The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Indian agriculture markets need protection

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 06, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Indian agriculture markets need protection

– Photo:M. Periasamy

Mahesh Chandra Sharma

We need growth with adequate jobs and our agricultural markets should not be opened to the world, Mahesh Chandra Sharma , Chairman of Rajasthan Investment Promotion and Development Advisory Board, asserts.

Mr.Sharma was in Coimbatore recently scouting for investments in Rajasthan, especially by non-resident Rajasthanis.

In an interaction with G.Satyamurty , he observes that Euro-American world life style is one for which they can’t earn in their countries.

It is a compulsion for them to “invade” some country to get more. With 80 per cent of the natural resources of the world outside their purview, they need globalisation. While “South and South” co-operation was not institutionalised properly, globalisation was institutionalised as the World Trade Organisation. “This institutionalisation of globalisation is the real threat to the region.”

But there was lack of awareness regarding this threat in the South.

According to Mr.Sharma, now Euro-American Governments are not feeling comfortablble in the WTO and they feel “suffocated” because of the presence of India, China, Brazil, South Africa, etc.

During the last 10 years there have been no new agreements (in the WTO) and previous agreements are also going out thanks to ‘Swadeshi’ movements in the Third World.

Subsidised agriculture to protect European and American farmers will affect India’s food security.

Indian farmers cannot compete with the ‘over-subsidised’ European agricultural products. “We should not open up the agricultural market of our nation (to such countries)”.

In Doha meet of the WTO, India fought a "perfect war" to protect the national interest.

“I would consider the complaint that Doha talks failed because of India as a compliment.” Besides, there was no agreement on agriculture because India refused to kowtow to the Euro-American wishes.

“We need a globalised solution and a decentralised economy. There should be growth with adequate jobs. That should have a human face. Competition and compassion should go together. Development and sensitivity should combine for human happiness.”

India should accept these challenges and give a development model which is “humane”, he contended. “Of course, it is a long way to go,” he admitted.

Inflation in India hits only the masses and "not the classes in the Government” .It is a slap on democracy.

In Rajasthan, globalised economy is getting proper space.

“Simultaneously, we have concern for the weaker section and that also gets equal importance.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu