On the face of it the development of new millet to counter the deficiency of Vitamin A among the natives of Tagus seems a brilliant step. However, there are series of assumptions and serious questions which needs to be answered before government decides to implement the policy advocated by international development organization.
First of all, it is mentioned that new breed of millet has been developed. The questions arise here are how this new millet breed has been developed? Is this specifically bred for Tagus's climatic and agricultural conditions or it is some generic breed which has not been tested in the agricultural conditions of Tagus. The assumption that, new breed will succeed in Tagus is a huge assumption. In case it fails to adapt it will be a monumental failure of huge proportions which could cost dearly to people in terms of food security and financial conditions.
Secondly, author assumes that new breed will have similar taste to the old breed. It is also a big assumptions, author has assumed people will have no issues in adapting to it. However, as we know humans they have specific tastes and liking towards certain grain types. It could well be the case that people of Tagus refuse to accept the taste of new breed of millet. Hence it would be prudent for the organization to first test the taste and culinary acceptance of new millet.
Thirdly, it is claimed that new breed will have higher content of Vitamin A while author fails to provide any information about the content of Vitamin A in existing breed. Testing out the contents of Vitamin A in both the breeds will make the situation much clearer and would be able to data evidence about which millet has more Vitamin A.
Fourthly, It is mentioned that organization wants seed subsidies for promotion of new millet breed. My question here would be, are there serious benefits arising from new millet for government to make the investment. Even if marginal gains are substantial in overcoming Vitamin A deficiency, these need to be demonstrated with data evidence that benefits overrule investment by some margin. Then only organization should raise discussion over seed subsidies. Also, we should explore, engaging government in seed production to reduce the cost rather than seeking subsidies.
To conclude, we must overcome all the assumptions and questions raised in prior discussion. Major being acceptability and adaptability of new breed in agro climatic conditions of Tagus. Along with, factual evidence of vitamin A content in both the breeds. Organization must also carry out mass checks about the taste acceptability of new millet and finally it must revisit the claim that government should provide seed subsidies by proposing studies information and analysis.
On the face of it the development of
new
millet to counter the deficiency of
Vitamin A
among the natives of Tagus seems a brilliant step.
However
, there are series of
assumptions
and serious
questions
which needs to
be answered
before
government
decides to implement the policy advocated by international development organization.
First of all
, it
is mentioned
that
new
breed
of millet has
been developed
. The
questions
arise here are how this
new
millet
breed
has
been developed
? Is this
specifically
bred for Tagus's climatic and agricultural conditions or it is
some
generic
breed
which has not been
tested
in the agricultural conditions of Tagus. The
assumption
that,
new
breed
will succeed in Tagus is a huge
assumption
. In case it fails to adapt it will be a monumental failure of huge proportions which could cost
dearly
to
people
in terms of food security and financial conditions.
Secondly
, author assumes that
new
breed
will have similar
taste
to the
old
breed
. It is
also
a
big
assumptions
, author has assumed
people
will have no issues in adapting to it.
However
, as we know humans they have specific
tastes
and liking towards certain grain types. It could well be the case that
people
of Tagus refuse to accept the
taste
of
new
breed
of millet.
Hence
it would be prudent for the
organization
to
first
test
the
taste
and culinary acceptance of
new
millet.
Thirdly
, it
is claimed
that
new
breed
will have higher
content
of
Vitamin A
while author fails to provide any information about the
content
of
Vitamin A
in existing
breed
. Testing out the contents of
Vitamin A
in both the
breeds
will
make
the situation much clearer and would be able to data evidence about which millet has more
Vitamin A
.
Fourthly
, It
is mentioned
that
organization
wants
seed
subsidies for promotion of
new
millet
breed
. My
question
here would be, are there serious benefits arising from
new
millet for
government
to
make
the investment. Even if marginal gains are substantial in overcoming
Vitamin A
deficiency, these need to
be demonstrated
with data evidence that benefits overrule investment by
some
margin. Then
only
organization
should raise discussion over
seed
subsidies.
Also
, we should explore, engaging
government
in
seed
production to
reduce
the cost
rather
than seeking subsidies.
To conclude
, we
must
overcome all the
assumptions
and
questions
raised in prior discussion. Major being acceptability and adaptability of
new
breed
in
agro
climatic conditions of Tagus. Along with, factual evidence of
vitamin
A
content
in both the
breeds
.
Organization
must
also
carry out mass
checks
about the
taste
acceptability of
new
millet and
finally
it
must
revisit the claim that
government
should provide
seed
subsidies by proposing studies information and analysis.