The rice trade

Government has started raiding traders who sell rice above the stipulated price. It is a timely move. However, it is an exercise that should be the norm always for where profit is concerned traders have no limit. Nor is trade humane or benevolent.

Though price controls are a thing of the past under the open economy that is so much cherished the government was forced to enforce it to prevent traders fleeing innocent consumers.

The retail traders, on the other hand, complain that they are unable to sell rice at the fixed prices because of shortage of stocks. It is also hinted that there is a rice mafia that control the supply to maintain high prices.

This state of affairs originated with the closure of the Paddy Marketing Board. That is why the government has resurrected it. The best way to handle the situation is for the Paddy Marketing Board to purchase and maintain buffer stocks of rice and release them to the market when supply runs short. That, however, requires several other measures. The farmers often prefer to sell paddy to the private sector for they give a better farm price than the government. It is also less troublesome to sell rice to the private sector as they do not impose stringent conditions. Further, many traders advance money to the farmers so that they are under obligation to sell the crop to them at the harvesting time.

What is required is therefore a holistic approach to the problem of assuring ample rice stocks at the Paddy Marketing Board. Farmers should be guaranteed loans at reasonable rates and a guaranteed price for their crop depending on the market situation. This requires monitoring the market trends and making suitable adjustments in the purchasing prices.

In the past the Paddy Marketing Board was hampered by not only the lack of adequate cash but also the lack of storage facilities to store substantial stocks. Much has to be done to improve the storage and transport of rice. Poor storage and transport facilities tend to affect sale price too.

The high cost of production and the low technological level of rice production too affect the farmer. The low technological level makes productivity low thereby yielding minimal profit for the cultivator.

The long-term use of chemical fertilizers has also lowered the fertility of the soil. Therefore, it is time to change over to organic agriculture on a large scale. The application of high technology, better water management and the use of bio-fertilizers too should be explored.

Hence, the question of assuring food security to the population, especially to low income earners needs solutions that go beyond the realm of trade or circulation. It encompasses all spheres of production, distribution and exchange. It involves the development of agro-technology and the development of agro-industries as well as a system for provision of easy credit at micro and medium levels.

Gender equality

The Indian Parliament recently passed legislation that would ensure a minimum of one-third representation in Parliament. It is a giant step towards gender equality in India.

Compared to India Sri Lanka is far behind. Though it could boast of producing the first woman Prime Minister and having a woman President, they both came to that position not because they are women but because they happen to be the widow and daughter of a slain Prime Minister.

Except for the women Parliamentarians in the old Left and the new Left (which has also become old now) women have risen to the level of an MP or a Minister principally through their kinship to a male politician.

It is sad that political parties too have not accommodated women in leading positions. At most they accommodate them in their women's wings that have no decision making power.

The same is true of trade unions and youth organisations affiliated to political parties. They all are under male domination.

It is high time that this defect is remedied. The place of women in society is an index of its development. It is not enough to celebrate the International Women's Day with hosannas to women.

The next Parliament should take up this issue and bring legislation to give a fair deal to the fairer sex.