Down to Earth (2010)

By Sharad Joshi

India’s quantum jump in agricultural production in 1960s when it changed from a ‘basket-case’ in food grains into a net exporter has been a subject of universal amazement. A good part of the credit goes to the “green revolution” technology, the scientists who helped usher it in and the then political leadership. Green revolution technology meant higher cost of cultivation. This made the monsoon-dependent agriculture in India even more non-viable.

The agricultural policies of the government which had their origin in the war period made agriculture a losing proposition. Sharad Joshi and his farmers’ organisation Shetkari Sanghatana provided the economic analysis and the political muscle to overcome this situation. His thought represented several new paradigms which were opposed by most Indian economists and politicians until 1990s when the WTO negotiations provided substantial evidence of his thought.

This book, a compilation of his selected writings, relates to the relatively more recent issues in agricultural development. To order write to : academic@vsnl.com

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