New Delhi, 08 April 2025, ANN: Farmers in Pakistan have announced plans to stage a nationwide protest on April 13 against corporate farming practices that are being introduced under the Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI). The protest is being organized to voice concerns over the impact of large-scale agribusinesses on small landowners and the displacement of peasants from land they have cultivated for generations, according to Dawn.

The protesting farmers are calling for an immediate halt to corporate farming and the eviction of small landholders from their lands. They argue that the GPI, which aims to transform uncultivated land into high-yield farms through modern technology, advanced irrigation systems, and artificial intelligence-driven monitoring, poses a significant threat to traditional agricultural communities. Farmers fear that this shift towards corporate agribusinesses will undermine their livelihoods, depriving them of access to vital agricultural resources and leading to the loss of their land.

In addition to opposing corporate farming, the protestors have outlined several key demands:

• A ban on the construction of controversial canals in southern Punjab.
• The distribution of all public-sector agricultural lands to peasants.
• The withdrawal of notices sent to tenants demanding payment of outstanding dues worth millions of rupees.
• The fixation of the wheat purchase price at PKR 4,000 per 40 kg during the ongoing harvest season.

The protest is expected to include rallies and conventions in various towns and public-sector farms on April 13. The decision to mobilize was made by a joint meeting of key farmer organizations, including the Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee, Anjuman Mazareen Punjab, Hari Jedojehad Committee, and the Crofter Foundation.

The Green Pakistan Initiative, launched by the federal government, aims to boost agricultural production and address environmental challenges by introducing modern farming methods and technologies. However, the growing discontent among farmers highlights the tension between technological advancements and the preservation of traditional farming practices that many believe are integral to Pakistan’s agricultural identity.
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