WTO and Indian Agriculture: Opportunities, Problems and Challenges (Set of 3 Volumes)

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WTO was established to promote free and fair trade among the major trading nations of the world. Technology. training, techno-infrastructure and trade are four important pillars of sustainable agriculture. The Marakesh Agreement which led to the birth of WTO, has proved to be an instrument for regularizing the very heavy subsidies given to farmers by industrialized countries through their inclusion in the green and blue box provisions. The Doha round of negotiations is therefore experiencing serious differences of opinion between industrialized and developing countries with reference to the provisions essential for safeguarding the livelihoods security of small and marginal farmers.

The present book has been divided into three parts, dealt with great clarity, the various implications of farm exports and imports for the well being of farmers as well as the Indian economy as a whole. The book deals with the multi-faceted dimensions of Indian agriculture and our relationships with WTO. For this book "WTO AND INDIAN AGRICULTURE more than 70 papers have been contributed by eminent professors, researchers, academicians and practitioners. The book is a must for all interested in the future of Indian agriculture, our food security, the livelihood security of the farmers and the welfare of the consumers. This books also would be quite useful for policy makers, researchers, Academicians etc.

RAIS AHMAD (b. 1958), M.Com., Ph.D. and FDPM (IIM-Ahmedabad), Chairman, Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, worked as Professor in Management Studies for one year during 2005- 2006 at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi as well as Visiting Professor in MBA (Executive Programme), Faculty of Engineering and Technology, during the same period.

He has guided/guiding PG Research Projects and doctoral theses. He is a keen researcher and has published a good number of research papers/articles in professional journals of repute and also published Eight books. Presently he is engaged in doing UGC major research project on Micro-finance.

WTO was established to promote free and fair trade among the major trading nations of the world. Technology. training, techno-infrastructure and trade are four important pillars of sustainable agriculture Ultimately opportunities for assured and remunerative marketing provide the motivation necessary for small farmers to enhance the productivity and profitability of their farms. The Marakesh Agreement which led to the birth of WTO, has proved to be an instrument for regularizing the very heavy subsidies given to farmers by industrialized countries through their inclusion in the green and blue box provisions The Doha round of negotiations is therefore experiencing serious differences of opinion between industrialized and developing countries with reference to the provisions essential for safeguarding the livelihoods security of small and marginal farmers.

In industrialized countries, hardly two to three per cent of the population is engaged in agriculture In contrast, nearly sixty per cent of our population of 1.1 billion depend up on crop and animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry and agro-processing for their work and income security. Therefore agriculture is not just a food producing machine but it is the backbone of the livelihood security system for a very large proportion of our population The present book has dealt with great clarity, the various implications of farm exports and imports for the well being of farmers as well as the Indian economy as a whole. The book deals with the multi-faceted dimensions of Indian agriculture and our relationships with WTO The positive and negative aspects of WTO regulations starting with the Urguay Round Agreement and extending upto the present day have been brought up very clearly For this book "WTO AND INDIAN AGRICULTURE more than 70 papers have been contributed by eminent professors, researchers, academicians and practitioners. The book is a must for all interested in the future of Indian agriculture, our food security, the livelihood security of the farmers and the welfare of the consumers. It will help to promote enlightened decision making in international negotiations.

The Marakesh World Trade Agreement (1994) was the starting point of a new Global Trade Order, designed to promote fair and free trade among all nations of the world. From historic times, trade has been a major catalyst both of global partnerships and conflicts Before the Marakesh Agreement, agriculture was not included in global trade discussions. Experience in the implementation of the Marakesh Agreement has shown that while trade is tending to become free, it is not becoming fair to developing countries. Industrialized countries are still extending trade distorting support to their farmers under the provisions of the green, blue and amber boxes.

Among other new developments as a result of the emergence of a World Trade Organization, are the needs to adopt legislation for protecting Intellectual Property Rights and for strengthening the sanitary and phytosantary measures. The ongoing Doha Round of negotiations, will presumably result in a more equitable and ethical World Trade Order. Already the principle of compulsory licensing of Rights has been agreed to in the case of drugs for HIV-AIDS, so that those affected by this deadly disease have economic access to the needed drugs. It is obvious that this concept should be extended to all discoveries which have a bearing on human health and food security so that there is social inclusion in access to relevant technologies.

India is yet to strengthen its sanitary and phyto-sanitary infrastructure. There is also need for quality literacy based on codex alimentarius standards of food safety. Fortunately the information and communication tools now available can help to spread trade, quality and legal literacy in our villages The ongoing Gyaan Chaupal and e-Chaupal movements can make a great contribution to spreading information on trade in a globalised world at the right time and place.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages