Agriculture Investment in South Asia

Here is an article on agriculture investment in South Asia, published on SAWTEE's Trade Insight (Vol.7, No. 2, 2011) written by Ghintang Economics' own Shreesh Bhattarai. I have posted a brief paragraph from the article below. If you want to read the entire article please click here (PDF) and scroll down to page 27.

South Asian economies rely heavily on the agriculture sector. For instance, in 2000, the share of value added of agriculture in gross domestic product (GDP) was approximately 25 percent in South Asia. However, the region has seen a steady decline in this figure in the last decade. The share of value added of agriculture in GDP was only 18 percent in 2009. This is a result of structural changes as countries have transitioned into more manufacturing- and service-friendly economies. The agriculture sector has also been an important source of liveli- hood, especially for the poor, in South Asia. In 2008, it employed about 60 percent of the labour force in the region, contributing 22 percent of the regional GDP. 

Continue to read the entire article on page 27 of SAWTEE's Trade Insight.

"Demoting The King, Debating Dasai"

I wish I was in town to be able to attend this event--it sounds very interesting. Fulbright presentations are a good opportunity to learn about topics related to Nepal being conducted by Fulbright fellows. I was able to attend one when I was in Kathmandu this past summer presented by Ms. Kerry Brown--I must confess, I learned a lot about Newari Buddhism and the significance behind the various statues and temples around  Kathmandu valley.

Below you will find the  info sent to me by the Fulbright Forum about the upcoming presentation. The event is free and open to public, however, make sure to bring a photo identification with you. 

Please comment on this post and tell us more about the presentation and your experience if you attend the event. Thank you. 

Speaker -  Ms. Anne Mocko, Fulbright Alumnus

 

Date      -  Wednesday, October 12, 2011

 

Time      - 5:30 p.m.

 

Venue    - Fulbright Commission Auditorium, Gyaneshwor

 

 

Following the 2006 Janandolan, the Interim Government undertook a
program to dismantle Nepal's monarchy and transition the country from a
Hindu kingdom to a secular republic. This process was complex and plural,
and touched on issues ranging from the leadership of the army to the design
of banknotes. One of the most complex and contentious issues, however,
was the government's move to appropriate the king's ritual roles: the
performative, traditional, religious practices that had marked the king out
as a unique social actor.

One of the most interesting set of debates surrounded the Interim
Government's challenges to the king's celebration of Dasai, a debate which
required the state to untangle which of the rituals were the king's private
family traditions and which were national occasions. The debates over Dasai
during the Interim Period -- and the continuation of formerly-royal
practices during the post-Interim Period -- thus challenged the Interim Government's policy of ritual appropriation and replacement, and in the continuing context raise questions about the possibilities of retaining traditional practices in a context of institutional change.

Anne Mocko is a PhD candidate at the University of Chicago. She has been
researching and writing her dissertation, "Demoting Vishnu: Ritual, Politics, and the Unmaking of Nepal's Monarchy," since 2007. She was a Fulbright- Hays research fellow in Nepal for 2009-2010, and is back in Nepal for a brief follow-up research trip.

Who is Looking Out For You?

The Consumer Court that the government of Nepal is creating is a positive step towards a safe and fair business environment, which is crucial, not only for the safeguard of consumer rights, but also for a vibrant economy. Due to the very high (% of income) transaction costs for any consumer to bring a suit against a business, there has to be proactive government inspections for this program to succeed. I am sure that it will be a learning experience and many kinks will be ironed out as they come up.

All in all, I think it was high time Nepal had a system in place to protect the consumers. Let's just hope the body stays independent and doesn't get bought out by special interests!

शुभकामना!   

Happy Birthday!

It is exactly one year ago that we started Ghintang! In this past year we have been able to do quite a few things.We changed our name 3 times (Economist Jetha to Ghintang Economics to Ghintang) :) Changed the design of the website 2 times (I do not even want to think about the all-black background!).

We have (in this one year) been involved in 2 projects (all voluntary) with more in the pipeline. Ghintang is involved in a project to bring drinking water to a school in Mulghat, Koshi, Nepal. We are also assisting the deaf students in the school with supplies, blankets & pillows, and other personal items. The project, a joint venture with PTK Students and Rotary clubs of Kasthamandap and Fort Collins, will also renovate the hostel for the disabled children.

Then we brought the idea of Mr. Om Prakash Shrestha to life with Ghintang Dreams. Ghintang Dreams was able to renovate a barber shop of a local Kathmandu entrepreneur and provide him with support to make his business competitive.

I would like to thank all the volunteers, supporters, and well-wishers of Ghintang.Thank you! All this would not have been possible without you all.  
 
Let's pledge to do more for those less fortunate than us!
 
Sincerely,
 
Arthabeed.

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Someone recently asked me to explain the roller coaster in Wall-Street and other stock markets around the world. To tell you the truth, I find myself wondering the same thing as I watch "experts" on CNBC or  other financial talking heads on TV. "Markets went down because the Republicans blocked what the president offered," says one pundit, while another yells out (with crazy sounds one normally associates with a local fair) "no, the market is going down because the market does not like regulations and uncertainty." After listening to all the reasons ranging from economic issues in Ireland to Dick Cheney's book as possible causes of the ups and downs in the stock market, what is an economist to do? I just turn off the TV and walk away- opportunity cost of throwing the remote at it would be too high!

So, what is the main reason? Who knows? I told the person asking me the question "to go ask a psychologist!" They might have a better idea about animal spirits.

Then, I thought of this video from TED.

The Great Deception--Roshan Kissoon

Here is an article written by Mr. Roshan Kissoon, "a freelance journalist who lived in Nepal for two years working with the Maoists, first as an English teacher in the PLA camp in Chitwan, and then as a copy writer for the Nepal Maoist English journal 'The Red Star.'"  in its entirety. It is an interesting read. The article was sent to me by a friend and I have not been able to find an online link to it, yet. I will post the link as soon as I find it.

The Great Deception In Nepal

By Roshan Kissoon

06 September, 2011

A strange event has taken place in Nepal, in which the Maoists have assumed the leadership of the new government with a neo-liberal political and economic program. Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, leader of the rightist trend, is now Prime Minister. It is also strange that the Peoples Liberation Army has now handed over its weapons and will be disbanded, generously aided by various international donor agencies and the usual friends of peace. But most strange is the change in the Maoist leadership of Chairman Prachanda and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai since they entered the peace process.

Prachanda’s strange path

Chairman Prachanda and Dr. Bhattarai have gone from heroic revolutionary leaders to rather common high caste Brahmin politicians in expensive suits, watches and ties. They went from speeches about smashing the state and Cultural Revolution to promises about millennium development goals and private finance initiative. What happened?

Marxism-Leninism-Maoism-Prachanda Path was the official ideology of the Nepali Maoists, and was to be the union of the Soviet and Chinese models of revolution; the Maoist peoples war with Leninist urban insurrection. Prachanda Path was Maoism synthesised for Nepali conditions; Prachanda Path was said to be a zigzag path, one that goes from left to right to left to right to confuse the enemies and play them off against one another. So, the Maoists would play the royalists against the bourgeoisie and the bourgeoisie off against the royalists; play India off against China and China off against India, and then to play the UN off against the US. In the party itself, Prachanda would play the left winger Kiran against the right winger Bhattarai, one time supporting Kiran, another time Bhattarai, all the time advancing ahead. Prachanda was thought of as the master strategist, with a secret plan, and in some ways this is true. But Bhattarai is now the Prime Minister, and it is his line the party are following, as they have been since the end of the Peoples War.