Roots for Equity is working with small and landless farmers settled on river banks in Multan. In early March, heavy rains caused flooding of the rivers in Multan which led to flooding of many fields, especially those which were just next to the river bank. Many farmers lost their wheat crop completely, or partially. According to the local communities such an unexpected disaster has come after more than 5 decades.

All farmers in this village were landless. In fact they were sitting in this precarious area, just next to the river because they have not been able to find land anywhere else. Even here they had leased land just so that they could grow wheat that is a most sought after crop by all farmers across the country. What they grow they save for their household food security.Therefore, their loss is very heavy not due to the economic cost of the crop but its critical importance as a food crop.

PKMT farmers paid a solidarity visit to the riverine area farmers after hearing of the their loss. According to the PKMT farmers, the loss suffered by farmers due to unexpected rain-floods was based on the changing weather patterns due to climate change. The loss should be demanded from the government of Pakistan.

PKMT farmers visited the wheat fields many of which had suffered from the floods. The riverine area farmers explained that they had sown only indigenous seeds as part of the work initiated by Roots for Equity. In addition, farming methods were based on sustainable agriculture, using only animal dung as fertilizer and irrigation water was from the river.

According to the PKMT farmers, many of the wheat fields that were able to escape from the climate change disaster were in very good condition. The wheat grain is very big and healthy. They hope that the production will not only be very good but also yield very good quality seed for next season sowing.

A lunch was served for the visiting farmers. Farmers from the community had also arranged a musical program in honor of PKMT. The day ended in folk dance and local music and songs.

Pakistan Kissan Mazdoor Tehreek’s Tour of Roots for Equity’s Trial Farm, Multan

Roots for Equity has initiated a trial farm basically for multiplication of indigenous seeds, especially for grains such wheat and rice. The context is of course sustainable agriculture. Land preparation is based on the use of natural fertilizers such as green composting and animal manure. In 2014 wheat sowing season, many varieties of seeds were sown, of which some were indigenous and others that were collected from farmers in Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkwa.

Now that wheat harvest is almost ready, an exposure visit of farmers from a farmers alliance group, namely Pakistan Kissan Mazdoor Tehreek was arranged. A total of 39 farmers from various districts of Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkwa and Punjab visited the trial farm. The visit was followed with an extensive discussion on the trial farm, the methods being applied at the farm for soil enrichment, sowing methods, pest management and the quality of the seeds of the almost ready to be harvested wheat.

Farmers from Badin and Rajanpur analyzing a vegetable plot

The visit to the farm and the discussion was a clear example of the rich knowledge and invaluable experience of farmers. The feedback on methods of biological control was in itself amazing. For example, Mohammad Aslam from Sahiwal told us that in order to control a particular pest, two people can stand on either side of the field holding a thread. As the thread is moved across the field, the pest (tilla) will fall on the ground, and then it will not be able to attack the seed again. Another simple mehtod was just watering the plants with water lightly; that will also get rid of the particular pest.

Checking the quality of mustard seeds!

Another farmer, Pawan Kumar from Matli, Badin shared how to make a biological pesticide from jackery (gur) and neem leaves.  A farmer from Lower Dir, Bakht Zareen gave pointers for judging efficacy of animal manure, meaning what was the best time for using it as fertilizer. According to him, one should check the manure for smell – if it smells bad don’t use it. Only once the manure has matured to the extent that it does not smell and it has a fine granulated appearance it is best for use.

A Tehreek member from Lower Dir explaining differences among wheat varieties

There is no doubt that the knowledge held by farmers cannot be learned through any university teaching. Their knowledge is not only based on a life time of learning but also through the collective learning and practices of many generations.

Checking the health of vegetable seeds!

Pakistan Kissan Mazdoor Tehreek held a protest against the Amended Seed Act 2014 which was passed by the National Assembly on March 16, 2015. The protest was staged at the national capital, Islamabad in front of the National Press Club on March 24, 2015. Their demand was to the Pakistan Senate to stop all further progress on the draft Seed Act, and in its place start processes for a farmer-friendly Seed Law which upholds the collective right of farmers on seed and genetic resources.

http://www.express.com.pk/epaper/index.aspx?Issue=NP_ISB&Page=Metropolitan_Page009&Date=20150325&Pageno=9&View=1

http://www.jehanpakistan.com/epaper/detail_news.php?news=%2Fepaper%2Fepaper%2Fislamabad%2F250315%2FP2-04.jpg#sthash.oRxeAOMo.uSratRaN.dpbs

By Faiza Ilyas

KARACHI: Organisations representing farmers have strongly opposed the Pakistan Amended Seed Act, 2014 that, they said, is a violation of farmers’ fundamental rights and has been passed by the National Assembly at the behest of American multinational seed manufacturing companies.

The act was passed by the National Assembly a day earlier.

