The farmers of Punjab have rejected the conditions of IMF and amendments in the Seed Act terming it in the interest of multinationals and against the poor farming community. They have vowed to resist every move aimed at suffocating the already ailing sector.
The growers said that they would not accept any decision until the powerful agri-mafia was eliminated and they are provided level playing field. Anjuman Kashtkaran Punjab President Abdul Ali Zakir Osmani said that agriculturally illiterate officials are taking wrong decisions. Faulty statistics and incorrect surveys were adding to the problems. Amendments in the Seed Act 1976 were planned while keeping supreme the interests of powerful companies operating in several nations, they alleged. We reject slavery in the name of WTO. Osmani said central and provincial governments have ignored NWFP and peasants are being cheated in the name of new policies, products and subsidies. There was nothing on ground and the rural community was completely on the mercy of ruthless and greedy private sector.
Whole agricultural chain and sub sectors were hijacked by middlemen who emerged as decision-makers in almost all the important matters. These sharks have paralysed whole system. Scarcity of water, spurious insecticides and pesticides, high-price of urea, fertilisers and other inputs, unabated smuggling and deteriorating law and order situation have proved to be fatal blow for the community.