Letters: In all weathers

The vagaries of the monsoon and cyclical world weather patterns creating the El Nino and La Nina phenomena are well known to our administrators, without the necessity of a last-minute forecast from the meteorological department. Agricultural turnover continues to be a strong base for our economy, despite a fall in percentage of total dependence. It is not our immediate agricultural output that should be a cause for concern but the absence of long-term planning to overcome such eventualities. We only believe in crisis management and there is an attitude of laxity towards the agricultural segment. Administrative inefficiency coupled with bureaucratic red tapism delay the release of stored food grain into the market, affecting supply and creating inflation. Black marketing continues to be a bane. We cry hoarse about shortage in food supply, ignoring the wastage caused by hoarding. Apart from infrastructural weaknesses among various segment, there is a total absence of logistics that hamper economic movement. It is ironic that in a modern age where big investments are made for scientific advancement, we do not pay enough attention to integrate our economic segments. A fall in agricultural activity directly impacts the market and the economy as a whole. It is time the overall impact of such weather patterns were addressed more effectively.

C Gopinath Nair Bangalore

Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number