World Trade Organization (WTO) has developed certain provisions related to agricultural sector to help in regulate trade between nations. With the advent of WTO and its provisions in agriculture bring many opportunities and put many serious challenges as well. To evaluate the opinion of the researchers regarding to globalization of agriculture and WTO, the study was conducted in the research institutes and organizations belong to ICAR, and located in Pusa Campus, New Delhi. A total sample of 120 consisting of Principal Scientists (PS), Senior Scientists (SS) and Scientists (S), 30 from each category was selected. From the results of the study led to conclude some important points as follows: Opinions on the effect of TRIPs Agreement on farmersand food eecurity: For this issue, 65.0 percent were highly pessimistic and only 35.0 percent had optimistic perception about the affect of TRIPs agreement on farmers as well as food security'. The opinion on The apprehension among Indian farmers about the removal of Quantitative Restrictions (QRs): Most of researchers who expressed their opinions, responded pessimistically. In this regard, they had no optimistic opinions on the apprehension. For the Opinions on the Impact of the QRs on Indian Agriculture, most of the scientists (77.9 %) had "Undecided" response with the assumption. There were 13.3 percent agreed with the positive impact and 8.8 percent did not agree with the assumption. The Cheap Consumer Goods Are Ostensibly Being Dumped in Indian Market by Foreign Producers. For this assumption, there were 24.4 percent scientists revealed that this is the unhealthy trend and another 7 percent agreed that this is a healthy trend. For the Opinion on the Impacts of Private Sector Participation in Agriculture, most of respondents (62.2%) said "yes". Only 6.7 percent of respondents had said "no". Opinions on the Impact of AoA in market access, most of scientists (70 %) selected the "undecided" response, 14 percent of respondents said "yes" with the question. This meant that the AoA agreement has resulted in protection and increased market access. For the Opinions of Researchers on the Patenting System now-a-days, most of scientists (75 %) did not decide their opinions whether the patenting system nowadays is appropriate or inappropriate, 25 percent of scientists agreed with the view that patenting system nowadays is appropriate to our advantages, and remaining 10 percent of them revealed that patenting system nowadays is not appropriate to our advantages.
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Omonrice 16: 117-131 (2008)
OMONRICE 16 (2008)
OPINIONS OF RESEARCHERS TOWARDS GLOBALIZATION
OF AGRICULTURE AND WTO
Nguyen Cong Thanh1 and Baldeo Singh2
1 Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute, Cantho, Vietnam New Delhi, India
2 Vice Director of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
ABSTRACT
World Trade Organization (WTO) has developed certain provisions related to agricultural
sector to help in regulate trade between nations. With the advent of WTO and its provisions
in agriculture bring many opportunities and put many serious challenges as well. To
evaluate the opinion of the researchers regarding to globalization of agriculture and WTO,
the study was conducted in the research institutes and organizations belong to ICAR, and
located in Pusa Campus, New Delhi. A total sample of 120 consisting of Principal Scientists
(PS), Senior Scientists (SS) and Scientists (S), 30 from each category was selected. From the
results of the study led to conclude some important points as follows: Opinions on the effect
of TRIPs Agreement on farmers and food eecurity: For this issue, 65.0 percent were highly
pessimistic and only 35.0 percent had optimistic perception about the affect of TRIPs
agreement on farmers as well as food security'. The opinion on The apprehension among
Indian farmers about the removal of Quantitative Restrictions (QRs): Most of researchers
who expressed their opinions, responded pessimistically. In this regard, they had no
optimistic opinions on the apprehension. For the Opinions on the Impact of the QRs on
Indian Agriculture, most of the scientists (77.9 %) had "Undecided" response with the
assumption. There were 13.3 percent agreed with the positive impact and 8.8 percent did
not agree with the assumption. The Cheap Consumer Goods Are Ostensibly Being Dumped
in Indian Market by Foreign Producers. For this assumption, there were 24.4 percent
scientists revealed that this is the unhealthy trend and another 7 percent agreed that this is a
healthy trend. For the Opinion on the Impacts of Private Sector Participation in
Agriculture, most of respondents (62.2%) said "yes". Only 6.7 percent of respondents had
said "no". Opinions on the Impact of AoA in market access, most of scientists (70 %)
selected the "undecided" response, 14 percent of respondents said "yes" with the question.
