•Saubhik Chakrabarti has done an excellent job analysing the causes of failure for Indian agriculture (‘Capitalism for kisan’, IE, August 13). It has been the case that when government attempts to safeguard the interests of Indian consumers, it consequently reaps benefits from farmers. There is an obvious contrast between the practices in Europe and those in India; for instance, the benefits of value addition for a corn producer in Europe through MNCs are still a dream for Indian farmers. Further, there’s a lack of empirical evidence substantiating a direct correlation between agriculture and economic growth. Hence the case for subsidies is weaker in developing economies.

— Shishir Sindekar Nasik

Systemic overhaul

•Sixty two years after Independence, Indian agriculture remains a gamble. Even though agriculture constitutes an important part of our economy, when the monsoons are erratic one comes across the usual knee-jerk reaction from the government. Our officialdom entices the farming community through the minimum support price rather than a sound rural infrastructure policy. This usually fails to match output with demand. Soil conservation and rain-water harvesting rarely get adequate attention. The Centre should seriously engage in overhauling its agriculture policy rather than plugging the holes. A macro focus on farming is urgently required.

— M.K.D. Prasada Rao

Ghaziabad

Check details

•The devil’s in the detail as far as the tax reforms proposals go (‘Unveiled: map for radical reforms...’, IE, August 13). It might seem at the moment that long-term tax on equity would return, neutralising tax benefits on transaction tax. Savings would be taxed on withdrawal — a big negative for retirees. Many tax concessions and rebates would go and we’ll end up paying more than before despite lower rates and the slab being raised. There’s a long way to go before the proposals become law. Nevertheless, the government is right in putting them up for public debate well in advance.

... contd.