What is the impact on land reforms? Should the government take over agricultural land for industry promotion? In Karnataka now there is a raging controversy over the State government’s allotment of about nearly 1,000 acres of prime agricultural lands on the outskirts of Bangalore for the IT major, Infosys. Mr.Deve Gowda, the former Prime Minister,…
Category: Agriculture
Agriculture can’t grow in isolation!
We need to further remove the many controls on the agri sector Unless we become an open economy, there is not much chance for agri diversification! Indian agriculture is “not satisfactory’, says Sharad Pawar the agriculture minister. Why this state of affairs had come about? The minister of course can’t open his mouth! He might…
Our banks don’t reach agri credit targets!
How to trust the Finance Minister? When his record for the farm sector is near zero! Is India’s banking sector healthy? It depends who asks this question and also who answers the question. After the bank nationlisation it is the government that controls the banks (PSBs) and the RBI supervises them. The present government in…
A higher growth rate in agriculture?
Such claims invite more cynicism than optimism! A mid-term review of the year, the economy projects a higher economic growth in agriculture. Some newspapers gave such figures like three to four per cent for agriculture, while others, more sober newspapers simply omitted the exact figures and simply talked of a ‘slightly higher growth rate in…
Agriculture continues the growth decline!
PM talks theory, theory, and theory! The Prime Minister had called a meeting of the full Planning Commisssion. What is the urgency? Obviously, the government is worried over the agri sector’s continuing growth decline. Farm growth decelerated since 1997 from 2.5 per cent to currently to a shameful 0.1 per cent! There is a decline…
Agriculture as a business opportunity
Agriculture’s chances look brighter! Forget what the government says or doesn’t say! Agriculture sector, like other sectors, looks for a brighter future! There are now many positive developments like the recently concluded Hongkong WTO meet and the West Bengal CPI (M) Chief Minister’s private sector friendly approach to economic development etc. This is not the…
Will India import wheat?
PM mum; his colleagues talk differently! There is intense speculation in the concerned sections, agri ministry, wheat trade and the prevailing political situation with state Assembly elections in some major states that there is a pressure on food grains prices. More so the wheat prices. Wheat prices have increased to a record high on tight…
Can the Govt. afford to be pro-poor, pro-farmer?
Finance Minister’s unhelpful attitudes There is this joke feature on the NDTV. It mercilessly exposes the humbug of our polticians, brings the PM, Sonia Gandhi and others and makes them answer to some plain questions. It brings in all the bigwigs, Vajpayyer, Advaniji and others too! In one recent feature, the month being the budget…