soter wrote: If it is cheap labour that was the problem then the machines have now been put into operation in several areas. This should fix the problem if it is so simple. Mervyn acknowledges that farm work is back breaking but no sooner the onions and potato prices increase, we have the 'town boys' screaming against price rice
urging government to put curbs on exports and so on. Farming is back breaking for those who become habitual with living on other people's so to say blood and sweat. While we have a fast growing tribe of blood sucker 'town boys' who sell their services and skills to the highest bidder in the inudstrialised market, when it comes to agricultural produce this very 'town boy' wants cheap labour and his vegetables and milk at a throw away price. For his own rare product, he will keep a high price but when it comes to buying his food the same parameters will never be acceptable to 'Town boys'. This is the hypocrisy of an urbanised industrial economy and its exploitative mindsets. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Soter, I grew up in Africa. Govts there kept the prices of agricultural products, both food and cash crops, under tight control. The IMF and World Bank complained for decades that the African farmer had to sell his crop for pittance to the town dwellers. Here in N. America, it is commodity traders who decide the price of every thing from oil to chocolate. The price is decided on supply and demand. There is no trading house or cabal of trading houses that can set the price of any commodity as competitors are just waiting to find faults in pricing and severely punish those who have made the wrong bet. Again, the farmer has little or no control on what he gets paid for this efforts. Now let me try and make my point as clear as I can. Hunting, gathering and farming are occupations for those with little or no education. Those who have to make their living from these activities, are in economic hardships. Those who have moved away from these activities have a better chance of economic prosperity. The bottom line is that I have yet to see an economy that is prospering because of its great agricultural policy. Eat from the tree of knowledge. Else you will remain dependent on the whims of others for your survival. Mervyn1389Lobo
