Opening up the agriculture sector for MNCs - Advantages and Disadvantages

Opening up the agriculture sector for MNCs - Advantages and Disadvantages.

Introduction:

Uncertain monsoon and plight of farmers are pointing towards India as the country that is at the verge of losing one of its most crucial sectors for economy. Instead of passing more bills and enforcing wills of power, we should be concentrating on making the best out of what we have and others don't. Agriculture in India, being the foremost occupation of people in rural areas, should not be suffering under grievances of debts. One of the articles by Chetan Bhagat for TOI called for "let's bake in India before we make in India." The writer talks about the sufferings of Indian farmers and how to it can be rectified by opening agriculture sector for MNCs. Though farmers get "subsidies, tax breaks, welfare schemes" and politicians and NGOs claiming to be pro-farmers, where exactly are we lacking?

Advantages:

1. Since independence India has gone global from anything to everything. We have encouraged multinational giants to extend business in almost every sector of Indian economy, except agriculture. Those hands that feed the entire nation are left with nothing at the end. Their sufferings are looked down upon with mere compensations for natural calamities and for lives lost due to distress. These farmers do have the right to extend their occupation and make it bigger and better if agriculture sector is opened for MNCs.

2. Half of the Indian population, the entire rural map of the country, is into farming. They do have the capability to serve within India as well as outside India. If MNCs are allowed to invest in Indian agriculture, their advanced technologies, better funds for irrigation, and modern knowledge of farming can change the lives of Indian farmers. And then farming will not be something forced upon them for livelihood through generations but a productive means of better living.

3. Farmer in India is expected to serve only two needs, the bread and butter for the middlemen and vote bank for corrupt executives. Why can't we allow globalisation in agriculture sector while we allow middlemen and politicians to treat our farmers like slaves? Our farmers are still bound slaves, forced to produce only for India. They are perceived as poor and illiterate people who are meant to be like that forever. We are the reason why they are like that and will continue to be like that always until they are allowed to explore and be a part of multinational ventures. This would give those millions of farmers who are discouraged enough to think of ending their lives, a hope and income stability for their hard work. This is the least we can do for what they give us in return.

4. It is clear that all the policies being made to ease woes of farmers are failing miserably. Subsidies, compensations and tax ease are not making any difference in solving the issues surrounding farming in India. In such a situation when the government and NGOs have failed to bring farmers any relief, it is definitely worth it to give a chance to MNCs to raise farming standards in India.

5. Giant manufacturers, given a chance, can utilize the efforts of farmers and shape it in the best possible way, improving their lives as well as increasing production and economy. Collaborations between agriculture sector and multinational companies can be beneficial for the country as well as farmers.

Disadvantages:

1. Opening agriculture sector for MNCs would eventually increase the price of food commodities, to which the upper and middle class might somehow sustain but the low class will be at a bigger disadvantage that we can comprehend.

2. There is no being sure that multinational ventures would not further add to the woes of farmers by deploying for the benefits of other nations. This would enslave the farmers at the hands and mercy of giant companies who will still consider them as cheap labours, their energy to be harvested for their benefits.

3. MNCs are not sure about investing in Indian agriculture sector because of the uncertainty in climate and harvest. Not being able to meet the target is their reasonable concern. Manufacturers cannot face the risks of compromised production of raw materials. Even if India opens its agriculture sector for MNCs, there are less chances that they would be willing to be a part of complicated tax schemes and policies that our government has induced. We are unable to pass a simple land bill for the farmers without creating major controversy, forget opening up to multinational ventures.

Conclusion:

Though the advantages outcast the few disadvantages of opening agriculture sector to MNCs, it can also not be secluded that nothing in India can change all of a sudden and we have to be patient and indulgent in the making of new polices to ensure that it takes good care of all the fractions of our agriculture sector. We wouldn't want to end up doing what the government has done earlier by opening up seed buying from private sectors. With well weighted policies and easy collaborations with the MNCs, Indian agriculture sector can see huge difference in terms of harvest and manufacturing. We can bake in India only when we have the proper tools and techniques of baking. Meanwhile, we can encourage make it India and for India.