In a way, the ASEAN agreement is a death knell to farmers of Kerala, who have till now been protected from global markets via subsidies and other sops provided by both the state and central governments. With the advent of this agreement, they have to come out of the protective blankets and prepare to fight the onslaught of regional and global competition.

 

For marginal farmers, this proves to be the end of their role as producers, forcing them to go for retail production for a larger firm or just end up as any other consumer. Under the existing conditions in Kerala, our farmers would require some more time, before they are prepared to enter into regional competition.

 

Sadly, CPI(M) is attempting to play politics with issue. They seem to be posing as messiahs against ASEAN and driving for a political mileage, instead of bringing out any solution. CPI(M) has managed similar shows earlier too; against de-linking of Pre-Degree from colleges, against world bank and ADB and against land mafias. However, these worthy issues are nt picked up when the political party comes into power in the state.

 

Therefore, CPI(M)'s making of human chain is just a political drama. Rather, they should make a concrete plan to save our people from the dangers of this opening-up agreement.