Massive protests in India against new agricultural laws continued into a fifth day, with the government inviting farm group leaders to hold talks. The plight of farmers is a major political issue in India, with about 70 percent of rural households depending primarily on agriculture. Issues such as drought and mounting debt have been blamed for the suicides of thousands of farmers in recent years. Legislation passed earlier this year means that farmers are now free to sell their produce to anyone at any price, instead of to state-controlled markets at fixed rates.
Indian farmers dig in over agricultural reform protests
