Re: MNCs Sucking up India's IQ - Tom Friedman

What if the govt buys equipment to automate (like tractors,sowing etc)
which will alleviate their labor and rent them out for minimal prices. For
the small pieces of lands, it may not be worthwhile for them to buy all that
equipment. So, they use very old style labor intensive methods to do things.
Renting out equipment will help them do things better and increase their
productivity and probably the quality of produce, while it still keeps their
operational costs low. That way they can use their time or saved money to
generate more income by focusing on other things. The same kendras that
rent out the equipment can also offer free courses on how to increase the
productivity etc by using these tools.

>From: "Chandu Sambasiva Rao" <srchandu@gmail.com>
>Reply-To: AndhraOne@googlegroups.com
>To: "AndhraOne" <AndhraOne@googlegroups.com>
>Subject: Re: MNCs Sucking up India's IQ - Tom Friedman
>Date: Wed, 04 Jan 2006 20:36:03 -0000
>
>
>Friends,
>
>Last point grabbed my attention and I think this is one area we can do
>a lot more. This list is not a comprehensive list in any sense. Only my
>observations and thoughts. Please feel free to add to the list. Sorry,
>this is a bit long, but deservedly so.
>
>Let me know how else we can help the farm sector and make it into a
>sustainable/robust industry.
>
>Regards,
>Chandu
>
>"When farmers can get more from their land, when they can understand
>global markets better, when they can produce niche products for
>different markets, that's when India will really turn around."
>
>
>When farmers can get more from their land:
>� What is done?
>o AP Government, in collaboration with Academia and other Nations,
>developed soil mapping techniques and mapped most of the agricultural
>land
>o Developed and used IC around the need and advantages of crop rotation
>o Developed better seed/fertilizer/pesticide selection, use, and
>educated farmers
>o Developed better water management techniques
>� What needs to be done?
>o Price assurance for farm produce (in the absence of a robust free
>market)
>o Educate on limiting the input costs - If a farmer makes Rs. 100 per
>every Rs 1,000 invested, should he invest Rs. 2000 to get Rs. 125
>instead? These numbers are fictional, but hope you see the point. Prof.
>Rama Rao of Nagarjuna University is grappling with this very question.
>How to educate where to draw the line in selecting
>seeds/fertilizers/pesticides etc.
>o Farmers should be facilitated, and encouraged to add-value to their
>farm produce and avoid selling in the basic forms.
>o Encourage entrepreneurs to develop and promote packaging, storing and
>distribution of farm produce.
>o Create robust policies and promote open farm insurance, encouraging
>farm investments.
>� How IT can help?
>o Data on crops, crop acreage, projected market demand, probable market
>price etc. for a given crop is available but seems spread all over. IT
>systems can greatly improve how the farmer gets the "information"
>in a timely fashion.
>o Use IT systems to gather, store, analyze, glean information, and also
>to deliver the same to the farmers and administrators just-in-time.
>o Use IT systems to limit middle-men
>
>
>When farmers can understand global markets better:
>� What is done?
>o Negotiating with other countries for better trading arrangements
>� What needs to be done?
>o Need to address the concerns of developed countries and make efforts
>to win those markets for our farm produce
>o Our Governments should make it a priority to make
>aggressive/sustainable deals with other governments to help farmers
>sell the produce to a broader base
>� How IT can help?
>o Given the labeling technology, and advances made in RFID should make
>our produce tracked better. This goes a long way in not only tracking
>for our own food safety, but to get the mature markets to accept our
>produce
>o IT systems can help promote the acceptable agro practices, should we
>be able to sell our produce to foreign markets
>
>
>When farmers can produce niche products for different markets:
>� What is done?
>o Some farmers are convinced about non-food produce/ commercial crops
>o Recommendations are developed and made available to farmers
>� What needs to be done?
>o More education on other possibilities
>o Aggressive horticulture push
>o Educate public at large to appreciate and consume such farm products
>(like flowers, decorating leaves, etc)
>o Access to low interest loans, subsidies with sun set provisions to
>help grow the market place
>o Last year, TV9 had a campaign educating citizens on the value of
>switching to fresh coconut water from soft drinks. We need more of
>these. NGOs can play a bigger role in promoting good habits while
>helping the farming industry
>o Health workers/doctors/teachers can promote good health
>habits/practices there by promoting the farm industry
>� How IT can help?
>o IT Systems can make the information accessible and can also broadcast
>market conditions for alternate farm products, almost real time
>o Farmers should be made integral to such a networked market place to
>learn/practice/sell his produce/products
>