Farmers threaten strike if demands not met till Feb 20

LAHORE: Kissan Ittehad Awami Party has given deadline of February 20 to the government to solve their problems and warned if their grievances are not addressed, sowing of all kinds of crops will be stopped and a strike will be observed across Punjab alongside a sit-in in front of the Punjab Assembly.

This was announced by Kissan Ittehad Awami Party Chairman Ch Abdul Rauf Tatla while addressing a press conference here at Lahore Press Club on Monday. He was accompanied with the organisation leaders of the province.

He said due to poor agricultural policies of current and former rulers and economic crisis, farmers were suffering from severe distress and misery. He said the farmers were asking for action against the black marketing of fertilizers and abundant fertilizers should be provided to farmers at immediate government rates. However, the government did not take any action on it, he said.

He said last year urea fertilizer was available at Rs1300 and DAP at Rs3,000 but this year it was doubled and even Urea is not available at Rs 3,000 per bag. He asked the government that the official support rate should be fixed before the cultivation of all crops. The government should consult the farmers in agricultural policy formulation, he said.