We welcome US co-operation in modernisation of Indian agri sector! »

Why does one go for a secret new agribusiness  pact with the USA?
Why the secrecy, why this below radar deal?

A five column  news report appears in the national daily on such captioned  title.
The government only last week, that is, just a week before the presentation of the budget “quietly secured a Cabinet approval with the [...]

Agriculture is not all about crops! »

It is also about people, issues and new strategies!

Yes, the very country’s varied demands are all part of the total growth, not just agriculture or industry.
The latest interest in climate change is one such latest development. Climate change control concerns everybody and farmers and farming sector needs much sensitisation and sensitivity.
Natural forces impact agriculture more [...]

Do the humble farmers’ high incomes make headline news? »

They dont, why not?
75 FIRs registered against UP sugar mill owners!
19 FIRs registered against mills for procuring cane from farmers illegally!
These are all big news and big developments in the current messy sugar business scenario. These UP mills are all very big ones, unlike in the South where the mills are very modest, small and [...]

Farming is a losing battle? »

Yes, for most farmers!
Most things have to remain unsaid in our democracy!
So, even criticism has to remain subdued!
Climate change summit outcome and the future of agriculture
One good thing is that the PM and Sonia Gandhi don’t speak on food prices!
Their pet hobbies are the aam aadmi and the NREGA, both are now in disarray.
Aam [...]

Please let us have a change of the agriculture portfolio! »

New situations demand new ideas and new radical thinking in policy making!
There are radical developments on the agricultural front!
Yet Indian agriculture policy has become very much out of date!
The world economic crisis has led to crisis in agriculture sector. Our agri exports are declining. Sensitive items, namely even the critical India-origin items like milk and [...]

Agriculture and rural development »

What new revolution in India possible? Nothing new anymore?
No one is speaking about these days!
Aam aadmi, Nrega are the only two new words?
Here are some bold new thoughts and a bit sceptical opinions!
We have almost seemed to have exhausted by doing politics. Call it populist politics or democratic politics. We seem to have run the [...]

Biotech Brinjal approved by the government »

Farmers’ bodies oppose!
In October beginning, the Indian government’s high level committee, namely, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) of the department of biotechnology gave its approval for the country’s first GM crop, the bt brinjal. All the heall broke loose last week in the capital. A massive rally of farmers, of the four largest farmers [...]

Congress patent Aam aadmi? »

Aam aadmi then can steal your clothes, dont you see?
Congress patented aam aadmi?
See the bye-election results!
Yeddyurappa for 36 point rural development!
AP political reality point to ugly corporate-politicians nexus!
Tamil Nadu exhibits coalition degenerating into family empire!

Yes, even coalitions must have some baci principles, some basic truths and some basic ethics in governance. You can’t have too [...]

Critical infrastructure needs critical policy innovations! »

Yes, this is the time of difficult governance and decision-making
Considering the world recession, internal challenges, swine flu scare and widespread rought, there is an emerging crisis on a large-scale.
There is no use and it doesn’t serve anyone’s purpose to ignore the ground level realities.
Critical infrastructure, power, mining, steel, roads, civil aviation, to name the few [...]

Yes, drought shouldn’t panic us! »

But then we need a wide debate, criticism and even dissent
What is the role of corporate social responsibility in such a time?
So that government is on the alert and in a pro-active mode?
This year monsoons are poor, half the country, 246 districts, nearly half the country are drought hit. There has been a steep decline [...]