The Hindu Business Line : Agflation concerns

The editorial “Agflation alert” has aptly remarked that phrases such as “growth with equity” and “inclusive growth” would sound hollow if the emerging threat to food security from increasing global food prices is ignored (Business Line, December 25).

Generally speaking, creeping inflation or a moderate rise in the general price level of goods is a great stimulant for the producers to enhance their investment employment and production. But agflation is of little use both to the agriculturists and the consumers. The farmer producing wheat, for instance, gets a paltry price/income for his produce but pays through the nose to get the same for his consumption from the market. Is this not an irony of sorts?

The Central and State governments, as the article has correctly suggested, can evolve a common national policy to step up investments in the farm sector, and a transparent monitoring system to evaluating programmes to grapple with the problem of imminent threat to food security around the globe. But, are the powers-that-be really serious about the food problem or the agflation?

S. Ramakrishnasayee Ranipet (TN)