Remember those idioms we were all told as children? They were short and wise and could be interpreted in multiple ways. And, there was a lesson for everyone.
This farmer here has the potential to become an idiom for Indian agriculture. He is a rare farmer who has made windfall profits, 2.8 crores so far, from rising prices. So, what does he tell us?
1. Do we see a smart farmer who saw an opportunity and cashed in? Do we celebrate him like we celebrate angel investor exits or stock market heroes or a bitcoin miner?
Is he someone who is lucky to have been at the right place at the right time? He will do a few rounds of conferences and a few video interviews and then quickly forgotten?
2. Or, do we see him as the hardworking ant who toiled and toiled for years until his moment came? The ant and the farmer both benefitting from the rains is an added parallel.
Do we go and tell farmers that keep working and your moment will come?
3. Or, do we see him as an opportunistic profiteer? A problem that needs to be addressed? Is he any different from the villainised middlemen who laugh their way to the banks while innocent customers survive on ketchup?
The govt is already launching price control measures. Would you cheer if there is a income tax raid at his house?
4. Or, is he a sign of a bigger, systemic failure? Is he telling us that we need more decentralised storage? But then who owns that stored produce? Who should rightfully profit when the price soars? Alternately, who should bear the losses when prices fall?
I have no lessons to give here. An idiom should mean different things to different people. You decide your takeaway.
