Globalization And Indian Agriculture: Future Assessment?

India is an Agricultural country. India’s main source of income is agriculture. Being a member of W. T. O. and under the influence of Globalization, India adopted the provisions of the Agreement on Agriculture (AOA). The ‘Human Development in South Asia 2002: Agriculture & Rural Development report’ reveals that the real challenge before the region is to build a system of agriculture and rural development that is both growth oriented and human centered. As per Mahbub-ul-haq, compiler of report, human development and economy are linked with each other intrinsically.[1] Human development can only be achieved through the equitable distribution of the benefits of economic growth among the people.[2] Human development report 2002 draws a few logical conclusions: -[3]
High levels of human development cannot be achieved, if, development priorities do not focus on the occupation of the majority of the people, that is, farm and non-farm employment, and where they live that is, rural areas.

The focus of the policies for food security is on the “welfare” of the people instead of their “empowerment”. The availability of and access to food must have close association with the people’s purchasing power.

The region’s agriculture is facing cultivable land constraints and the negative consequences of over-dependence on chemical inputs; future agriculture productivity increases must come from an advancement of agricultural research, technology and extension services.

Small farms should be the center of the revival of agriculture and rural development. The incentive system that is being offered to corporate farming in South Asia should not be at the expense of the vast majority of the rural populace.

South Asian Agriculture marketing and trading systems have not been effective and efficient owing to both internal constraints and an inequitable external trading environment. In Kerala, the A. K. Antony government set up a commission on W. T. O concern in Agriculture in 2001. Primary aim of this commission is to search new opportunities out of W.T.O regulated trading system, which is “inherently asymmetric in its impact. The experience of the last eight years has shown that the W.T.O. has no visible agenda for resource poor farming families-----. It is clear that the AOA needs to be redesigned on a pro-poor, pro-small farmer, pro-livelihoods and pro-environment framework.”[4] Commission has made 19 specific recommendations for Kerala. To promote Trade and Intellectual Property Rights literacy is one of the most important recommendations made by the commission. Agriculture is proving to be the principal bottleneck for those within and outside the World Trade Organization (W.T.O) trying to push through a new international trade agreement.[5] The Cairns group of exporting countries (Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Costa-Rica, Guatemala, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Paraguay, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Uruguay) has proposed an efficient agenda of liberalization in the agricultural area. Through “Swiss Formula”, they proposed to reduce Tariffs sharply. According to ‘Swiss Formula’ the larger the proportionate reduction in the tariff rate, the higher is the bound or applied tariff in a country.[6] Now the problem, which crop is that under the W.T.O regime there is no scope for welfare of the farmers. W.T.O. is strictly Business oriented Organization. An immediate result of this type of International Rural Politics is that close to half of rural families have gained very little from the process of planned development all the rhetoric about the commitment of the state and polity to the cause of the poor.

Indian agriculture is suffering the most under these W.T.O regulations because our emphasis is on the industrial sector. But the ground reality is that India is much suited for the agricultural reforms. The cut is farm subsidies are surely going to affect the farmers. Now the problem is that India actually adopts these policies under the pressure of W.T.O. The era of giving subsidies of benefits to the individuals is over. The W.T.O regulations have wiggled the traditional web of Indian welfare model. Therefore, the development of infrastructure is the first important step, which should be taken by the Indian policy makers.


Social Justice, Human Rights Vs. Market Friendly Economic Policy


Human Rights are more than legal concepts: they are the essence of the man. They are what make man human… Deny them and you deny man’s humanity.[7] A decade back, we have a different traditional concept of human rights. There we have violations of human rights by the Police persons, Military officials, and Terrorists etc. Now with these traditional violators of human rights, we have certain other deadliest partners too. The advent of Globalization and privatization add certain intriguing causes, which are violating human rights quite consistently in developing countries under the umbrella of W.T.O. Within the past few years, the world has witnessed numerous changes. The major change was the upcoming of MNC’S and Trans-National Corporations at the upfront.

