Europe’s Farmers

Our March 24 report on European farmers' embrace of globalization elicited mixed reader responses. One reader agreed: "There's a new wave of entrepreneurial spirit among farmers." Another objected to José Bové on the cover: "He does not belong." A third wrote, "The topic is out of scope now."

Incomes in Taiwan
In the article "Why Anger The Dragon?" (March 24), you state that Taiwan's incomes have been stagnant and inflation has been on the rise during the Democratic Progressive Party's era. This deserves a reality check. Taiwan's per capita GDP has grown from US$13,093 in 2001 to an estimated $18,042 in 2008. That is a 38 percent increase. Since the DPP came to power in May 2000, inflation has been well capped at 2 percent, averaging less than 1 percent from 2001 to 2007. Perceptions are often misleading, but economic statistics come in handy for substantiation.
Rong-I Wu
CHAIRMAN, Taiwan Stock Exchange
Taipei, Taiwan

Forget José Bové!
As a subscriber to your European Edition, I find that your cover stories are often not about issues that are discussed in the general news scene. The cover story "Where Is José Bové?" (March 24) is a good example. Even though there is a big economic crisis all over the world (in the aftermath of the Bear Stearns crash), turmoil in Tibet and even many headline stories out of the United States (Eliot Spitzer's affair, Barack Obama's pastor), you are focusing on a topic that seems totally out of scope at this time.
Thomas Moller
Via Internet

It is true, as explained in your article, that many European farmers are adapting to the latest local and foreign market trends, as farmers have always done. But putting José Bové on your March 24 cover is giving him far too much credit. In my own and in other farming communities that I know throughout Europe, he just does not belong.
Bruno van de Walle
Traimont, Belgium

Regarding your article about Europe's farmers and their embrace of market forces, I agree that there is a new wave of entrepreneurial spirit among farmers. I'd like to point out that Spanish farmers are included in this wave and are rising to meet the demands of consumers, resulting in more-sustainable farming practices. In the Spanish region of Andalusia, which is one of Europe's biggest exporters of fresh produce, Hortyfruta represents 20,000 farmers who have come together to rapidly adopt "clean farming" methods, which introduce indigenous insects to an area to combat insect plagues that damage crops instead of using pesticides. The result is higher yields and superior-quality produce that is healthier for consumers and better for the environment. This would not be possible without the effort of the Hortyfruta members: producers, traders and unions; and also, in the initial phase, the support of regional government funding that permits the rapid adoption of competitive practices and sustainable farming methods.
Maria Jose Pardo Losilla
General Manager, Hortyfruta
Almeria, Spain

Racial Politics in Malaysia
Your article about Malaysia's recent political development was interesting ("Back in the Light," March 24). Having lived in Malaysia, my observations about racial discrimination or racial tension in that country are different from the one your writers gave. Malaysia's racial politics are unique. Its tolerant, forward-looking, modern society makes the country a favorite place of tourists in Asia. Of course, there are underprivileged people in Malaysia as anywhere else in the world. But the three main races—Malays, Chinese and Indians—have many commonalities even though they speak different languages and practice different religions. Everyone speaks Bahasa Malaysia and, informally, Manglish (Malaysian English). Everyone is food-savvy and, as for politics, people rejected the current ruling party and elected the opposition in some states. But it is still too early to say whether the newly elected governments, which usually sit in the opposition, will deliver what Malaysians really want.
Suresh Kumar Parappurath
Bangalore, India