October 16, 2008	Thursday	Shawwal 16, 1429

HYDERABAD, Oct 15: Activists of an NGO were sarcastic about observing the World Food Day as according to them, the situation was opposite and it should be called a ‘foodless day.’

Research Coordinator Wali Haider and others of the NGO, Roots for Equity, lamented the famine-like situation majority of the population was facing due to the spiralling food crisis. The worst hit segment include working class, peasants, small farmers and farm workers, he said.

This phenomenon was not contained only to Pakistan but the world was passing through food dilemma, said Mr Haider adding that the astronomical increase in fuel prices had not only affected the cost of fertilisers and other inputs but made it impossible for small farmers to eke out a living. He held multinational companies producing fertilisers, pesticides and seeds responsible for the present crisis.

He said that while many people were facing starvation, the government was concentrating on military operation in its northern parts. This imperialist war, he said, was not of Pakistan.

He said that wheat flour in Sindh was being sold for Rs35 to Rs40 per kg and in the NWFP for Rs40 to Rs45 per kg - beyond the reach of a common man.

Poor farmers, he said, were forced to sell their cattle but what will become of them after six months when they’ll be left with nothing to sell? He demanded provision of seed, fertilisers, diesel and other agricultural inputs at subsidised rates to small farmers.