In developed countries governments encourage farming and do everything possible to satisfy the interests of farmers. This attitude to farming and farmers, however, is not so common in poor countries where there is great scope and need for farming.

• What reasons do you attribute to these two differing attitude towards farming in rich and poor nations?
• How does it affect poor nations?


When it comes to farming, there should have been equal priority both in rich and poor nations. Unfortunately, it does not happen in poor nations. There are reasons for this differing attitude, and the effects of which are dangerous.

What are the major reasons? First world economies are financially well off to support farming. For example, they invest hugely in technology to produce high yielding crops and ensure great returns to farmers. This is not so in poor nations where the economy is poor and they have several other pressing priorities.

Secondly, poor nations are hugely populated, and they think that industrialization is the only way out to become rich. In fact, many nations try to get industrial at the cost of farming, whereas in rich economies, farming itself is highly industrialized. They understand that it is food security that leads to growth. If we juxtapose this with poor nations, all the needs and scope for farming notwithstanding, they stay still stay conventional in farming practices.

Coming to the effects, life will be very difficult. Prices will go through the roof, the nominal farming community will get exploited by market forces, and finally, the rich will be able to enjoy higher buying power at the expenses of the poor. Apart from all these, food insecurity will lead to social disharmony and there will be rich poor divide, ill-health, malnutrition and falling health indices, to mention a few.

Looking at the causes and effects, it is right to conclude that ignoring farm sector is suicidal, and poor economies need to take cues from the rich and ensure food seucurity. This is for the good and welfare of both the rich and poor.

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