The term ‘health’ signifies more than absence of sickness.[8] In the words of Steinbeck[9] the fields were fruitful, starving men moved on the roads. The granaries were full and the children of the poor grew up rachitic, and the pustules of pellagra swelled on their side. The great companies did not know that the line between hunger and anger is a thin line. Life in good health and free from disease is the foremost human right. Supreme Court[10] in a case observed that the right to health is an integral facet of meaningful right to life, to have not only a meaningful existence but also robust health and vigour without which worker would live life of misery; lack of health denudes livelihood. Health is the very basic of development. Due to the advent of MNC’S the rich is becoming richer and the poor is becoming poorer. The right to health is hampered by the TRIPs. Multinational Corporations (MNC’S) having no soul and working strictly on the one ground of accumulating capital have no concern for the health of the masses. Environmental pollution, ecological destruction, human rights violations, etc. have no concern for the MNC’S. Monopolies are market-friendly and morality-deadly. When a few corporations control the access to markets, there is very little to prevent them from manipulating the market to maximize profits, forcing prices down to buy up the commodity cheap from producers and then pushing them up so as to unload at a nice profit.[11] The ‘Humanistic jurisprudence’, has nothing to do in a corporate society. Our Republic, with an ancient composite culture and modern socialist texture, suffered a value torture in the 90s of the 20th century. Socialism slumbered in the constitution; secularism slowly lost its vigour and recolonisation ‘red in tooth and claw’ pressured the mughals in Delhi to abandon the marvellous values of humanism and compassion and substitute them with globalization, liberalization, privatization and marketisation.[12]

The constitution of India made India an egalitarian country. We consider an existing income distribution relatively egalitarian when the differences between the highest and lowest incomes are relatively small. To restructure the social order of India by giving egalitarian direction is to fulfill the spiritual mission of Marx and Mahatma. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi,” Working for economic equality means abolishing the eternal conflict between capital and labour. It means the leveling down of the few rich in shoes hands is concentrated the bulk of the nation’s wealth on the one hand, and the leveling up of the semi-starved, naked millions on the other. A non-violent system of government is clearly impossibility so long as the wide gulf between the rich and the hungry millions persists. The contrast between the palaces of New Delhi and the miserable hovels of the poor labouring class nearby cannot last one day in a free India in which the poor will enjoy the same power as the richest in the land. A violent revolution and bloody revolution is a certainty one day, unless there is a voluntary abdication of riches and the power that riches give and sharing them for the common good.[13] Social Justice has an intrinsic value and a missionary message for the developing country like India. The Constitution was to foster the achievement of many goals; transcendent among them was that of social revolution. Through this revolution fulfilled the basic needs of the common man, and, it was hoped, this revolution would bring about fundamental changes in the structure of Indian society- a society with a long and glorious cultural tradition, but greatly in need, Assembly members believed, of a powerful infusion of energy and nationalism. The theme of social revolution runs throughout the proceedings and documents of the Assembly.[14] The ultimate thing is that we have to go with the W.T.O, if we have to survive in this global world. Below we will see how can we sustain ourselves.


India under Globalization, Is there any Future?


Do not find fault find remedy. There are at present 142 members in the W.T.O. what is needed is to evolve an appropriate framework to wrest maximum benefits out of international trade and investment. This framework should include (a) making explicit the list of demands that India would like to make on the multilateral trade system, (b) measures that rich countries should be required to undertake to enable developing countries to gain more from international trade, and (c) steps that India should take to realize the full potential from globalization.[15]

To get the fruits of globalization is not a tough task at all. We have to maintain a healthy environment in which both (MNC’S and local companies) will survive in a proper way. The only requirement is to build a state of the art infrastructure. W.T.O has given ample time to the developing countries to comply with the requirements of the W.T.O regulations. Though India to an extent fulfilled the requirements of W.T.O still a lot is required to do. In the words of Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer,” the deeper diagnosis of the sinister syndrome of dastardly contradictions is easy and uneasy.’ Boneless wonders’ in political office, under pressure from the North, are in power as proxies of the M.N.C.- IMF. - World Bank Axis! Swadeshi is dead, socialism is bete noire, the Barabasque Order is in Command and Jesus is on the Cross? The middle class, under the circean spell of foreign life style, is collaborating in this echelons are tending to be M.N.C. limpets. Courts are casinos, dockets are log-jammed and litigation is pauperization. Where is hope?”[16] Therefore, the problem is not without but within. The flexible and boneless politicians of India are only involved in the game of coalition politics.

The Indian economy is going on target. Though the profound psychology of the public is against the phenomenon of globalization as such. The reason may be the very fact that media is reluctant to accept the ever increasing globalization. Journalists are often mere messengers of news and views to brainwash the public and fail to convey the great message needed for the people. Will our rulers trade our freedom in the guise of free Trade? The time to protest is late. Mark Twain holds good for the Indian intelligentsia: It is by the goodness of the God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practise either of them. (Oxford quotations P: 554-557)[17]

The entrance of globalization in India proved good for us. Now even Indian companies become conscious of the fact that they have to not only manufacture the quality products but also have to control the prices of the products too. This proves beneficial for the consumers because they are getting superior goods at the cheaper price. Truly, “thoughts are things,” and powerful things are that, when they are mixed with definiteness of purpose, persistence, and a burning desire for their translation into material desires. Opportunity has a sly habit of slipping in by the back door, and often it comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat. Perhaps this must be the reason why India fails to capitalize the opportunity of developing one self.

