LAHORE, Sept 18: The Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee on Monday asked the government to distribute 2.2 million acres, earmarked for Corporate Farming lease, among landless farmers of the country.

Addressing a press conference, officials of the committee, a conglomerate of 19 farmers’ bodies, said that the government should give the land to farmers at a ratio of 20 acres per family. By doing so, it would benefit over 110,000 families.

The committee, they said, has also decided to convene an All Pakistan Kissan Conference at the Minar-i-Pakistan on Jan 14, 2007. Farmer bodies from all over the country and abroad would attend the meeting. The conference would be aimed at ending feudalism, judicious distribution of water and land reforms.

The officials said that the recent wet weather had damaged standing crops in eight districts of Sindh. It destroyed 55 per cent rice, 95 per cent tomato, 60 per cent onion and 35 per cent each sugarcane and chillies crops. It also affected mango and banana fruit crops. The effect was more of a result of mismanagement, rather than natural calamity. The government should compensate farmers in these areas and must write off loans.

The committee also decided to resist takeover of 1,200 acres of agriculture land near Lahore for a multinational car manufacturing company.