Support systems for the farmer

As urban areas exploded their peripheral farmer  was displaced away from the epicenter of mass demand as also from water sources that were commandeered for the city.The hapless farmer was hence forced to look up to someone who would meet his needs of transport, ready cash  and prompt off take of produce in the absence of adjacent storage facilities.The wholesalers provided him all this and extracted his cost from both the producer and consumer.Without him a farmer would be handicapped on all three counts.The end consumer in the city would like to see his vegetable spread at dinner come cheaper but merely de-listing fruits and vegetables from APMC Act,even if States are willing,do not take away the basic logistics that the distant  farmer will continue to contend with.Setting up  self-contained farmers Kibbutz that would  provide him storage, processing and direct market access at designated  locations across the nation, is one sensible way to profitably bridge centers of production and demand and cut on waste and delay.All other steps can be only be temporary

Pub : Hindu Businessline ;July 5