This meant that the AoA agreement has resulted in protection and increased market access.
For the Opinions of Researchers on the Patenting System now-a-days, most of scientists (75
%) did not decide their opinions whether the patenting system nowadays is appropriate or
inappropriate, 25 percent of scientists agreed with the view that patenting system nowadays
is appropriate to our advantages, and remaining 10 percent of them revealed that patenting
system nowadays is not appropriate to our advantages.
INTRODUCTION
In the year 2000s the media were full of references
to globalization of the economy, communications-
even politics and military affairs. Large crowds
turned out to protest meetings such as that of the
World Trade Organization (WTO) in Seattle,
Wash., in 1999 or called attention to International
Monetary Fund (IMF) policies in granting loans to
struggling economies. Many of the large empires
and religious movements represent forms of
globalization. Trade and investment between
countries have promoted interdependence of the
world's economies for centuries. What is now
called globalization, however, represents an
exponential acceleration of the integration process.
As early as 1962, the Canadian visionary Marshall
McLuhan wrote that the electronic age was turning
Nguyen Cong Thanh et al.
OMONRICE 16 (2008)
118
all humanity into a "global tribe," and the term
global village is attributed to him (Encyclopedia
Britannica, 2000).
The post WTO period induced a major component
of new economic policy is the globalization of
agriculture that is linking the Indian agrarian
economy with world economy. The new situation
has awakened the farmers, researchers and
planners to the implications of the WTO on the
economy and life in the new economic system.
To study opinions and the attitude of scientists
about WTO implications on Indian agriculture
such as the affect of TRIPs, removal of QRs,
private sector participation, impact of AoA,
Patenting System nowadays etc. This study was
undertaken. Besides researchers' opinions about
WTO, their view points on the globalization of
agriculture were also studied. The study helps to
develop insight into this issue in the process of
globalization of agriculture and to plan our
strategy to educate scientific community and
others about the WTO and its implication in
agriculture.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The study was conducted in the research institutes
and organizations belong to ICAR, and located in
Pusa Campus, New Delhi. These organizations
were Indian Agricultural Research Institute
(IARI), Indian Agricultural Statistical Research
Institute (IASRI), National Center of Agricultural
Economics and Policy Research (NCAP), National
Center of Integrated Pest Management (NCIPM)
and Directorate of Extension (DOE).
The sampling frame of the study consisted of 555
researchers (according to the report of IARI 2002
and other scientists and officers of IASRI, NCAP,
and NCIPM including DOE) present at the time of
the study. Among them, a total sample of 120
consisting of Principal Scientists (PS), Senior
Scientists (SS) and Scientists (S), 30 from each
category was selected. However, only 90 of them
returned the questionnaires. The respondents were
selected purposefully from different levels to give
each category their due representation in this
study.
The respondents within each category were
selected randomly. The sample size of the study
was fixed approximately 15 % of the total
scientists of IARI and other research
organizations.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
1 Opinions on the effect of TRIPs (Trade-
Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights)
Agreement on farmers and food security
For this issue, only 27.8 percent of researchers had
revealed their opinions, whereas 72.2 percent of
respondents did not mention about this. Out of
total responses, 65.0 percent were highly
pessimistic and only 35.0 percent had optimistic
perception about the affect of TRIPs agreement on
farmers as well as food security.
Table 1a presents the perceived pessimistic
opinions (18 % out of 35 % of responding
scientists) about the effect of TRIPs agreement on
farmers and food security. Ashok Mitra, (1996),
has supported some of these pessimistic opinions
in his article that the sui generis system, the
government still has not answered how it will
protect the right of farmers and researchers' right
vis-à-vis the breeders.
