[Assam] vegetableconomics

Tue Apr 1 06:33:07 PDT 2008

At 10:17 PM +0530 3/31/08, shantikam hazarika wrote:
>I think this has been happening all along in Assam. A few years back 
>I came across farmers in Kharupetia allowing their tomato crop to 
>rot because the price they were fetching in the nearby market would 
>not even meet their transportation cost to the market.

**** And the answer to it is???????

>Unless the power situation improves, cold storage may not be the solution.

**** The SOLUTION therefore is???????????

>Also, simply having the cold storage may not be adequate, unless we 
>have the total linkages in place.

**** Therefore we ought to  ---???????????

>Your jibe at the freedom seekers at the end of your note was not necessary.

**** How mature an observation!

>I am sure they are still looking into our antecedants before they 
>can reply to the queries raised by us.

****  Yes indeed!  The blind looking at the blind to lead the way.

>So please do not disturb them with such issues which may be beyond 
>their comprehension.

**** Now that shows true maturity and deliberative skills so needed 
to engage in a productive discourse.

**** I am not sure if I should laugh or cry.

>As far as I remember, Assam Unnati Sabha need not worry since they 
>have already contracted their production to a buyer at a 
>predetermined rate. For any one starting a new business, that is the 
>most sensible thing to do.State intervention is the only answer, but 
>how it is to be done is again a matter that can be decided by in 
>depth going into the problem. Unless the power situation improves, 
>cold storage may not be the solution. Also, simply having the cold 
>storage may not be adequate, unless we have the total linkages in 
>place.
>Your jibe at the freedom seekers at the end of your note was not 
>necessary. I am sure they are still looking into our antecedants 
>before they can reply to the queries raised by us. So please do not 
>disturb them with such issues which may be beyond their 
>comprehension.
>
>Shantikam Hazarika
>Director,
>Assam Institute of Management
>PO Box 30, GUWAHATI 781001, India
>HOME PAGE: www.aimguwahati.edu.in
>
>>  Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:44:27 +0100> From: 
>>uttamborthakur at yahoo.co.in> To: assam at assamnet.org> Subject: 
>>[Assam] Potatoeconomics of Assam> > > > > A news item in Pratidin 
>>makes a difficult reading. Less of facts, more of opinions. > But 
>>an item published on 31st March2008 is of concern. The prices of 
>>potato have suddenly plummetted in Assam. Apparently it should 
>>indicate the positive impact of withdrawal of Value Added Tax on 
>>food items. But it is not, because of the simple reason that the 
>>prices of rice-cereals etc. have remained sky-high.> > Then why 
>>this sudden drop in potato prices? Its answer can be found in the 
>>huge production of potato in Barpeta district under the aegis of 
>>the Oxom Unnati Sabha. In order to ensure that the Oxomiya farmers 
>>producing potato incur loss and do not dare to cultivate it again 
>>successfully, the mainland India trading lobby or the oligopoly or 
>>the cartel, by whatever name called, has suddenly reduced the 
>>market prices of potato so that the reigning market prices would 
>>not allow the local cultivators recover the input prices, let alone 
>>make a profit. Moreover, storing in Assam is a bit difficult, 
>>because of dearth of cold storage facility and lack of electricity 
>>to run the cold storages effectively.> > Such things have been 
>>taking place in Assam for a number of years in respect of tea, 
>>vegetables and now Potato. Some people may argue that let the 
>>market forces rule, as in any free market system. But history of 
>>economics shows that it is the trade barriers, subsidies and in 
>>short the protective policies of the state that have allowed the 
>>economies of rich nations grow. So such advocates actually are the 
>>spokespersons of the mighty, and in this case that of the mainland 
>>India that uses Assam like a hinterland. Moreover, had it been a 
>>fairplay, it would have been acceptable. But here is a design 
>>working to stifle capital formation in Assam and the Indian State 
>>and its local lackeys are helping such a design to succeed by its 
>>inaction or covert helping hand.> > I believe that we should do 
>>whatever we can to foil and expose such nefarious designs. Yes, 
>>desecration of archeological relics is important issue to tackle. 
>>But brazen economic loot is no less a question.> > I am also 
>>surprised that the outfits that want secession or sovereignty of 
>>Assam, do not point out these injustices in everyday life and 
>>restrict themselves to denouncing state atrocities, to which 
>>campaign people have become desensitized to an extent, as it smacks 
>>of partisanship. The major problem with these outfits are that they 
>>have failed to give anyone an alternative picture or system, if 
>>they have one, to fire the imaginations of the people, who they 
>>apparently want to win over.> > > Uttam Kumar Borthakur> > > 
>>---------------------------------> Unlimited freedom, unlimited 
>>storage. Get it now> 
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