“Under this law, farmers would be fined and imprisoned for preserving, selling and exchanging seeds, a tradition that has been in vogue for centuries. It’s a grave injustice to millions of small and landless farmers whose food insecurity would be aggravated by this law,” said Raja Majeed, national coordinator of Pakistan Kissan Mazdoor Tehreek, an alliance of small and landless farmers.

The law, he said, made it mandatory for farmers to buy seeds from a licensed company or its agent and that they had to do so every time they cultivated a new crop. This, he said, would create a monopoly of companies and make farmers dependent on them.

According to him, the experience of growing genetically modified (GM) crops, for instance Bt cotton, has been disastrous in the country and the government’s intention to promote them through this law is unfortunate.

“It’s a failure because it a water demanding crop meant for colder areas and is ready for harvest near November. That means we can’t grow wheat on time. Many European countries have banned GM crops because of their severe adverse impact on the environment and we should have done the same,” he said.

Reiterating the farmers’ stance on the matter, he said they stood firm and would take legal action against this new act.

The Joint Director of Roots for Equity, Wali Haider, said how the National Assembly could pass such a law when the subject of agriculture had been passed to provinces.

“The draft of this law was first presented in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and later in the Punjab Assembly. In both provinces, the governments had to face strong resistance from farmers and it was decided that the matter would be forwarded to the National Assembly,” he said.

Citing newspaper reports, he added that farmers’ resistance forced all provincial assemblies to pass a special resolution authorising the federal government to amend the seed act and retain it as a federal subject.

“In 1995, the extremely anti-people, anti-farmer World Trade Organisation (WTO) was formed much against the will of the people, globally. A major reason for people protesting against the formation of the WTO was the Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS) which demanded patent rights on seeds as well as all other new technologies.

“Today, just over 20 years later, Pakistan has amended its seed laws to comply with the monopolistic demands of mega agro-chemical corporations such as Monsanto, Syngenta, Pioneer and others,” he explained.

The cost of the seed, he said, would be borne by small and landless farmers who were already burdened by huge agricultural production costs such as of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and other market-driven agricultural inputs.

“Billions of farmers across the globe are suffering from aggressive neo-colonial legislation imposed by the WTO and corporate agriculture monopolistic giants. Policies range from allowing corporate land grab in Pakistan to aggressive imports of agriculture related technologies ranging from genetic engineering, animal husbandry and the so-called green economy,” he said.

Mr Wali believed that the legislation had been enacted to appease the US whose agriculture department had been complaining about the lack of intellectual property rights for its genetically modified seeds in the country and had urged the government to amend its seed and other intellectual property rights laws.

“No doubt today, with the passing of the seed amendment act, the country has lost an important pillar of its sovereignty. The Plant Breeders’ Rights Act is also pending in the National Assembly and it appears that it would also be passed by the house,” he regretted.

Expressing similar reservations, Nasir Aziz, a policy officer on sustainable livelihood with ActionAid Pakistan said that it was strange that the government had given a free hand to companies under the law while farmers had been threatened with fines and imprisonment if they were found to have seeds.

“Farmers’ right to conserve, sale and exchange seeds has been taken away under this law. It is silent on guarantees on seed germination and has no mechanism for taking legal action against a company if its seeds fail to produce desired results,” he said, raising questions over the law’s implementation in provinces.

Upon contact, Mehmood Nawaz of the Sindh Abadgar Board expressed ignorance over the recent enactment of the law and said the government couldn’t deprive farmers of their fundamental rights.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2015

http://www.dawn.com/news/1170209/farmers-most-affected-by-new-law-on-seeds

http://news.ptv.com.pk/khabarnama_flv_player.asp?name=KHABARNAMA%2016-03-2015&vid=29&desp=.&imge=khabranama.jpg

The Pakistan Amended Seed Act 2014 was approved in the National Assembly on March 16, 2015. This is very unfortunate and extremely tragic news for millions of small and landless farmers of Pakistan. PTV Cannel has released the news through its script coverage (trigger) on the bottom of TV screen. No other media news has as yet provided information on the approval of the Pakistan Amended Seed Act 2014.

In 1995, the extremely anti-people, anti-farmer World Trade Organization (WTO) was formed much against the will of the people, globally. A major reason for people protesting against the formation of the WTO was the Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS) which demanded patent rights on seeds as well as all other new technologies.

Today just over 20 years later, Pakistan has amended its seed laws to comply with the monopolistic demands of mega agro-chemical corporations such as Monsanto, Syngenta, Pioneer and others.

The cost of the seed bill will be borne by the small and landless farmers who are already burdened by huge agricultural production costs such as chemical fertilizers, pesticide and other market driven agricultural inputs.

Billions of farmers across the globe suffering from aggressive neo-colonial legislation pounded by the WTO and corporate agriculture monopolistic giants. Policies range from brutal measures adopted for corporate land grab in Pakistan, to aggressive imports of agriculture related technologies ranging from genetic engineering, animal husbandry, green economy (such as solar tube wells, biogasse plants, hydroponics, etc) are all being pushed on poor third world countries.

