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BOOK REVIEW |
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BOOK REVIEW |
On Farmers’ Rights Authors highlight the
plight of farmers in Hindukush Himalayas By A CORRESPONDENT In the new wave of globalization and liberalization only a few people talk about the right of farmers and their protections. At a time when the developed and developing countries are harping on liberalization and market economy, there are few who speak for the rights of small and marginalized farmers. Hindukush Himalayan region is a home of millions of small and marginalized farmers, who cannot compete with the bigger farmers in the global market. When the farmers from developed and developing countries continue to receive government subsidy, small farmers of the Hindukush region, particularly Nepal, Afghanistan and Bhutan have to compete on their own. Competition is not alone a matter but there are other matters also involved since they do not find any market to sell their products. "The wave of globalization and liberalization has swept the entire universe. No part of the world could remain aloof from this paradigm shift in global economic policy making - however radical changes it has brought about or it is likely to bring about in the people's livelihood," writes Adhikari duo in preface. "In era of non-discrimination, hastened by the national treatment requirement of the WTO, the distinction between foreign and national goods is becoming increasingly blurred." Some books have been written on the
problems and challenges of the farmers living in "It is geographically accepted that people living in mountain region are the most vulnerable and neglected lot. As if their location specific natural handicaps were not enough, they are facing the brunt of neglect by the policymakers at the national, regional and international levels. For example, not even a single agreement of the WTO has been prepared with mountain communities in mind. Majority of the population in mountain areas eke out their living through farming," writes Ratnakar Adhikari in introduction. Divided in twelve different chapters, the book discusses biodiversity, farmers’ rights, Recognizing Farmers' Rights as Human Rights, Agreement on Agriculture and safety and quality imperatives and Plant Genetic cases in Bangladesh and farmers issues in Nepal. Hirmani Ghimire in his article Agreement on Agriculture: A South Asian Perspective explains various modalities of agriculture. Madhusudan P. Upadhyaya discusses about protecting farmers' rights for sustainable agriculture development in Nepal. Krishna Prasad Pant writes on legal and institutional mechanisms to protect the farmers rights in Nepal. Wajid H. Pirazada explains Pakistani perspective to protect the framers rights. In his article S. Bala Ravi observes biodiversity , framer's rights and bio-technology and patents. In his article WTO and its economic implications to Sri Lankan farming community, Roshen Epaarachchi highlights various points related to the farmers’ rights in Sri Lanka. At a time when every one is talking about the WTO and other related matters, the book will help to understand different aspects related to farmers’ rights in the country's Hindukush Himalayan region. Farmer's Rights To Livelihood in
the Hindukush Himalayas |
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editor: spotligh@mos.com.np |
