Agricultural Development with a Human Face-Experiences and Prospects

Experiences and Prospects V M Rao Over the past few decades, the Indian agriculture has had remarkable technological changes and there is promise of arrival of even more sophisticated technologies in the years to come. The sector is also believed to have a wide range of commodities enjoying comparative advantage in international trade. Despite these favourable features, the sector is described by many as having become 'a parking lot for the poor' over the planning decades. Does this paradox hold any lessons for the future agricultural policies? Does the hindsight suggest how India may improve its performance in the fieId of human development? The purpose of this paper is to probe these questions.