FDI- Foreign Direct Investment or Farmers Dread Indeed??

FDI - That has been the talk of the town in INDIA from almost a fortnight!! 9 days since the parliament has been adjourned because of this issue,PM for a change seen preety strong saying there are no chances of rollback from the issue.Never ending debates in Indian Media over it with Ground reports and Expert Speaks every day & Night.

Sectors affected : Farmers , Retailers , Politicians , High class Consumers.

While there is a strong perception that Farmers will loose it completely if 'Wallmarts' come into India.There is another view saying that 'Productivity would increase as in , tons/acre produced would increase because quality consciousness will increase and farming reforms will happen. Though there is ground report from Punjab who have to an extent implemented this say that Farmers have gained more.

'The chain of Farmers < Middle men < wholesalers < Retailers < Wallmart < Consumers,Hence cutting off the middle men cost'. Even the benefited Farmers say they are a little doubtful on how much their profits would be squeezed with more no. of retail chains coming in. Many diplomats say 'Retail chains have never benefitted farmers in any country - take eg. of USA , China etc etc. & we cannot afford to make our Farmers lose in our primarily Agricultural economy.'

With good bill as in 75% of the raw materials should be taken from farmers of India & most importantly sticking to those percentages and policing constantly that this is not violated by the Retail chains ... Do the farmers have to gain a lot more than what they get now??

There was an intial statement by PM saying 'State governments could well take their individual decision over FDI.Over 15 states have already put forward their view of 'A BIG NO TO FDI'

The LOGJAM over FDI could well be worked out by UPA,with PM preety firm on getting FDI passed ... but how about the apprehensions of people,Farmers and Retailers???

Raising to Intenational standards OR risking the future of Farmers???

What are your views about it .... ??

Apprehensively,
Akil