[Peakoil] INDIA: Growing a grain crisis

[Antony Barry]

Peakers

Note the comment about the transport costs. Remember that large scale  
agriculture needs vast amounts of fossil fuel.

INDIA: Growing a grain crisis

Source: Asia Times

"The Indian economy, cruising smartly at an 8.4% annual growth rate,  
has suffered a worrying bump with a food-grain shortage that has led  
to the government confirming plans to import more than 3 million tons  
of wheat. Buffer stocks are down now to 18 million tons, with  
granaries likely to become emptier as more farmers shift to more  
profitable cash crops.

The Indian government has allowed private firms for the first time to  
import wheat, but the import move itself has met with expected  
grumbles. The government is paying $21.3 per quintal for imported  
wheat, while domestic farmers are only paid $15. But the difference  
in cost is attributed to the huge amount of money needed to transport  
wheat from one part of India to another."

Full article: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HG21Df01.html

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