This refers to T N Ninan's column "Not just suicides" (Weekend Ruminations, March 9). The macro picture of agricultural production may look good, especially its statistics. However, the issue of farmers' suicides pertains more to micro pictures of specific regions and crops, availability of finance at local levels, social and cultural situations in any particular region, and so on. Besides, one cannot help but be cynical about the crucial aspect of actually taking food to the hungry, which depends on the purchasing power of people, and the marketing and distribution logistics of food. We need sweeping changes in the laws and practices governing the marketing of agricultural produce, storage, transportation and retailing.
Kishor Kulkarni Mumbai
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