Letters: Agriculture & aam aadmi

This refers to M G Warrier's letter "Focusing on agriculture' (February 9). A researcher of economic development and the former Director-General of the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington DC, John Mellor, has been saying the same thing for a long time. His view is true not only for India but for all low- and middle-income nations, where agriculture is an important source of employment.

India had done well on this front during the Green Revolution. The 12th Five-Year Plan had also recognised the role of agriculture in poverty alleviation and sustainable economic growth. While the Planning Commission does not exist, agriculture continues to support the aam aadmi in rural areas. In his quest for smart cities and concessions to natural resource extracting industries, if Narendra Modi forgets agriculture, the aam aadmi from rural areas will rise and vote for someone else next time in the elections.

Chandrashekhar Ranade Washington DC

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