Farmers and fisherfolk of India have demanded of their government that their interests should be defended, at the 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which began on February 26, 2024 in Abu Dhabi.
At the WTO, representatives of advanced capitalist countries have been incessantly demanding that all countries end government procurement of agricultural produce. These advanced capitalist states are demanding curbs on subsidies to fisherfolk and a limit to distances from the coastline that can be covered by fisherfolk of any country, under the guise of stopping the decline of fish. If these demands are conceded, then they will seriously threaten the livelihood of lakhs of fisherfolk of our country.
The international food monopolies are striving to get Indian agriculture completely under their control and domination. Towards this end, they want the Indian government to stop subsidies to Indian farmers, stop public procurement of agricultural produce, as well as end the public distribution system. Kisan organisations in India have opposed this as an attack on their security of livelihood as well as an attack on the food security of our people.
Kisan organisations are increasingly coming to the conclusion that the struggle they are waging for a guaranteed MSP for all agricultural produce is a struggle against both Indian corporate houses and international agro and food monopolies.
They are demanding that the government of India defend the interests of farmers, fisherfolk, and all the working people at the WTO negotiations.
Kisans have organised tractor marches throughout the country to highlight how the international agro and food monopolies are putting pressure on the government of India and other countries to stop subsidies on Indian agriculture, stop public procurement of agricultural produce and end the public distribution system. They are demanding that the Indian government uphold the principle of self reliance, and defend the security of livelihood of farmers, fisherfolk, and other working people as well as the food security of our people.
Kisan organisations have also sent a three member delegation to Abu Dhabi to participate in the protests. Parallel programs are being organised at the summit to oppose the agenda of the multinationals, of establishing their complete domination over international trade using the WTO negotiations. At these parallel programs the corporatization of agriculture, from seed to retail trade, is being opposed. The concerns of fisherfolk are also being raised.
The National Fishworkers’ Forum has urged the Government of India to defend the interests of Indian fishermen in the negotiations.
The kisan organisations have declared that the Government of India should leave the WTO if it cannot defend the interests of India’s farmers, fisherfolk, and masses of people.