Business Information India and Tamil Nadu state
Large Population and Social Injustice
India has an area of approximately 3.3 million km2, which is over seven times that of Sweden land area, or just under one third of the surface area of the U.S. America has 300 million inhabitants, whereas India has about 1200 million inhabitants, which means an average of over 350 persons/km2. Approximately 300 million Indians (27% in 2005) live below the poverty level, and approximately 300 million live with high economic standards comparable to wealthy Europeans and Americans. The tremendous economic growth that the country has experienced in recent years (about 10% increase per year) has resulted in the growth of a consumer middle class, but the poorly trained members of the rural communities are left behind. Much of the rural population is forced to relocate to the cities in search of work. Most of them end up in slums or working under oppressive conditions in India's textile industry.
India is still considered low-income, due to the large masses of population that are poor and the low average per capita income.
Poverty, social injustice, degradation of soil and inadequate water supplies are major problems. The tradition of the country's caste system further exacerbates these complex issues. There is continued discrimination against women and untouchables. Tamil Nadu is a relatively stable state, not being one of the poorest states, it is to relatively safe in terms of crime and other disturbances.
Agriculture in India
India has a historic legacy of the British Empire when monoculture was introduced. During the 1960’s, the Green Revolution was introduced of the Indian state and multinational agroföretag. This has meant an increased use of pesticides, fertilizers and GMO seeds, which has led to a serious degradation of the earth, and the loss of thousands of species. Multinational companies dominate and control the market, threatening the status of small family farms. Through the launch of non-reproducing seeds and tailor-made chemicals, many farmers to fall into debt traps, these in conjunction with many other things push many to commit suicide. Across the country takes place in a tragedy accelerated pace. However, there is an active grassroots movement spread across the country, who seek to counter this downward spiral.
In southern India, large areas are becoming desert. As in so many other parts of the world, logging for valuable timber has resulted in deforestation. The thinner and fewer trees have since been felled for firewood, and later, to make grazing land for cows and goats, until finally only those plants that can protect themselves with thorns are left. When the trees are gone the soil cannot retain its humidity, and drought depletes the vegetation even more. Groundwater decline and are down to 200-300 meters deep in many places. Because climate change will rain for short periods than before, and once it rains, so storms are so violent that the earth being washed away. The entire annual rainfall may occur during a few days in a period of a couple of months. The soil is hard and rocky and can no longer infiltrate the water raining down.