International Day of Peasant Struggle: A Global Fight for Food Sovereignty
Summary
April 17 marks the International Day of Peasant Struggle, honoring farmers worldwide who resist land dispossession and capitalist exploitation while advocating for food sovereignty and farmer rights.
Key Points
- April 17 commemorates the 1996 massacre of 19 Brazilian farmers, marking the International Day of Peasant Struggle.
- La Via Campesina unites millions of farmers globally to promote food sovereignty against neoliberal trade policies.
- South Asian peasant movements have historically resisted feudalism, colonialism, and capitalism, with significant movements in India, Pakistan, and Nepal.
- Current challenges include corporate control over seeds, land encroachment, climate change impacts, and unfair market pricing.
- Nepal's peasant movement struggles with land inequality, lack of agricultural modernization, and youth migration, highlighting women's crucial role in the fight for food sovereignty.
