Trouble in Indian Agriculture

With the recent suicides of farmers in India people are starting to look to the Indian Government for support of agriculture. India being a developing country, support of agriculture is not a priority.

One example of how farmers are exploited is that when domestic prices are high the government brings in imports at lower prices making it impossible for farmers to turn a profit. Along the same line, when international prices are high farmers are not allowed to export in order to keep domestic prices low. Nothing is working in their favor.

This article hypothesizes that part of the problem is that the same elected official represents all businesses in any given region. This means that if something will profit a big business and hurt small farmers the favor will go to the big business because officials are paid by big businesses.

One proposed solution for this problem is that “Dalits” (lower caste people) should have their own representative separate from that of upper castes. This solution however, would mean that people are labeled as “Dalit” which perpetuates an inescapable class system that can label a family through generations – something that Gandhi felt strongly against.

The author of this article proposes separate officials for different occupations, which would avoid caste classification. Read the full article for more information.


Why Policies are Anti-People?
by Bharat Jhunjhunwala

GI Certification for Tangaliya Weaving

Tangaliya, a 700 year-old weaving technique native to Gujarat, is defined by a dotted texture on the surface of the fabric. The texture is achieved by knotting contrasting colored yarns along the warp as it is woven - these knots at the surface of the fabric join to create designs and patterns.

Recently, as a way of gaining credibility and becoming a more widely respected craft, THA (Tangaliya Hastkala Association) sought to receive GI certification. GI, or Geographical Indications of Goods, is a registration that certifies the authenticity of a craft defined by where the craft is traditionally made.

India created this form of certification and protection in 1999 as a member of the World Trade Organization. Leaders in Tangaliya weaving have said that since they were granted GI they have received several orders and have gained credibility all over the world.

Read Full Article at
Business Standard by Vikas Bhargava: