The two Joshis confronted each other at the concluding session of the Agro Advantatge Maharashtra Global Investors' Convention at Hotel Oberoi. Experts who attended the meet were full of praise for Sharad Joshi, but said they were disappointed by the chief minister's response to the points raised by the former.

Sharad Joshi's criticism has come at a crucial moment when Shiv Sena in an attempt to consolidate its political base has announced a series of sops for farmers. Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray speaking at a farmers' rally last evening had reiterated his promise of providing free electricity to farmers in Maharashtra.

Sharad Joshi, who was sarcastic throughout his speech, said he had stopped participating in such conventions because they don't yield anything. ``Why talk oftechnological inputs and improving infrastructure when all remunerative measures for farmers have been forgotten? All government policies have been designed to prevent farmers from making profits,'' he said.

Sharad Joshi accused the state as well as the union government for not providing product-specific positive subsidies. ``Had there been no intervention in the commodity market from the government, the producers would have been in a much better position. The Japanese, European and American farmers get positive subsidies, while the Indian farmer is burdened with 86 per cent negative subsidy. This means, an Indian farmer, on selling his product in the market gets Rs 100 instead of Rs 186,'' he added.

Sharad Joshi said farmers from Maharashtra do not need the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) or any government agency to promote agro-industry in the state. ``The farmers are capable of setting up industries on their own,'' he said.