While monsoon has brought devastation for all, small farmers in Sindh are perhaps the ones who have been hit the most. The floodwater from Jhal Magsi, Balochistan, enters the border of Sindh, which today stands inundated, forcing the locals to move from these border areas.
They have taken refuge in urban centres after walking several miles from their agricultural fields. After borrowing money from the local loan sharks, these poor farmers had invested a lot in purchasing seed on the condition that they would pay the loan back with compound interest. Now, these farmers are being tracked by the loan sharks.
The government is yet to provide relief packages to the poor farmers. The situation, as it stands today, will not only cause the peasants to be in heavy debt, but will also cause food insecurity, inflation and spike in prices of rice and wheat, giving the working class a tough time.
The federal and provincial governments should come to the rescue of Sindh farmers by granting them some relief in the shape of subsidies on seeds, fertilisers and agricultural machinery.
NAVEED HUSSAIN CHANDIO
ISLAMABAD
