Nationwide protests in Pakistan as farmers demand basic rights

Farmers in Pakistan have been protesting against the government’s agricultural policies, particularly the imposition of an agricultural income tax and the import of wheat, which has led to financial losses for local farmers.

The Pakistan Kisan Ittehad, a farmers’ union, known for its advocacy for farmers’ rights and its efforts to address issues such as food security, support prices for crops, and the availability of fertilisers has announced a nationwide protest in December 2024 to oppose these measures. The main reason – farmers in Pakistan are demanding that the government stop wheat imports that have flooded the market at a time when they expect bumper crops.

Farmers are also facing challenges such as a shortage of fertilisers, disconnection of electricity supplies, and rising legal cases against them. These issues have compounded their difficulties and led to widespread dissatisfaction among the farming community.

The Pakistan Kisan Ittehad is a farmers’ union in Pakistan that represents the interests of the agricultural community. The union is led by Khalid Mahmood Khokhar, who serves as its president. The organisation has been vocal about the challenges faced by farmers, including the imposition of agricultural taxes, rising production costs, and the disconnection of electricity supplies.

In response to several grievances faced by farmers, the union’s president, Khalid Mahmood Khokhar has announced a nationwide protest in December 2024. The protests aim to draw attention to the struggles of farmers and push the government to address their demands, including the removal of the agricultural tax, ensuring adequate supplies of fertilisers, and providing support prices to protect their income. The farmers are protesting against the imposition of an agricultural income tax, which they believe is unfair and burdensome. They are calling for the government to provide support prices for crops to ensure that farmers can cover their production costs and sustain their livelihoods.

Agriculture is one of the most significant income sectors in Pakistan, making up nearly 23 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country. Wheat makes up 2 percent of the whole. But recent government moves have disrupted agricultural incomes in Pakistan. Because of its decision to allow  private sector to import wheat between September 2023 and March 2024, more than 3.5 million tonnes of wheat were imported into Pakistan from the international market, where prices were much lower, the country’s national and provincial food storage department was holding more than 4.3 million tonnes of wheat in its stocks. Usually, the government purchases around 20 percent of all the wheat produced by local farmers at a fixed price, but because its earlier intervention had led to excess stacks, it now announced that it will purchase only 2 million tonnes of wheat from Pakistani farmers this year.

Khalid Mehmood Khokhar, president of the farmers’ organisation Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) and a farmer from the city of Multan in Punjab, said that also allowing private importers to bring unlimited wheat into the country last year means that farmers will now have to sell what they can to other sources at much-reduced prices – and they will suffer great losses. In his interview to Al Jazeera, Khokhar said, “With a bumper crop, we are expected to grow nearly 32 million metric tonnes of wheat this year, but with the government’s coffers already full of wheat, we will be able to sell not more than 50 percent of our crop. This could result in losses of nearly 380 billion rupees ($1.4bn).”

According to Adil Mansoor, a Karachi-based food security analyst and researcher, the government’s decision not to buy the excess wheat this year “reeks of poor planning and management.” Mango production has dropped by 60%, sesame seed production by 70%, and the wheat yield is expected to decline by 20-30%. Meanwhile, cases are being registered against farmers, adding to their woes.

In addition, the union is demanding a steady and affordable supply of fertilisers to support their agricultural activities. Many farmers have had their electricity connections disconnected, and they are demanding the restoration of these connections to facilitate their farming operations. The farmers are also seeking protection from the rising number of legal cases being filed against them, which they believe are unjust and aimed at harassing them. They are urging the government to prioritise the agricultural sector and take measures to ensure food security in the country. These demands reflect the significant challenges faced by farmers in Pakistan and their struggle to sustain their livelihoods amidst unfavourable policies and economic conditions.

Other agricultural unions and associations have also expressed solidarity with the Pakistan Kisan Ittehad and are expected to join the protests, announced by the Pakistan Kisan Ittehad. The ‘Kissan Board Pakistan’  has been actively supporting the farmers’ cause and has announced that thousands of farmers will join the protests. Various local farmers’ groups across Pakistan have decided to participate in the protests, bringing tractors, trailers, cattle, and families to the demonstrations. The collective effort of these bodies highlights the widespread dissatisfaction among farmers and their determination to push for change.

The protests announced by the Pakistan Kisan Ittehad are set to take place across Pakistan. Farmers in various cities and regions, including Multan, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Faisalabad, are expected to participate. The nationwide scope of the protests reflects the widespread dissatisfaction among farmers and their determination to push for change.

Khalid Mahmood Khokhar, President of the Pakistan Kisan Ittehad has been trying to draw attention to the fact that in Pakistan farmers are unable to recover their cost of production, making it increasingly difficult for them to sustain agriculture. He also alleged that agriculture is being deliberately undermined under an international agenda. “A short time ago, wheat was imported to fill certain pockets, which has hurt local producers,” he claimed. He lamented that under such dire circumstances farmers may as well recite Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’un, meaning “Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return,” a phrase commonly recited by Muslims when they hear about the death of a person or experience a personal loss.

The farmer’s protest poses a fresh challenge to the Shehbaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led government that already has a mammoth task of tackling a fragile economy and widespread flood-devastation on its hands.

DISCLAIMER – 

The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Khaama Press News Agency. We welcome opinions and submissions to Khaama Press Opinions/Exclusives – Please email them to info@khaama.com.

The post Nationwide protests in Pakistan as farmers demand basic rights appeared first on Khaama Press.