World Bank Policy on Agriculture is Against Farmers Interest: Need Urgent Action
A human chain was organized by Bangladesh Agro-Ecology Platform (BAP), including the founding member organizations of UBINIG (Policy Research for Development Alternative), BELA (Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association), Caritas Bangladesh, BASD (Bangladesh Association for Sustainable Development) and BKF (Bangladesh Krishok Federation), on 22 October, 2024 in front of the World Bank, Agargoan, Dhaka, Bangladesh. About 100 participants attended the human chain. The representations of Bangladesh Agro-ecology Platform (BAP), members of civil society and representative of farmers addressed the human chain.
Jahangir Alam Jony, Director, UBINIG moderated the presentation in the human chain. The delegates expressed concern over World Bank anti farmer and farmers’ seed system policies, on the eve of World Bank Annual Meeting, 21-26 October, 2024 in Washington DC, USA. The delegates urged upon the concerned authority to forward the charter of demand the World Bank for kind perusal.
Jahangir Alam Jony, Director, UBINIG mentioned, Nayakrishi farmer, Selima Begum submitted a letter to the World Bank in its Annual Meeting in 2023 at Morocco for serving farmers seed. That letter was signed by 70,000 signatories from Bangladesh and UK. The delegation earnestly requested to know the outcomes of that representation.
It was further urged upon the World Bank to take effective measures on the life and livelihood of the farmers, management of biodiversity, farmers’ right, especially the right of women farmers, management of biodiversity under the leadership of women. The World Bank is further urged to come forward for saving community based seed wealth, seed regeneration by the farmers and finally the interest of the farmers.
Badrul Alam, President, Bangladesh Krishok Federation mentioned support on chemical based hybrid, GMO, pesticides should be stopped because these are impacting upon the biodiversity based agriculture. World Bank, may please, support biodiversity based ecological agriculture.
Shajib Kumar Mondol, Senior Program Officer, Caritas Bangladesh requested World Bank, to please support farmers to produce seed, maintain seed, exchange seed and uphold the interest of the farmers.
Touhidul Alam, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association mentioned for revision of the seed laws and policies for supporting farmer seed system.
Dr. M. A. Sobhan, Precedent, BeezBistar Foundation requested for recognition of farmers’ right on seed in the World Bank policies. Efforts must be invigorated for establishing farmers’ right, soil management, seed management and right of farmers on land.
The participants also urged upon the World Bank for attention and necessary action on the following aspects.
- Stop conditional loan
- Stop funding fossil fuel based agriculture
- Promote 100% renewable energy
- Promote biodiversity based ecological agriculture
At the end of the Human Chain and Discussion Meeting, a memorandum on behalf of the Bangladesh Agro-ecology Platform (BAP) was handed over to Mehrin Mahbub, Senior External Affairs officer, World Bank. She was pleased to assure us for necessary action after discussion with the concerned authority in World Bank.
