From farm bills 2020 to farmers' protest: exploring the interplay of awareness, media and political affiliations in youth opinion

Abstract

The goals of Farm Bills 2020 were to reform agricultural trade, allowing farmers more freedom to trade with private buyers and reduce produce waste as well as government expenditure. The farm bills were unwelcomed by varying members of the farming community which led to the protests that lasted for 18 months and resulted in significant economic and human costs. Ultimately the controversial laws had to be repealed by the government. Employing the Farm Bills 2020 and the Farmers’ Protest 2020-21 as a focal point, this study defines a strong link between political awareness, media influence and government affiliations in shaping youth opinion. By contributing to the understanding of influences on opinion formation, this paper aims to help policymakers and educators engaging youth to make informed decisions and actively participate in shaping public policies.