What lessons can India draw from global agricultural trade practices to ensure a level playing field for domestic producers? Comment.

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Global Agricultural Trade Practices and Lessons for India

India’s agricultural sector faces stiff competition from global markets where subsidies, tariff protections, and export incentives are prevalent. Developed nations like the U.S. and EU provide significant support to their farmers, allowing them to export at lower prices, often impacting developing countries’ domestic markets.

Key Lessons for India:

Policy and Support Alignment: Rationalise MSP and income support schemes in a WTO-compliant manner to shield farmers without inviting trade disputes.
Infrastructure and Technology: Enhance irrigation, mechanisation, cold-chain, and agro-processing to improve productivity and reduce post-harvest losses.
Market Diversification: Promote exports through free trade agreements and explore emerging markets to reduce dependency on a few countries.
Farmer Collectives: Strengthen FPOs to improve scale, bargaining power, and access to global supply chains.
Standards and Digitalisation: Align with global quality norms and provide market intelligence for price responsiveness.

These measures can ensure a more level playing field for domestic producers while integrating India into global trade.

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