Feudalism, absence of land reforms, denial of rights to peasants, and corporate farming are major threats facing the agriculture sector.— Photo by AFP

HYDERABAD:  Feudalism, absence of land reforms, denial of rights to peasants, and corporate farming are major threats facing the agriculture sector, according to experts.

Socio-economic empowerment of peasants by way of land reforms was necessary for farm prosperity, poverty alleviation and economic development, said Taj Haider, Secretary of the People's Party's Sindh chapter.

The PPP was aware of the rights of farmers and had included land reforms in its manifesto, but forces opposed to it were creating hurdles in this regard, he said. He expressed the hope that land reforms would finally come about in the “era of democracy”.

An expert at the Sindh Development Forum, Zulfiqar Halepota, described feudalism as the biggest enemy facing an ailing farm sector. He called upon peasants to unite and free themselves from the clutches of this nuisance.

He stressed the need for raising awareness among farmers about their rights and the need for a joint struggle to liberate them from bondage.

The Chief Executive of Scope, Tanveer Arif, said the absence of land reforms accentuated rural poverty and contributed to an alarming fall in quality of life.

Food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition were rising despite record production of foodgrain, he added.

A majority of the rural populace was living in abject poverty and lagged behind in education and health as they had no land of their own. Income and land inequality were responsible for heightening the farmers' misery, he said.

The situation can only be reversed if the government distributed land among them, Mr Arif said.

He urged parliamentarians and politicians to come to the rescue of farmers by supporting land reforms.

A representative of the South Asia Partnership, Irfan Mufti, said feudal lords, politicians and international forces with vested interests were opposing agrarian reforms, and lashed out at the government for supporting corporatisation of agriculture.

He termed corporate farming a grave threat to farm sustainability and livelihood of 70 per cent of villagers and alleged that farmers were being forced out of their land by those powerful elements having a vested interest in corporate farming.

A representative of the Bhandar Hari Sangat, Taj Mari, said land reforms would create a sense of ownership among peasants and provide them with an impetus to redouble their efforts.

Others who shared their views included Comrade Jam Saqi and Dr Ibrar Kazi of the Awami Jamhoori Party.

Earlier a paper on the 'History of peasants' movement in Pakistan', authored by Zulfiqar Halepoto, was launched.

Participants later visited the grave of Hyder Bukhsh Jatoi and offered Fateha.