Agriculture has consistently and for long been recognized as basic to India’s economic, social, political and cultural fabric. And yet, even as the twin processes of globalization and liberalization are shaping a new system of international economic relations and providing increased opportunities for growth and development, the ability of developing

countries like India to make a serious impact on rural poverty has remained weak. On the contrary, the vulnerability of developing countries (and by their major corporates which dominate world agricultural markets) has increased.
This is not surprising. The malaise of high distortions and protectionist barriers that characterize the global