Midst of Gloom, flowers may still bloom

Amidst all the gloom of the party with less than 5% of popular vote trying to set country's agenda and the stock market worries comes some good news.
Mayawati, the Chief Minister of UP - our most populous state makes some steps towards privatization in agriculture. Essentially she is going to allow private parties (above a certain net worth ) to directly buy from the farmers should the farmer wish to sell. Eminently sensible since now the farmer can choose to sell to govt or to any pvt player depending on who is paying more. But alas sensible policies are an exception in India and that is why its only happening now in a tentative way. Upto now farmers could only sell in Mandis and in case that cost to transporting to Mandis is high compared to prices, or other things like non availability of trucks for perishables, the farmer was forced to destroy standing crops!

I guess Mayawati being politically strong and very savvy and right caste may just carry it off in spite of trenchant criticism that the established interests may heap. What i hope is that private players will invest in air conditioned goods trucks and help farmers with scientific inputs as often happens in contract farming. From what I have read upto 40% of our produce is lost to improper storage and all. Hopefully the private buyers will invest in cold storages also which ofcourse depends if Left and BJP not manage to set the agenda and ensure Indians go back to the glorious Hindu age of Diyas. After all Electric power has lot to do with Edison - an American and since America is imperialist any American invention will make us their slaves for all times to come.

Also the Japanese premier is coming to India. Japan and India have so much to gain from mutual partnership. Japan has surplus capital, India needs capital. Japan has cutting edge technology especially in manufacturing/electronics and space. India needs it. Japan lacks resources and young folks, India has plenty. If our politics doesn't wreck it I see the start of a beautiful relationship there. We can build the industrial corridor, have really high speed trains which will further bring forwards a bigger market for perishables nearer. It will also help decongest. Imagine if a train running at 300 km/hour were running between Mumbai and say Ahmedabad/ Delhi that will bring an area of 600 km within commuting reach.
In short there is so much of opportunity to bridge the gap between our potential and reality. If only we don't squander our chance away. It may never again come.

Updated 24/08
The Hindu and other newspaper report that the idea is put on hold after traders protested. Amusingly The UP government said that to protect the interests of farmers the policy needs be reviewed. I thought the farmers were the gainers since Reliance Fresh pays more to farmers and charges consumers less. They make real margin by cutting off middle men. So why not be honest and say that the in the interest of traders the policy is being reviewed rather than a rather inaccurate word called farmer?
This also brings another issue in mind. I thought that all Indians are free to profess any trade they want to (Except some that require special training like medicine where anybody who is trained then can undertake). So isn't this whole business of no vegetable seller is allowed to open a large show a bit unfair?

Updated: Sept 3
Express reports that finally farmers have woken up to the fact that this review is not in "farmer's interest" and are protesting in Lucknow. The farmers hold that Retail stores are paying the them- the producers more than the current middlemen riddled system. Flowers may still bloom for the countless farmers.