‘No FDI in primary agriculture production’

By Bishnu Prasad Pokhrel,Damak, Apr. 15: The South Asian Regional Conference of the farmers has concluded in Jhapa by issuing a declaration consisting of several demands.

Organised with the aim of ensuring food sovereignty, agricultural transformation and the rights of the farmers, the two-day conference held at Shivasatakshi Municipality of Jhapa concluded on Thursday.

The conference demanded a halt to the foreign direct investment (FDI) in the primary production of agriculture.

As many small farmers in South Asia are in trouble because of lack of access to credit, high interest rates in bank loans and production failure, the conference demanded that the government should provide relief and support to the farmers.

Demands like ensuring social security, including health, insurance and pension for the farmers, and bringing in the loan waiver act for the small farmers have been included in the declaration issued at the end of the conference.

The conference was attended by the representatives of South Asian Farmers Organisations, Agricultural Associations, Labour Associations, Youth and Women Farmers Associations, Landless, Dalit Indigenous, Small Farmers and small and medium food producer associations.

Chairman of All Nepal Peasants’ Federation Dr. Prem Dangal said that they had gathered to draw the attention of the state and government towards the problems of the agricultural sector affecting the South Asian Region and to find a solution to them.

“Women often come in contact with high level of pesticides during agricultural work, this will have adverse effects on their health, they can cause infertility and even cancer. The conference discussed the issue and demanded that the government should take initiatives to protect women from such risks,” Dr. Dangal said.

Due to neoliberalism, the farmers are deprived of the minimal facilities and the agricultural sector was facing difficulties because of extreme privatisation, he said, adding that the conference discussed these issues.

He said that the rights of farmers have not been established in the use water, land, forests, seeds and biological diversity and the means of production.

Stating that the South Asian farmers’ organisations have been advocating for food sovereignty, agricultural transformation and farmers’ rights for a long time, he said that the declaration was released stating that small farmers, fishermen and indigenous people should have their control over the food system in the region by keeping away the multinational companies from the agricultural sector.

Ensuring equal rights of women on land to promote a sustainable agricultural system, justice and equality for women for the transformation of the social and economic system including access to land, credit, education, social benefits and power are also included in the declaration.

Introduction of laws and regulations to ensure the minimum support price and crop insurance are also included.

It is necessary to increase the budget allocation of the state in agriculture and fix a minimum support price for small farmers, Dangal said.

 Effective implementation of land use policies in each country while ensuring the protection of fertile agricultural land is also stressed.

Former Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli had inaugurated the conference on Wednesday.