Opinions of researchers towards globalization of agriculture and WTO
OMONRICE 16 (2008)
119
Table 1a: Pessimistic response about the affect of TRIPs
S.No. Pessimistic opinions Frequency
(%)
1 Farmers have to pay higher price for inputs, so seed will be
costlier; 16 17.8
2 Food security will be adversely affected; farmers may not be
able to handle freely amongst themselves. 16 17.8
3 Seeds, seedlings and farm machinery to be traded through TRIPs
agreement. 12 13.3
4 India would only be used as market for products of developed
countries and their multinational companies (MNCs). 10 11.1
5 Less of income, farmers can not sell branded seed of varieties;
less of control over seed production. 7 7.8
6 Private monopoly will inject anti-biodiversity faith to recognize
the collision. 7 7.8
7 Fear of competitiveness of products; no sui generis system to
protect rights of neighbors for plant and seed; bio-piracy can
take place. 3 3.3
Opposite to the pessimistic opinions above, 10 percent out of 35 percent of responding scientists
responded about the effect of TRIPs agreement on farmers and food security and the same is presented in
the Table 1b.
Table 1b: Optimistic response about the affect of TRIPs
S.No. Optimistic opinions Frequency
(%)
1 The TRIPs negative affect will only be in short-term but in long-
term it will be beneficial; food security in India is not going to
be affected significantly. 9 10.0
2
Farmers can get their food items better, producers of food
materials can get license. Changed market access; changed
cropping pattern; more demand regarding maintaining quality
standards.
8 8.9
3 It would encourage investment in agriculture, research and
better quality seeds would be available to farmers for higher
productivity. 5 5.6
4 Availability of diverse quality seed material through
international market; development of Indian seed industry;
domestic farmer's interest not directly affected. 5 5.6
5 It would provide an opportunity of commodity export; quality is
assured at international level. 3 3.3
6 The patent owners must enjoy from TRIPs agreement; they
should benefit from the rich biodiversity existing, conservation
of genetic diversity. 2 2.2
Nguyen Cong Thanh et al.
OMONRICE 16 (2008)
120
2. The apprehension among Indian farmers
about the removal of Quantitative Restrictions
(QRs)
Only 30.0 percent responses were received out of
90 respondents. About 70.0 percent did not
express any thing for the apprehension among
Indian farmers about the removal of Quantitative
Restrictions (QRs) on a large number of
agricultural commodities to meet WTO obligation.
Most of researchers who expressed their opinions,
responded pessimistically. In this regard, they had
no optimistic opinions on the apprehension.
It needs to be repeated again that on the
apprehension among Indian farmers about the
removal of Quantitative Restrictions (QRs), there
was no optimistic opinion of scientists. Some
major problems they mentioned about this
apprehension, which is presented in Table 2.
Table 2: Pessimistic response on the apprehension about the removal of QRs
S.No. Pessimistic opinions Frequency
(%)
1 There would be surge of imports of cheap foreign products due to their
export subsidies policy; it would lead to affect domestic price; people
become more unemployed; more competition to be faced by farmers. 27 23.0
2 Fall in profit / income of farmers; export opportunities will be narrowed;
farmers will get fewer buyers for their costlier commodities. 25 27.8
3 Local goods may not withstand; seeds may be costlier and not available
at subsidized rates. 18 20.0
4
Lot of dumping; adverse effects on natural resources; change in cropping
patterns; permanent dependence on MNCs; globalization at the cost of
small and marginal farmers. We lack of technical know-how to produce
quality products to compete with foreign cheap goods.
12 13.3
5 The monopoly of multinational companies will control agricultural
production and market. Problem of disposal may arise. Exotic problem of
pests and diseases may enter. 6 6.7
Some of these pessimistic in apprehensions have
also been calmed down by Q & A,
(http://pib.nic.in/focus/foyr, 2001) that India has
also not taken any commitment to provide
minimum market access opportunities which other
countries. They had tariffed their QRs, had to
undertake to the extent of 3% of its domestic
consumption going up to 5%, at the end of the
implementation period. Though India is not
entitled to use the Special Safeguard Mechanism
of the Agreement, which can be used only by
countries, which had tariffed, yet it can take action
under the WTO Agreement on Safeguards if there
is a surge in imports causing serious injury or if
there is a threat of serious injury to the domestic
producers.
3. Opinions on the Impact of the QRs on Indian
Agriculture
For this issue, most of the scientists (77.9 %) had
"Undecided" response with the assumption. There
were 13.3 percent of respondents who agreed with
the positive impact in long run of the removal of
quantitative restrictions on Indian agriculture.
