Trade Liberalization and Indian Agriculture

Book Details:

• Author: Seema Bathla

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2011

• ISBN: 9788131603932

• Pages: 304

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches

About the Book

India’s economic reforms and the Structural Adjustment Programme of 1991 marked a turning point for the agricultural sector, especially in the context of globalization and liberalization. With the formation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the implementation of multilateral trade rules under the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture, new challenges and opportunities emerged for Indian agriculture.

This book critically analyzes how trade liberalization, globalization strategies, macroeconomic reforms, and sector-specific policy shifts have impacted relative prices, investment levels, exports, imports, and producer incentives. It delves into the resilience of Indian agriculture against global price fluctuations and investigates the magnitude of the sector’s response to liberalization.

Using empirical models, the study presents detailed comparisons between pre- and post-liberalization periods, offering insights into the effectiveness of existing policy measures and exploring avenues to cushion the sector from potential shocks in a free trade regime. It emphasizes maintaining an incentive structure conducive to output and export growth, even amidst global volatility.

Ideal for researchers, students, policy analysts, and those interested in agricultural economics, international trade, and development policy, this book provides a rigorous academic foundation paired with practical implications for India’s agrarian future.

About the Author

Dr. Seema Bathla is an Associate Professor at the Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. With an M.Phil from Delhi School of Economics and a Ph.D. from JNU, her academic and research credentials are well-established. She has previously worked with the Institute of Economic Growth and TERI, and authored numerous research papers in leading national and international journals.

Dr. Bathla has contributed to projects for organizations such as UNCTAD, WWF-India, JAICAF, and IASRI. She was awarded the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Award for Outstanding Post-Graduate Agricultural Research by ICAR in 2009 for her doctoral work. Her work stands at the intersection of economics, policy, and sustainable agricultural development.