Muslim role in rural economy of India

(This is translation of article posted in Muslim Murasu October,2010)

Buses are bursting at the seams every minute in farming districts like Thanjavur, Kumbakonam and Tiruvarur. High quality posh products hawked in Chennai are also easily available in district capitals. Offspring of farmers excel in education, become city dwellers and earn handsome salaries. Private TV channels thundering round the clock in houses of farmers is also a common scene.

Rural economy is burgeoning in strength on par with cities. For the past 4 years per-capita income, buying capacity has continued to increase. National rural employment guarantee scheme, loan waiving for farmers, 40 percent government buying of farm produce are reasons for price rise. Share of farming members in Airtel is 60 percent. Maruti car has increased from 3.5 percent to 9 percent. 17 lakh mobile phones are sold in villages every month. Now sales have increased to 28 lakhs. Farmers share in insurance is 269 lakhs; that from urban is only 233 lakhs. Nokia India marketing director Vineet Taneja discloses that farmers go for 6000 rupess mobile phones. Sales of 3000 rupees mobile phones are dull. Storehouses and processing facilities for 4 crore tonnes of food products are required. 2500 crore rupees sales of snacks; processed food sells for 900 crore rupees. Even mid sized firms rejoice in investing 400 crore each in rural agricultural products. One Swiss firm is setting up a facility for oranges with an investment of 170 crore rupees. Import opportunities for processed food to the tune of 7000 crore rupees is available. 15000 tonne of potato chips sells in a year. 20 chips are packed for 5 rupees; giant profits are anyone’s guess.

Hailing from the arid lands of Ramnathapuram district, Muslim firms have bolstered agriculture, raised 100 storeyed buildings and developed express transports in desert countries. Internationally acclaimed firms can show interest in agriculture. Agriculture and food processesing have drawn huge attention. It is narrow mindedness to destitute parents and relatives in villages and board flights to go for daily wages. What is needed is due interest in marine produces and agricultural products in native land. Slave mentality should be dropped.

Tamilnadu palm trees department chairman Kumari Anandhan argues that 1 crore palm trees will yield a revenue of 22500 crore rupees. The benefits from naturally grown herbs and shrubs, trees and medicinal plants in districts and hinterlands should be realised. Giant multinational firms are investing in rural agriculture.

Skyscrapers, car sales, information technology, super fast trains and express buses won’t lend food. Hereditary culture, vintage values and pleasant life are vandalized by urbanization. The exodus of villagers should be immediately arrested. Healthy air and clean water are available in villages.