Karnataka - Bidar

Don’t sign pacts detrimental to farmers’ interests: KRRS

BIDAR: Members of the district unit of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) have appealed to President Pratibha Patil to ensure that the country does not sign any agreement with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) covering issues such as agriculture. They termed such agreements as being detrimental to the interests of farmers here.

A memorandum addressed to Ms. Patil, which was submitted at the office of the Deputy Commissioner, said that the country had been associated with the World Trade Organisation for long, and a meeting had been convened on July 21 in Geneva to discuss the inclusion of agriculture in the trade agreement.

As a result of the association with WTO, hundreds of farmers across the country had committed suicide. Moreover, subsidy to farmers had been reduced, while in U.S. and other European countries there had been no such reduction, they added. Owing to the reduction in farm subsidies, farmers would find it difficult to cope with global competition. “How can a farmer in India prosper in such a situation? they asked.

The memorandum urged the Prime Minister not to attend the Geneva meet. A delegation, led by honorary president of KRRS, Basavraj Tambake, and district unit president Vishwanath Patil Koutha submitted the memorandum at the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Friday.

Later, speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Tambake said farmers would take out a protest in the city on July 14, urging the Centre not to sign the WTO agreement involving agriculture.

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