Pakistan is no exception. From aggressive land grab in many parts of the country to now the approval of the Amended Pakistan Seed Act 2014, the agricultural sector, the life line of the country is under terrible ambush from the capitalist countries.

The Amended Pakistan Seed Act 2014 is the desire of transnational corporations such as Monsanto, Pioneer and Syngenta. The United States Agriculture Department has many times stated the lack of intellectual property to its genetically modified seeds in the country, urging the country to amend its seed and other intellectual property right laws.

The Plant Breeders Rights Act is also pending in the National Assembly and no doubt will soon follow the same path as the Amended Pakistan Seed Act 2014: another blow to the meager livelihood of farmers.

According to DAWN news, the Mr Sikander Bosan Minister for National Food Security and Research, a new seed laws are needed to fulfill the needs of the modern seed industry; of course the modern industry is entirely in the hands of the big corporate giants.

Roots for Equity has been opposing the grotesque corporate agricultural policies being inflicted on Pakistani agriculture and struggling farmers in the country since its inception in 1997. An alliance of small and landless farmers namely, the Pakistan Kissan Mazdoor Tehreek formed in 2008 has also stringently rejected the bill and has been demonstrating again the Bill (which has been various shapes in the past years. But the so called democratic system in Pakistan under first the Zardari government and now Nawaz Sharif have obeyed the order of their ‘masters’ in the imperialist countries of the North.

No doubt today, with the passing of the Seed Amendment Bill 2014, the country has lost an important pillar of its sovereignty.

However, history of nations are not written by the signing of laws by oppressive forces but the strength of the peoples determination, voices and actions. It is the peoples’ struggle which will overthrow imperialist powers and put in place genuine peoples democracy in the country!

According to the Pakistan Kissan Mazdoor Tehreek, they stand firm against the new Act and will take various actions against the grotesque law, which will intensify pauperization of farmers.

In 1995, the extremely anti-people, anti-farmer World Trade Organization (WTO) was formed much against the will of the people, globally. A major reason for people protesting against the formation of the WTO was the Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS) which demanded patent rights on seeds as well as all other new technologies.

Today just over 20 years later, Pakistan has amended its seed laws to comply with the monopolistic demands of mega agro-chemical corporations such as Monsanto, Syngenta, Pioneer and others.

The cost of the seed bill will be borne by the small and landless farmers who are already burdened by huge agricultural production costs such as chemical fertilizers, pesticide and other market driven agricultural inputs.

Billions of farmers across the globe suffering from aggressive neo-colonial legislation pounded by the WTO and corporate agriculture monopolistic giants. Policies range from brutal measures adopted for corporate land grab in Pakistan, to aggressive imports of agriculture related technologies ranging from genetic engineering, animal husbandry, green economy (such as solar tube wells, biogasse plants, hydroponics, etc) are all being pushed on poor third world countries.

Pakistan is no exception. From aggressive land grab in many parts of the country to now the approval of the Amended Pakistan Seed Act 2014, the agricultural sector, the life line of the country is under terrible ambush from the capitalist countries.

The Amended Pakistan Seed Act 2014 is the desire of transnational corporations such as Monsanto, Pioneer and Syngenta. The United States Agriculture Department has many times stated the lack of intellectual property to its genetically modified seeds in the country, urging the country to amend its seed and other intellectual property right laws.

The Plant Breeders Rights Act is also pending in the National Assembly and no doubt will soon follow the same path as the Amended Pakistan Seed Act 2014: another blow to the meager livelihood of farmers.

According to DAWN news, the Mr Sikander Bosan Minister for National Food Security and Research, a new seed laws are needed to fulfill the needs of the modern seed industry; of course the modern industry is entirely in the hands of the big corporate giants.

Roots for Equity has been opposing the grotesque corporate agricultural policies being inflicted on Pakistani agriculture and struggling farmers in the country since its inception in 1997. An alliance of small and landless farmers namely, the Pakistan Kissan Mazdoor Tehreek formed in 2008 has also stringently rejected the bill and has been demonstrating again the Bill (which has been various shapes in the past years. But the so called democratic system in Pakistan under first the Zardari government and now Nawaz Sharif have obeyed the order of their ‘masters’ in the imperialist countries of the North.

No doubt today, with the passing of the Seed Amendment Bill 2014, the country has lost an important pillar of its sovereignty.

However, history of nations are not written by the signing of laws by oppressive forces but the strength of the peoples determination, voices and actions. It is the peoples’ struggle which will overthrow imperialist powers and put in place genuine peoples democracy in the country!

According to the Pakistan Kissan Mazdoor Tehreek, they stand firm against the new Act and will take various actions against the grotesque law, which will intensify pauperization of farmers.