United by a simple nut

I travelled the length, if not the breadth, of this amazing country over the past two weeks. While the news continues to be dominated by stories of our political paralysis, and now the slowdown of economic growth to 5 1/2%, the on the ground business stories continue to be amazing. 
Blazing hot and arid Rajasthan is on the cusp of an economic boom. Oil had been found, there are solar power projects and wind energy projects coming up, all of which combined will make the state a net supplier of energy to the rest of the country. 
One of the State's principal export commodities, guar gum, used in the oil and gas industry as a drilling  lubricant, has seen a twenty fold increase in value over the past three years!
Amazing deserts in both Jaipur and Jodhpur. Janta Sweets. 
Rajasthan grows a crop called isapgol, rich in fibre. The isapgol fibre is exported to Europe where it is inserted into wheat prior to bread production. Wheat's own fibre is extracted and put into baby food, where it fetches a higher price!

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