Opposite to this, there were 8.8 percent of
respondents who did not agree with the
assumption.
The opinions of researchers were sought on the
impact of QRs. The question was "Do you agree
that the impact of the removal of Quantitative
Restrictions on Indian agriculture would be
positive in long run?". The responses received
were analyzed and is presented here in the Figure
1.
Opinions of researchers towards globalization of agriculture and WTO
OMONRICE 16 (2008)
121
"possitive" "negative" "undecided"
%
13 9 78
Response of scientists to QRs
Fig. 1: Response of scientists on the impacts of removal of QRs
The agreed respondents have revealed their opinions as mentioned in the Table 3a follows:
Table 3a: The positive impact of the QRs on Indian agriculture
S.No. Agreed opinions on the positive effect of QRs Frequency
(%)
1 Indian agriculture must avail the opening up of opportunities in
the world market by more investment in agriculture. 12 13.3
2 The removal of restriction will boost import and export and create
the healthy competition between companies / countries. The
procedural development will be avoided. 12 13.3
3
Big farmers have tended to take advantages of public sector
support. The small and marginal farmers have remained on the
situation. This will be an opportunity for them to join hands and
take the opportunity.
10 11.1
4 Export prospects will be more and there will be free and more
import for the need. The private-public partnerships may arise. 7 7.8
5 Market in developed countries should be exploited for export of
our goods and products. 5 5.6
6 Farmers will have freedom to produce of their choice and their
market. They have more capacity to improve production level and
productivity. 4 4.4
7
Agricultural market is not competing with other which business is
not oriented. Efficient producers of commodities produced on
comparative advantage will remain in world market. International
economy will work on principle of market forces.
4 4.4
Some of these agreed opinions (positive effect of
QRs in long run) were expressed online by P.
Ramaswamy (1995): As a result of the
globalization process, significant shifts in the
agricultural production profile and changes in the
commodity composition can be clearly foreseen.
National as well as international corporations are
making substantial investments in new ventures.
These include production and processing in such
diverse areas…
The non-agreed respondents have revealed their
view of points as given in the Table 3b follows:
Nguyen Cong Thanh et al.
OMONRICE 16 (2008)
122
"healthy trend" "unhealthy
trend" "undecided"
%
724 69
Response of scientists to QRs
Table 3b: The negative impact of the QRs on Indian agriculture
S.No. Disagreed opinions on the positive effect of QRs Frequency
(%)
1
Indian agriculture is at cross road as far as WTO / AoA are
concerned. Mostly agriculture remains a way of living to the
mass and export consciousness is now at trading level and not
farmer's level.
8 9.0
2 Some products from outside country will compete unfavorably. 8 9.0
3 Domestic agriculture / industry will get effect.
Developed countries will manage to keep their markets closed. 6 6.7
4 In the long term, our economy will suffer as our farmers are not
yet equipped to compete in the open market (as adoption of high
tech, SPS etc., need in the export stage). 5 5.6
5
If there are no quantitative restrictions, there could be imbalance
in productivity, farmers would tend to grow more for benefit by
export, and our own people may suffer which could also be
counterproductive due to flooding of goods on the markets.
3 3.3
These non-agreed opinions were in line with K.V.
Peter and T. Paul Lazarus, (2002): Through the
WTO' Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) came into
force from January 1, 1995; it was seriously
debated in India only from the preceding couple of
years. With the removal of QRs on imports into
India since April 2001, several concerns have been
raised on the impact of liberalization on India's
agricultural exports. Out of the various agricultural
products exported by India, spices have been
selected for the present study….variability in both
quantity exported and export earnings from spices
is lesser in the post WTO period than in the pre
WTO period.
Fig. 2: Response of scientists on the impacts of removal of QRs
4. The Cheap Consumer Goods Are Ostensibly
Being Dumped in Indian Market by Foreign
Producers. Is This A Healthy Trend?
