IMPACT OF THE AGREEMENT ON AGRICULTURE ON THE INDIAN ECONOMY
INDIAN AGRICULTURAL SCENARIO
Indian agriculture is characterised by a preponderant majority of small and marginal farmers holding less than two hectares of land, less than 35.7% of the land, is under any assured irrigation system and for the large majority of farmers, the gains from the application of the science & technology in agriculture are yet to be realised. Farmers, therefore, require support in terms of development of infrastructure as well as extension of improved technologies and provisions of requisite inputs at reasonable cost. India’s share of world’s agricultural trade is of the order of 1%. There is no doubt that during the last 30 years, Indian agriculture has grown at a reasonable pace, but with stagnant and declining net cropped area it is indeed going to be a formidable task to maintain the growth in agricultural production. The implications of the Agreement would thus have to be examined in the light of the food demand and supply situation. The size of the country, the level of overall development, balance of payments position, realistic future outlook for agricultural development, structure of land holdings etc. are the other relevant factors that would have a bearing on India’s trade policy in agriculture.
Implications of the Agreement on Agriculture for India should thus be gauged from the impact it will have on the following:
i) Whether the Agreement has opened up markets and facilitated exports of our products; and
ii) Whether we would be able to continue with our domestic policy aimed at improving infrastructure and provision of inputs at subsidised prices for achieving increased agricultural production.
AGREEMENT ON AGRICULTURE - HIGHLIGHTS
The Agreement ...