berries. 1/n

Another insight was about the importance of ਅਹਡ਼ਤੀਆ ahaḍatīā (broker in grain market) for #Punjabi farmers. The farmers were uncomfortable with the idea of selling a commodity directly to another individual and earning money from this. #FarmersProtest 2/n

That's why they never grew fruits & vegetables. Everything they grew was either for their own consumption or to be sold through a broker (Ahrtia). Selling your produce directly amounted to selling your labor for wages, which was considered demeaning #FarmersDilliChalo 3/n

Landowning Jats in Punjab were too proud to sell their labor directly to another individual. A Jat farmer had to take his produce in bulk to the broker (Ahrtia) and he would arrange for its sell with a small commission. 4/n
#PunjabFarmers

Each famer had his Ahrtia, who also doubled as their host, financial advisor and moneylender in the city. They had a special relationship. It was not uncommon to visit the house of the broker for meals when in town. #FarmersBill2020 5/n

This whole system forced Punjab farmers NOT to grow any perishable crops (like fruits and vegetables) because they had to be sold fresh. They believed only shopkeepers sell things, they as proud landowning farmers cannot sell their labor to someone else. 6/end