For this assumption, there were 24.4 percent
scientists revealed that this is the unhealthy trend
and another 7 percent agreed that this is a healthy
trend. Their opinions have been sum up in the
Figure 14 and Table 18a and 18b as follows:
These responses of researchers have also been
supported by Krishnan Venugopal (2002). He
wrote that in some case, anti-dumping duties have
been imposed even though the result would be to
render certain user industries uncompetitive in
their export markets. In other cases, anti-dumping
duties have adversely affected certain small-scale
industries that used as inputs the goods on which
anti-dumping duties were imposed. Whatever be
Opinions of researchers towards globalization of agriculture and WTO
OMONRICE 16 (2008)
123
"possitive"
62%
" 7%
"undecided "
31%
the merits of anti dumping as a remedy for unfair
trade, therefore, it would certainly be appropriate
for either the Designated Authority or the Ministry
of Finance to take into account the "national
interest" before levying anti-dumping duties in
each case.
Table 18a: The unhealthy trend of the cheap consumer goods
S.No. "unhealthy trend" opinions Frequency
(%)
1 It will affect domestic industry, it will induced more competition, create
more unemployment. 22 24.3
2 It would discourage the growth of domestics and lead to quality
deterioration in a competition for making cheap goods. 22 24.3
3 It will affect farmers' income and may raise the food security problem. 14 15.6
4 It will result to reduction in demand of produce, low return to Indian
producers. 7 7.8
Table 18b: The healthy trend of the cheap consumer goods
S.No. "healthy trend" opinions Frequency
(%)
1 It will result in finding ways of reducing production costs and specialized
farming. 6 6.6
2 It will help us in strengthening our production to cope with the
international standards. 4 4.4
3 Our farmers will not have consistent market for their produces.
It would help in increase competition, help in quality enhancement. 2 2.2
4 Consumers will benefit initially and it will bring the power of consumers.
2 2.2
For the opposite opinions, there were only 6.6
percent of respondents. They agreed with the
assumption that the cheap consumer goods were
ostensibly being dumped in Indian market by
foreign producers. This is a healthy trend and their
opinions were presented in the Table 18b.
5. Opinion on the Impacts of Private Sector
Participation in Agriculture
In the process of globalization, the participation of
private sector would be arisen. The question was
asked whether it would have positive development
or not. In this aspect, most of respondents (62.2%)
said "yes". Only 6.7 percent of respondents had
said "no", and 31.1 percent of respondents did not
give their opinions (Figure 3).
Fig. 3: Response on the impacts of private sector participation in agriculture
Nguyen Cong Thanh et al.
OMONRICE 16 (2008)
124
The majority of agreed opinions had revealed
some main positive developments, which is
presented in the Table 19.
These opinions were supported by M. Shivamuthy,
B. Krishnamuthy, Vanitha Chetan and M.T.
Lakshminarayan, and V.P. Gupta, (2001): Contract
farming would be the better proposition for
improving the efficiency in farming and to
increase processing and export of fruits and
vegetables in our country. In today's age of
competition, the government jobs are becoming
scarce. The agricultural universities are turning out
thousands of farm graduates who cannot find
government jobs. Today unemployment among
farm graduates has reached a peak stage.
Therefore, there is a need to develop
entrepreneurship among rural educated youth.
The minority of non-agreed opinions were afraid
of the participation of private sector in all the
activities. Their opinions are given in the Table 20.
Table 19: Response on the impact of private sector participation in agriculture
S.No. "positive development" opinions Frequency
(%)
1
The participation of private sector will help in development of agro-
industry, more investment in production and research in the country,
more availability of necessary goods to farmers.
