SUKKUR: Growers and agricultural workers of Sindh are facing severe economic crisis, inflation, water shortage, unemployment and climate change, coupled with “anti-farmer” policies of the government.
Speaking at Hari conference here on Sunday, the leaders of various farmers’ organisations said that agriculture was continuously being destroyed under the policies of the IMF and international financial institutions, while the failure to fix support prices for wheat, rice, and other crops, along with the constant increase in the prices of diesel, fertilisers, seeds, and agricultural medicines, had pushed farmers to the brink of destruction.
“Schemes such as the Benazir Hari Card and fertiliser subsidies are benefiting influential landlords and large farm owners instead of genuine farmers,” they alleged, adding that the Sindh government had completely failed to provide relief to haris and small growers.
Expressing serious concern over water crisis in Sindh, they said that Indus River System Authority (Irsa) was not providing Sindh with its due share of water, causing millions of acres of agricultural land to become barren, adding that influential feudal lords and landlords had occupied canals originating from Guddu, Sukkur, and Kotri barrages, while tail-end farmers were struggling for every drop of water.
They also expressed concern over the destruction of Indus Delta, lands being swallowed by the sea, climate change, droughts, floods, and extreme heat, which were threatening the rural economy. They claimed that the government had no effective policy to deal with climate change.
They demanded immediate restoration of Ruk pumping station in District Shikarpur, stating that due to its non-functionality, thousands of acres of land had been affected by waterlogging and salinity, while several villages had suffered serious damages.
They demanded that a separate feeder be provided from the Lakhi grid station to ensure permanent functioning of the Ruk pumping station and that drainage channels be immediately excavated.
They also demanded that lands be distributed among landless farmers instead of being handed over to corporate companies; Sindh be given its full share of water; support prices be fixed for all crops; farmers be granted the right to form unions; and basic facilities including health and education be ensured.
They warned that farmers’ bodies will intensify their public protests and campaigns if their demands were not met.
On the occasion, the farmer leaders strongly condemned the murder of Sohaib Indh, brother of Hari Jad Committee leader Shoaib Indh, and demanded immediate arrest of the killers.
Those who spoke at the event included President Haqooq-e-Khalq Party and executive committee member of Pakistan Kissan Rabta Committee, Farooq Tariq, Qamar Abbas of Pakistan Kissan Rabta Committee, Ashiq Domki, and President of Sindh Hari Jad Committee Ali Khoso.
