Thoughts on #PunjabFarmers protests, Modi's #FarmBills
1. The protests and the bind that Mr Modi finds himself in are entirely of his own making. Had he followed the standard procedure for bringing in such a huge change - he might have got his way with a better policy.

The SOP is first to publish a #WhitePaper on #AgriReforms. This would have set out the problems facing Indian agricuture (productivity, waste, environmental damage) and the plight of the rural poor(hunger, food and income security, not enough non-farming jobs).

Then the White Paper would have laid out the options: market development, the role of subsidies, guaranteed state purchases at MSP, contract farming, mechanisation, larhge farm co-operatives. Each would have been subjected to economic and social impact analysis.

Informed debate in State Legislatures and Parliament select committees would have allowed a range of political views to be espressed and considered. Informed TV debates might have helped. Out of this would have emerged a clearer consensus.

We might have agreed that One Nation One Law was wrong for a country that is almost a continent. We might have come to the idea of a national legal framework with options for States to opt in or out. Sensible proposals might have emreged to deal with problems and fears.

Fears such as Monopsony purchasers, market failures, how to deal with crop failures and droughts, the balance between markets, regulatory structures and political institutions.

Had this orderly and sensible process been followed then India might have ahd a sensible new arrangements that over the years would have led to a great reform of agriculture and farming, instead of the shambles we see now.