Many times the poverty exists not due to lack of production but due to lack of access to market.
I was amazed to see this in Barmer district of Rajsthan.
Not once, but repeatedly.
There is so much watermelon, but no market to sell it.
Hence it is used to feed animals.
The people living in these types of remote areas will have a better life only if they have access to markets.
I was amazed to see this in Barmer district of Rajsthan.
Not once, but repeatedly.
There is so much watermelon, but no market to sell it.
Hence it is used to feed animals.
The people living in these types of remote areas will have a better life only if they have access to markets.
Does POVERTY mean lack of currency in hand or empty pot on earthen chulha (hearth)? If the poor peasants – landless or landowner – have access to processing their crops might give them extra income.
ReplyDeleteTHIS FACTOR IS IGNORED BY THE ELITE RULING MINORITY IN INDIA TODAY. Education and Literacy are two different things.
Similarly Poverty and Causticity are two different matters.
They certainly are educated, but lack a tool or weapon, called BASIC LITERACY even in this century. My mother had studied three books (Std. III). She brought us (four brothers) up in very hard times, and all of us were motivated to reach graduation in technical and arts subjects. There were many more mothers like her in our locality, in our native villages. Malvan (Sindhudurg) was fully literate in 1950s.
Sometimes you have enough production but lack of access to market. This is the kind of example.
DeleteOh God ! Sad ! Probably they should also think of making some other products using these and then marketing . Need visionaries for that
ReplyDeleteYes, someone needs to help people in the area in providing them some processing tips.
DeleteCORRECTION:
ReplyDeleteSimilarly Poverty and Causticity are two different matters.
Please read Austerity instead of Causticity.
I am not senti about any such situations
We don't need to be sentimental about such situations but we need to understand and if possible find out a solution.
DeleteUnfortunately watermelons can not be grown closer to the markets I presume. I learn that the poor craftsmen from the North East have migrated to Delhi and improved their lot by making things there itself. But this can not be applied to Watermelons. Nevertheless something has to be done to ameliorate the hardships faced by the remote villages.
ReplyDeleteAny processing ideas? And preservation? Or maybe better transport? I don't know, but some solution must be there ....
DeleteVery true. This is where middlemen come into picture. So the farmer will get 50 paisa for a watermellon and the customer will get it in 10 Rs. Sad state of affairs.
ReplyDeleteThe story of middle-men.
DeleteThough I guess middle-men provide a service and they also should get something to live for from their livelihood.
Interesting dialogue here!
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I feel, the farmers should produce, whatever it may be, in the First Place, for their consumption, not for market.
Secondly diversify / complement / supplement the agricultural production.
Third, never trust any faceless institution, even if it may be government. The real help comes from the community.
I need not go and give them this advice. If they have land (and water), and no debts, it is enough to sustain themselves. They are intelligent enough to know this, unless they are misguided by some agencies?
I hate to be personal on such public platform. My mom and I (when I was six) have gone through conditions, which are now called displacement and marginalization.
About middleman, Mr Manmohan Singh, our PM is better qualified to talk to.