Lahore: Farmers across Pakistan are set to begin a nationwide protest on April 13 against the government's Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI), voicing strong opposition to the introduction of corporate farming under the program.
According to reports, the decision was made in a joint meeting of several farmer and civil society organizations, including Pakistan Kisan Rabita Committee, Anjuman Mazareen Punjab, Hari Jiddojuhad Committee, Crofter Foundation, and others. As part of the protest, rallies and conventions will be held in various cities and public sector farms on Sunday.
Protesters are demanding an end to corporate farming and are calling for a halt to the eviction of farmers from lands they have cultivated for generations. They are also demanding a ban on controversial canal construction projects in South Punjab, the redistribution of state-owned agricultural land among farmers, the withdrawal of notices demanding payment of large arrears from tenant farmers, and the setting of the wheat procurement price at Rs 4,000 per 40 kg for the ongoing harvest season.
The Green Pakistan Initiative is a federal government program aimed at boosting agricultural development and addressing environmental challenges by transforming uncultivated land into high-yield farms using advanced technology, modern irrigation systems, high-quality seeds, AI-powered monitoring, and improved farming equipment.
However, farmers and social activists have expressed concerns that the shift toward large-scale agribusinesses could endanger small-scale farmers, lead to their eviction from state-owned land, and restrict their access to essential agricultural resources.
