In many ways independence from colonial rule in 1947 marked the beginning of a new phase in the history of Indian agriculture. Having evolved out of a long struggle against colonial rule with the participation of the people from various social categories, the Indian state also took over the task of supervising the transformation of its stagnant and backward economy to make sure that the benefits of evonomic growth were not monopolized by a particular section of society. It is with this background that development emerged as a strategy of economic change and an ideology of the new regime.

Covering a wide range of issues crucial to the very survival of millions of the world's poor, this forcefully argued volume constitutes an important contribution to on-going debates. It will attract the attention of all those-particularly students, schoolars and activists-who are interested in agricultural economy, the impact of globalisation, food security, the environment, and development issues.