HYDERABAD, Dec 23: Hundreds of farmers and haris took out a procession here on Sunday to protest against harmful effects of genetically modified (GM) cottonseed.

The procession started from Bhit Shah and terminated at the Hyderabad Press Club.

The protesters, including activists of the Bhandar Hari Sanghat, Hyderabad, Roshan Khayal Zamindar Tanzim, Kachho Foundation and the Green Rural Development Organization, raised slogans against the multinational companies producing the poisonous seed.

Talking to the protesters outside the press club, political leader and human rights activist Jam Saqi said the government had not banned import of the Australian genetically modified cottonseed which could render the rich agricultural land of the province barren.

He said the motive behind this apathy of the government was to dispose of the land to multinational companies at throw-away rates.

Saqi also criticized irrigation staff for creating artificial shortage of water in Sindh.

He deplored the government had taken no action against owners of sugar mills for not starting the crushing season, adding mills in the other provinces had already started the crushing of sugarcane.

Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Kishan Ittihad central coordinator Ghulam Sarwar Roonjho said the agriculture sector in the country was in crisis.

He stressed the need for launching a joint struggle by haris and farmers to save the agrarian economy.

Comrade Ramzan Memon demanded the government should ban the import of poisonous seeds and pesticides.

Roshan Khayal Tanzim president Mithu Khan Malookani said due to the use of poisonous cottonseed, thousands of acres of agricultural land had been destroyed.

He demanded farmers should be compensated for the loss.

POSITION HOLDERS: The controller of examinations (semester), University of Sindh, on Saturday, announced the names of position holders in the semester examinations.