PFF opposes capitalism model of agriculture to save land and livelihoods

(KARACHI, April 13, 2016) Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) has launched a week-long mobilization campaign with peasants in Sindh province to commemorate the International Day of Peasants’ and Farmers’ Struggle, scheduled on April 17, 2016. The theme of the world peasant day for this year is ‘ Life, Land, and Healthy Food’.

PFF chairperson Muhammad Ali Shah in a statement issued on Wednesday said they are going to express solidarity with world peasants, reminding them that Pakistan’s Sindh province has cruel culture, where a large number of farmers families are living a life like slaves and do not have access to basic facilities.

PFF believes in resistance to safeguard peasants, who are facing fears and chaos due to exploitation and being deprived of their crop share in the province.

Shah linked the prevailing situation of peasants to capitalism model of agriculture production, which dominates the natural resources and forcing the poor farmers to put out them from their traditional source of income. He opposes the capitalist model of agriculture and demanding the government to introduce and promote ecological agriculture to get rid of poisoning the soil and make the land and health of farmers safe.  He said ever since the industrial agriculture introduced in the name of green revolution, it has caused destruction and displacement everywhere. In fact Sindh peasants being victims of this industrial and corporate agriculture model are facing hunger and joblessness, he added.

It is alarming situation with regard to the human rights of peasants and farmers and all the state laws are unable to intervene to safeguard the rights of these oppressed segments of the society, he said. 

Shah said PFF is supporting peasant families, who are forced to evacuate their lands and abodes on gun point and living isolated. They need support to resettle their families with incentives as per the law and humanitarian basis.

He said in this situation mostly peasant women and their innocent children do not have any option to seek their rights. Children are pushed to stay away from educational institutes and suffered a loss of their education due to cruel approach adapted by certain landlords and politically-backed people.  

“We are with these oppressed peasant families and inviting all organizations to join the week with PFF to strengthen the voice of poor people,” PFF leader said.

There has been an increase in the repression suffered by peasants and farmers, both women and men, in their daily struggle for their rights.

He quoted the world scenario, saying tragically, every day many farmers and defenders of peasant and small-scale agriculture are victims of such murderous attacks. He claims to have supported these farmers here to provide legal and moral support so they may live safely.

He opposes agro-business model, which subjects everything to its insatiable appetite for profit, destroying biodiversity by using more toxic inputs, drives peasants off their land. This is cruel approach that human rights defenders and those struggling for peasants rights must understand and continue resisting these anti-farmers mode of productions in agriculture here, he concluded.