India must use all its sources to utilize the resources we have. Infrastructure must be modernized with immediate effect. A committee will be organize with the scholars and professionals to look after the reforms require in the infrastructure of the country. With the help of organized planning we can crystallized our desire of a strongest economy of the world. Success requires no explanations and a failure permits no alibis. Now we are living in the global world and we have to develop ourselves so as to compete with the world economy.

India now being the member of number of International Conventions and Treaties is in a better position to utilize the benefits of transfer of technologies. Development is human right, not an elite luxury.[18] There is no achievement without preparation. India should prepare herself for the globalization. There is no other way out. Global finance, which is highly mobile, does not move with the purpose of “development” but on the strength of “conditionalities”. We have to use this highly mobile money according to our own norms. The adoption of NEP was a good step towards development. But unless the public sector moves out of the control of politicians and bureaucracy sitting on the revolving chairs, with short tenures and hence little commitment to the enterprise there is no hope for an improved performance from the public sector.[19] We can utilize the benefits of this buzzword globalization only when a state regulated Market Economy will come forward. Retreat of the state is not the ideal condition infact this thin line between the liberalization and the state must be broadened so as to put India in to the driver seat of the World Economy. Organized planning is the need of the hour. Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement.[20] Indian Economy is no more bounded in red tapism as such; it also opened its feathers to touch the limits of the sky.

Now we have to think positive and made our infrastructure capable enough and flexible to the extent so that we can accommodate foreign giants in India too but on our norms and regulations. We have to apply the real meaning of the term “development”. The concept of justice as fairness must be seen in a broader perspective. Where on the one hand the social and economic justice required perspective reorientation, on the other hand implementation of the Liberalization needs total commitment from the citizens of India as a whole.


Jurisprudence that matters


Today is the time to rethink on the application of the principles of jurisprudence in the developing countries like India, where the situation and conditions are totally different from the countries who gives the science of jurisprudence. The need of the hour is to have something totally new and indigenous so as to suit to the needs of the country.
The new principles of jurisprudence are necessary to cooperate with the changing times. The present time demands a science of the Global World. Now the world is becoming a global village. And beyond that, the age-old application of jurisprudence principles has no use here. The concept of sovereignty needs refreshment. Rawls theory of distributive justice needs a broader base application, much beyond the boundaries of the nation.

The countries like India need a constructive solution from jurisprudence. First of all, we have to identify the problem areas of the economy. Secondly, we have to collect the alternatives available to us. Thirdly, we have to make a systematic list of best possible alternatives. Fourthly, close scrutiny of the best possible alternatives should be done, and Fifthly, if the alternatives are not available than go for an indigenous approach towards it.


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Notes

*Jasper Vikas George, Advocate, Delhi High Court, Res. 69, Antriksha Apartments, H-3, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018, Office:- G-2/2, Ground Floor, Sector-16, Rohini, New Delhi-110085, (M) 9818821498.

1. Mohammad Shehzad, The South Asian Paradox, p.80, Frontline, February 14, 2002.

2. Mohammad Shehzad ibid, p.80.

3. Mohammad Shehzad ibid, p.80.

4. Parvathi Menon, Guidelines for trade bargains p. 81, Frontline, Feburary14, 2003.

5. C. P. Chandrasekhar, The agricultural trade imbroglio. P. 113, Frontline, February 14, 2003.

6. C.P.Chandrasekhar, ibid. p. 113
Jose W.Diokono Philippines.
7. CESC Ltd. V. Subash Chandra Bose, AIR 1992 SC 573,585.

8. The Pocket Book of Quotations p. 144.

9. Consumer Education And Research Centre v. Union of India AIR 1995 SC 922

10. Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, Off the Bench, p.152, Quoted from ‘Food First’.

11. Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, Off the Bench. P. 52

12. M.K.Gandhi: Socialism of My Conception, Gandhi Series edited by Anand T. Hingorani, Bhartiya Vidha Bhavan Publication, p.38-39 & 276-277.

13. Granville Austin, The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone Of A Nation, Oxford UniversityPress, 1966,p.51

14. C. Rangarajan, Globalization: concepts and concerns-II, The Hindu, January 7, 2003, p. 10.

15. Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer, Off the Bench p., Universal Law PublishingCo.Pvt.Ltd.

16. Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer, Off the Bench, p. 113, Universal Law Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.

17. Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer, Off the Bench, P 392, Universal Law Publishing Co.Pvt. Ltd.

18. S.L.Rao, Muddling Along Modesty, p. 39-42.

19. Napoleon Hill & W.Clement Stone, Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude