Growing rift

The rift between the federal government and the farmers’ association is growing wider than before. Farmers have warned that if their demands are not met in accordance with the recommendations and incentives put forth by the Punjab government and the national food security ministry, a major protest would be on the cards. The protest encompasses jamming thoroughfares to affect day-to-day business in major cities of Punjab and Sindh. Rather than ignoring the warnings, it is imperative that negotiations between the government and protesting farmers take place as blockades throughout the country’s two largest provinces would result in a massive loss of trade.

The agrarian economy is the second-largest contributor to the country’s GDP comprising a significant portion at 21 per cent although gradually bottoming out. This is partly where the farmers’ frustration arises as they demand more research and development, subsidies on energy and taxes and support for the prices of staples such as rice, maize and cotton. The May 26 farmers’ protest in this regard was received poorly by the government as it resorted to violence and was aimed at stifling their voices. The exertion of force was appalling and cowardly. In this climate of fear, farmers have refused to publicly share their protest schedule in anticipation of a counterattack by the government.

The hallmark of true leadership is to lend support to the underdogs and help them become self-sufficient. However, our government has allowed a cauldron of anger to boil, prompting farmers to issue a shutdown warning. When the cauldron boils over, the government is infamous for using violent tactics and weapons to weaken the voices of the dissenters. Efforts to stifle farmers’ voices are craven. Instead, the government needs to pay heed to their requests and arrive at a sound solution in which the sector feels supported, which is the only way further development can be achieved as a country.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2017.

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