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Farmers across Pakistan are gearing up for a nationwide protest on April 13, opposing the introduction of corporate farming under the Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI).
A joint meeting of key agricultural organizations, including the Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee, Anjuman Muzareen Punjab, Hari Jaddojahad Committee, and Crofter Foundation, has decided to hold rallies and conventions in cities and public sector farms across the country.
The protesters aim to raise several demands, including the cessation of corporate farming practices, the protection of farmers’ rights to their ancestral lands, and an end to the eviction of farmers from these lands.
Additionally, they are calling for a ban on the controversial canal constructions in South Punjab, the redistribution of all government agricultural lands to farmers, and the withdrawal of notices demanding payment of outstanding arrears from tenants.
READ: GDA urges Karachi to join protest against Indus Canals Project
Furthermore, they are demanding that the government set the wheat purchase price at Rs 4,000 per maund during the ongoing harvesting season.
The GPI, a federal government program, is designed to boost agricultural output and tackle environmental issues by transforming uncultivated land into high-yield farms using modern technology, improved irrigation systems, high-quality seeds, and AI-powered monitoring systems.
However, many farmers and social activists are concerned that this shift towards large-scale corporate farming will marginalize small landowners, displace local farmers, and limit their access to crucial agricultural resources.
