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Where has the notion that farm laws will lead to more sustainable practices come from? Where is the precedent that entry of big industries has improved extraction of resources (mining, groundwater, timber, water usage) or led to better pollution stds. without govt intervention? https://twitter.com/ShamikaRavi/status/1356828571872882689
Take Gherkin cultivation as an example( https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/crimea-and-punishment/article19855988.ece). Gherkins are export only and are very lucrative for farmers and businesses. The problem is that it requires a large amount of water and pesticides. Grown exclusively on contract basis in South India.
In 2000s, cultivation began in drylands near Bengaluru. Farmers dug multiple borewells for Gherkins. Within a decade, groundwater depleted and crop couldn't be grown. Contract agents found places with better GW table. When that depleted, they targeted farmers in irrigated areas.
Unlike rice and wheat, this is not even consumed in India. We're trading scarce water resources for forex. But super lucrative - three crops a year, and a half acre of Gherkins gives the farmer an income that is more than other crops in his field combined. Short-term > Long-term
Sugarcane and arecanut are other examples. I'd assume a company's purpose is to maximise profit. Why would they invest big in low-return, low-water-usage crops such as Ragi or Bajra or Jute, when they could invest in high margin, high-water-usage fruits, veggies and cash crops?