56 62.2
2 It will induce more competition, more opportunities and less restriction,
profit maximization. 50 55.5
3 This will assure the quality of goods and satisfaction of consumers. It
will revitalize agriculture and agriculture will be science-based from
which new technologies introduced, innovation may be fast. 42 46.7
4 It will help in food security and encourage breeding of novel varieties,
ensures the quality of seeds, particularly hybrids. 36 40.0
5 The participation of private sector will also increase output and
contribute to non-agriculture. 36 40.0
6 It will increase the efficient use of resources, improve and develop
infrastructures, contribute effectively in commercialization of
agriculture, services and do better management. 26 28.9
7 Private sector will take part to improve the identification of trade
opportunity as gathering of processing, enhance trade coordination and
promote export. 16 17.8
Table 20: Response on the impact of private sector participation in agriculture
S.No. "Negative" opinions Frequency
(%)
1 It can affect farming community; exploitation of nature may lead to
problems. 6 6.7
2 The unfair competition between public sector and private sector can lead
serious implication to farmers, agriculture. 5 5.6
3 Private sector does not help effectively small and marginal farmers;
prelude better encourage for beneficiaries of private companies whereas
small farmers are not profitable. 3 3.3
4 Big enterprises so they are more economical leading to cheap agricultural
produce. Thus small farmers will be suffered as they can not reduce the
price to that extent. 3 3.3
Opinions of researchers towards globalization of agriculture and WTO
OMONRICE 16 (2008)
125
6. Opinions on the Impacts of AoA in Reduction of Support and Protection Extended to
Agriculture
Fig. 4: Response on the impact of AoA in reduction of support and protection extended to agriculture
The respondents' opinions were in three
categories: "yes" opinions, "no" opinions, and
"undecided" opinions.
For this issue, the question has been raised: does
the AoA aim to progressively reduce to a
substantial degree the support and protection
extended to agriculture? The responses received
were analyzed and the results are depicted in
Figure 4.
Table 21: Response on the impact of AoA in reduction of support and protection
S.No. "Agreed opinions" Frequency
(%)
1 AoA aims to gradually reduce and cut subsidies to producers to open
global market. 30 33.3
2 To make agricultural products cheaper globally and competitive. 25 27.8
3 To bring efficiency in agricultural production. 16 17.8
4 To use natural resources effectively. 16 17.8
5 To check unhealthy competition in agricultural export. AoA required all
countries to allow a certain market access for agricultural export. 12 13.3
6 Reduction in support for Indian farmers who are largely small and
marginal should make them incapable for achieving low price and
quality products to maintain uniformity and economic progress. 8 8.9
7 To maintain uniformity and economic progress. 4 4.4
Most of researchers had responded "undecided"
(56 %). There were 33 percent of researchers who
had agreed ("yes" opinions) with the issue that
AoA aims to progressively reduce to a substantial
degree the support and protection extended to
agriculture. About 11.1 percent of researchers had
not agreed with the statement.
The agreed responses of researchers have focused
to some main problems (Table 21).
These agreed opinions were not in line with the
opinion of C.H. Hanumantha Rao, (2001). He
wrote that this (reduction of support and protection
in agriculture) is a consequence of the pursuit of
an inward-looking and import substituting
"yes"
33%
"undecided"
56%
" 11%
Nguyen Cong Thanh et al.
OMONRICE 16 (2008)
126
"undecided
"
70%
"yes"
14% "no"
16%
development strategy which has an in-built bias
against agriculture. The terms of trade were, thus,
deliberately kept unfavourable to agriculture in
keeping with the prevailing wisdom to 'extract'
surpluses from this sector for promoting
industrialization.
7. Opinions on the Impact of AoA in market
access
To investigate the response of researchers for this
problem, the question was asked: Has the AoA
resulted in a reduction in protection and increased
market access? The responses collected were
analyzed and is presented in Table 22 and Fig. 5.
For this issue, most of scientists (70 %) selected
the "undecided" response. There were 14 percent
of respondents said "yes" with the question. It
means that 13 out of 90 scientists have agreed with
the opinion i.e., the AoA agreement has resulted in
protection and increased market access.
The non- agreed opinion was held only by 6
percent respondents. In the non-agreed opinions,
they mentioned the following main problems
(Table 22).
Table 22: The opinions on the impacts of AoA in market access
S.No. "non-agreed" opinions Frequency
(%)
1 Failure to developed countries in reducing their support to agriculture. 14 16.0
2 There are different bargaining powers of different nations. 13 14.4
3 There is the ambiguity in definition and no implementation of the
agreement. 10 11.1
4 The globalization of agriculture has increased global marketing
opportunities, increased competition. 6 6.7
5 Indian agriculture has not changed much, it is still largely subsistence. 3 3.3
This non-agreed opinion did not in line with the
statement that "the concern is misplaced because
India is under no obligation under the WTO
Agreement on Agriculture to reduce any of the
subsidies given to our farmers. This is because the
total aggregate value of subsidies given to farmers
namely, subsidies on fertilizers, electricity, seeds,
pesticides and cost of credit available to all crops
as well as agricultural commodities is well below
the ceiling prescribed in the Uruguay Round
agreement." Q & A,
(http://pib.nic.in/focus/foyr2001).
