n April 17, the Punjab government announced a major support package for farmers.

The announcement followed protest demonstrations by farmers in the Punjab and Sindh. Voices against new canals in Indus River system and development of new command areas for corporate farming have transcended the provincial boundaries. Several political parties have started organising protests in support of the farming community.

Last week, the Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee organised protests in 30 towns and cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Rajanpur, Jhang, Kacha Khu (Khanewal), Bhakkar, Jatoi, Shikarpur, Larkana, Sukkur, Badin, Mardan, Dir, Malakand and Lakki Marwat. The withdrawal of a support price for wheat by provincial governments has further fueled the grievances.

After governments stopped purchasing wheat, grain prices have fallen below earlier levels. As if this were not enough, a drought has hit many areas and resulted in a threat of massive losses from the upcoming Kharif crops.

The Indus River System Authority had earlier announced a 35 percent water shortage. Sindh, where sowing for Kharif starts earlier, is however experiencing a more severe drought so that some of the canals have only 30 percent of the water requirement. Sindh Irrigation officials have complained of receiving less water to the IRSA. However, the Punjab has disputed the figures.

Sindh has also witnessed protests against the new canals project. Nationalist parties, growers’ organisations and civil society activists are trying to launch a mass movement. For this they are seeking the support of lawyers, doctors, students’ associations and writers. The Pakistan Peoples Party has been on the back foot lately over the issue. The PPP has been in power in the province since 2008.

So far, it has retained mass support despite challenges such as a dysfunctional local government system, handing over twin islands to investors and a large parcel of land to Bahria Town Karachi. However, the latest controversy - over the construction of new canals - is threatening to cause the PPP a lot of trouble at the grassroots level. Chants of no more canals on Indus have become the new norm at wedding parties where videos of groom and bride chanting anti-canals slogans are making rounds on the social media. The PPP leadership is trying to pacify the popular sentiment.

Protest rallies are being regularly organised over the issue. The Sindh chief minister has addressed a series of press conferences where he assured the people that his government had rejected the new-canals solution. Nonetheless, the PPP is yet to regain initiative on the issue.

Protest rallies are being organised against the proposed canals. The Sindh chief minister has addressed a series of press conferences. He has assured the people that his government has rejected the new canals solution. Nonetheless, the PPP is yet to regain initiative on the issue.

Farmers’ organisers have also criticised the allotment of thousands of acres of land for corporate farming. The land was allotted by the caretaker government. However, the present government has not revoked the decision.

The proposed Cholistan canal is meant to carry water from the Chenab River to Sutlej River. Critics say the storage and diversion structures are likely to consume around five million acre feet (MAF) of water. The Jhelum and Chenab Rivers are tributary waters of Indus.

Under the proposed Cholistan irrigation scheme, flows from of Jhelum and Chenab Rivers will be diverted from Rasul Barrage through the Rasul-Qadirabad Link Canal and Qadirabad-Balloki Link Canal. This will cause a reduction of flow at Trimmu and Panjnad Barrages. The Punjab has argued that it intends to use its provincial share of water for corporate farming in Cholistan. However, many farmers served by the barrages feel that it is out of their share that water will be made available to irrigate Cholistan. This concern is based on the fact that Punjab’s share under 1991 Water Accord is already committed. Water shortages in the Indus Basin are becoming more frequent with the climate change. The situation is likely to become more complicated particularly during lean-flow years. It is against this backdrop that some farmers in the Punjab are also taking to the streets against corporate farming. Over 100 families from Cholistan have recently approached Lahore High Court seeking relief against possible evacuation from their ancestral lands for corporate farming.

Efforts to improve agriculture system and increase crop yields are inevitable. However, the objective can be best achieved by diligently using the farmland already under cultivation and the available water without resorting to new canals and corporate farming. Our irrigation and agriculture practices are archaic and merit a major paradigm shift. Introducing modern technologies and farm practices can augment our production without igniting controversy and political tensions. If food security is the concern, our ruling elite should take urgent measures to regulate wheat and flour prices through better market regulation to avert a vortex of food crisis. Cotton has been a lynchpin of our value added exports but has taken a hit recently. The country suffered a staggering loss of almost 34 percent of cotton production this year. Our policy makers should seek to plug these holes in the agricultural economy to preclude a haemorrhage of billions of dollars from national exchequer.

The writer is a civil society professional; nmemon2004@yahoo.com