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Farmers' meeting to discuss WTO policies

Special Correspondent

`Disquieting' indications on compromise on opening up service sector

JAIPUR: Farmers in large numbers will gather at a convention in Madhorajpura village, near here, this Thursday to protest against "anti-farmer'' policies of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and will make a fervent plea to the Central Government not to accept the terms of reducing agricultural subsidy during the WTO ministerial conference in Hong Kong next month.

The convention is being organised as part of the "make trade fair'' campaign -- focusing on trade and agriculture -- by Kisan Seva Samiti Mahasangh and Swadeshi Jagaran Manch. It will exert pressure on the Government to protect the interests of small and marginal farmers and take an independent stand while signing the terms of WTO agreement.

Among others, the former Bharatiya Janata Party leader, K.N. Govindacharya, is expected to address the convention. The leaders representing farmers' organisations that launched awareness-building campaign in the villages and tehsil headquarters in 20 districts across the State on the issue during the past one month will also attend the meet.

The State convenor of Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, Hemant Lamba, told reporters here on Wednesday that there were disquieting indications of the Government making compromises on opening up service sector and retail business to the foreign players. Bhagwan Sahai of Kisan Seva Samiti said the farmers in Rajasthan had been facing recurrent droughts for five years and were not in a position to endure drop in subsidy with their small land holdings. He said the farming for the poor was a matter of livelihood unlike the trade practice for rich farmers in the developed countries.

A `Madhorajpura declaration' to be released at end of the day-long convention is expected to highlight the issues of rural employment, agricultural subsidy, dumping of goods in the developing countries and the harmful impact of removal of quantitative restriction on imports.

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