The Farmers are on the Road

Punjab has seen a massive protest about delays in the grain procurement strategy and a large cut in share of government’s purchase across the province, particularly Lahore. The Punjab government usually buys 4 million tonnes of grain a year, but because of existing stock this year, they have decided to buy half that amount. Middlemen are also exploiting the farmers by purchasing grains at prices lower than the government-set minimum rates of RS 3900 per 40kg. Farmers also showed reservations on the enactment of mobile application, rather submitting manual applications, considering that the majority of the farmers are digitally illiterate.

According to Umair Masood, the General Secretary of Kisan Itehad Pakistan, the Punjab police has cracked down on Mall Road as the demonstrators were heading towards the Punjab Assembly, leading to the detention of more than a three hundred farmers. Other regions of the province, such as Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffargarh, Khanewal, and Kasur, also witnessed out cry, owing to the aforesaid reasons. Masood’s assertions were, however, denied by the Punjab Government, saying that just 46 demonstrators were being held in Lahore. It is not a novel incident, in which the workers and farmers are bearing the brunt of inequitable governments’ policies because of the capitalist and elite captured economy, perhaps, the world has witnessed such instances in India and Europe in recent past.

Despite the unrests, the administration has promised to take the farmers’ complaints seriously by coming up with a comprehensive plan. It is pertinent that policymakers need to acknowledge the critical role of farmers in fostering the country’s development and prosperity as they dependent on agriculture, directly or directly. Therefore, fulfilment of their requests by assisting them, on earnest basis to resolve their issues are critical for the well-being of the farmers and the country as a whole.