WISCONSIN, MADISON, US: This is with reference to Syed Mohammad Ali’s article “What about the rights of farmers?” (June 13). This was a long overdue article. The problems faced by Indian farmers are not very different from those faced by Pakistani farmers, except that the former are aided by a proactive farmers’ lobby.
This is one area where India and Pakistan can benefit by joining hands. Farmers face multiple challenges and access to seeds is only one of the many issues they face. Rapid urbanisation is depleting the agriculture land mass at an alarming rate. Lack of availability of water is another issue. Transport, storage, access to the right technology, labour problems, lack of a minimum support price and a host of other problems are having an adverse effect on agriculture in the subcontinent.
There is a need for a comprehensive agriculture policy in the region. Collaboration at the Saarc level can prove to be effective. We can have a Saarc seed bank, which can save farmers from relying on expensive patented seeds. One approach can also be to make use of generic seeds. Agriculture in the subcontinent is very different than in the West. Therefore, we should be very careful in implementing things like genetically modified seeds. Any mistake on our part can make us food deficient and the social fallout from mismanagement of this sector can be devastating for both countries.
Rajendra Kalkhande
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2012.
