IMPLICATIONS OF WTO ON INDIAN AGRICULTURE: THE CASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND EMERGING BIOSAFETY PROTOCOL

Globalisation in trade and investment through harmonisation of national laws, particularly dealing with intellectual property rights is one of the major impacts of GATT/WTO. The contribution of knowledge as a factor of production is being increasingly given central importance in economic development. The tension between public need and private control that will mount the first challenge. The conflict between chemical intensive agriculture (despite declining productivity of inputs) and the non-chemical sustainable technological innovations generated by farmers as well as firms (national or international) will pose second challenge. The increasing trend towards larger areas under fewer varieties and the need for food security through diversified biological systems will be the third source of conflicts. Production, protection, commercialisation and incorporation of intellectual property in development of national developmental strategies, will be crucial in defining the role India will play in world markets on one hand and overcoming deprivation and hunger with in the country on the other. The strategy proposed is aimed at making Indian agriculture not only globally more competitive but also domestically more progressive by using knowledge as a strategic resource so that agriculture sustains livelihoods of millions of households dependent upon it in a