DADU: A strike was observed in many towns of Dadu district on Tuesday against what wheat growers of the area described as “irregularities by food officials leading to huge losses to small growers” during the ongoing wheat procurement process.

A shutdown was observed in Thrari Mohabbat, Nau Goth, Shah Panjoo, Fareedabad, Mado, Gozo and Rukan towns as protesting growers held rallies and demonstrations across the district against food officials who have been assigned the task of distributing govt-supplied gunny bags among listed growers and procuring their produce at the official rate.

There were widespread complaints that food officials were denying gunny bags to growers in the required quantity and also refusing to procure their produce. Instead, according to leaders of the Small Growers Association and Sindh Abadgar Board, they are supplying gunny bags to traders and influential landowners of the area.

There were also allegations that huge wheat stocks being purchased at low rates from traders and hoarders were being smuggled to the neighbouring countries in connivance with food officials.

In Thrari Mohabbat town, protesting growers led by Ghulam Nabi held a march raising slogans against the Dadu district food controller and local food inspector accusing them of having sold 50 per cent of gunny bags meant for growers to henchmen of various influential landowners. They alleged that the landowners were backed by the ruling party MNA and MPAs.Another rally was taken out by small wheat growers of Nau Goth town who claimed that only 10 per cent of gunny bags supposed to be delivered to them were distributed in the town. They alleged that local anti-corruption police and food officials were involved in the massive irregularities.

At a protest demonstration held in Mado town, speakers including Mohammed Aslam, said that numerous complaints had been made to the food secretary, district food controller and other authorities about the rampant corruption by local officials but without any response.

A growers’ rally in Fareedabad town marched on various streets raising slogans for fair distribution of gunny bags and procurement of wheat from genuine growers at officials rates. Condemning corrupt practices in the process, the participants demanded removal of Hyderabad region food director and deputy director claiming that they were favouring politically influential figures since they had been appointed on political grounds.

Similar rallies and demonstrations were held in Shah Panjo, Gozo, Rukan and Khudabad towns.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2016