A dignified response

Authorities summoned by the Lahore High Court for ignoring petition challenging the Seed (Amendment) Act of 2015

Authorities in Punjab and the federal government have been summoned by the Lahore High Court for ignoring a petition challenging the Seed (Amendment) Act of 2015. The original legislation was amended to impose regulations on seed sourcing, production, and distribution. The petitioners argue that the amended act removes certain liberties from small-scale farmers, subjecting them to the wrath of major corporations exclusively supplying seeds to grow a new crop. As per the amendment, seeds can only be sourced from registered companies. In exploring the nuances in the Seed (Amendment) Act of 2015, there are caveats to be heeded from both sides of the case.

Primarily, the unresponsiveness from the federal and provincial governments on the petition is utterly unprofessional. It would have been fine to oppose the petition, as the act contains several logical points, but to ignore it altogether suggests either that the government has prioritised other matters above the plight of destitute farmers or that they do not have a plausible response for their defence. It is a sign of weakness that neither government is able to refute the claim that the Act was amended to appease conglomerates of the agribusiness world.

The criticism of major corporations in the petition removes credence from the Act and we wonder if there were conflicts of interest at the time it was passed. Even if foul play is ruled out, the Act should have accompanied a transition plan for farmers. Genetically modified foods do not necessarily pose a threat to human well-being and can aid food security. The amendment to require companies and sources to be registered was a positive development potentially resulting in better transparency and a more systematic approach for our agriculture sector. At this time, however, the provincial and federal governments need to dignify the petition with a response so that a healthy conclusion can be reached to support both.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2018.

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