Fig. 5: Response on the impacts of AoA in market access
Opinions of researchers towards globalization of agriculture and WTO
OMONRICE 16 (2008)
127
8. Opinions on the Implication When Provision of Reduction in Subsidies and Protection Will Be
Fully Implemented
Table 23: Opinion on the implications when provision of reduction in subsidies and protection will be
fully implemented
S.No. "Positive development" opinions Frequency
(%)
1 Affect on inputs such as fertilizers, chemicals…to production. 23 25.5
2 Increase in cost of production, and prices of agricultural
commodities. 18 20.0
3 Protection solution will affect the domestic industry. 18 20.0
4 Inflation may go up. 14 15.6
5 Debt problems and problems of poverty may rise. 14 15.6
6
The export from Indian agriculture would be increased in
competition, price will go down leading to less income / profit to
the farmers because they can not compete with cheap dumped
goods prices.
10 11.1
7 Small and marginal farmers will be badly affected. They have to
join hand and function more effectively as a group. 8 8.9
8 Market will be flooded with goods. 6 6.7
9 Agriculture will become non-feasible. 6 6.7
10 Market will be unstabilized. 3 3.3
11 Status of poor will be elevated because of corruption. 3 3.3
Some main implications as perceived by scientists
about when provision of reduction in subsidies and
protection will be fully implemented were
observed. Disadvantages for farmers and
agriculture when provision of reduction in
subsidies and protection will be fully implemented
as perceived by scientists are presented in Table
23.
The disadvantage opinions of researchers as
expressed have online support by Ramesh Chand,
Linu Mathew PhiLip (2001): The agricultural
package of WTO on domestic support and export
subsidies provides for complex classification of
support and subsidies for agriculture, some of
which are totally exempted from reduction
commitments. This classification favours
developed countries, which are able to maintain
very high level of support for agriculture in the
exempt categories. The agreement provides
enough room for maneuvering subsidies to provide
protection for domestic produce. The level of non-
exempt subsidies in developed countries remains
awfully high even after meeting reduction
commitments. These subsidies empower
developed countries to cause distortions in the
international market and protect domestic
production from competition against imports.
Compared with developed countries, the level of
support in developing countries such as India is so
low that a level playing field in agriculture trade is
a far cry.
The advantages on the implication when provision
of reduction in subsidies and protection will be
fully implemented are many. The researchers
mentioned some main issues which are presented
in the Table 24.
Nguyen Cong Thanh et al.
OMONRICE 16 (2008)
128
"undecided""appropriate""inappropriate"
%
10 25
75
Response of scientists to patenting system
Table 24: Opinion on the implication when provision of reduction in subsidies
S.No. "Advantages" Frequency
(%)
1 Agricultural goods from developing countries will have access to
the market of developed countries. 16 17.7
2 Fair trade, export prospects of countries like India will increase. 14 15.6
3 Access to quality products. 14 15.6
4 Low inputs in agriculture leading to lower yield of crops. 9 10.0
5 Consumers will get quality products at reasonable cost. 4 4.4
6 Equalization of world food prices. 3 3.3
7 Reduced exports from developed countries. 3 3.3
9. Opinions of Researchers on the Patenting
System Now-a-days
In the post WTO or globalization of agriculture era
to protect the right of the inventors, WTO has
regulated in the TRIPs agreement, in which every
country has to have sui generis system in the
patenting for the innovators / inventors. The study
tried to understand whether the patenting system in
our country nowadays is appropriate /
inappropriate to our advantages. The information
received on this aspect was analyzed and is
presented in Figure 6 and Table 25 & 26.
In this regard, most of scientists (75 %) did not
decide their opinions whether the patenting system
nowadays is appropriate or inappropriate to our
country. There were 25 percent of scientists who
had agreed with the view that patenting system
nowadays is appropriate to our advantages, and
remaining 10 percent of them revealed that
patenting system nowadays is not appropriate to
our advantages. The sums up of their agreed and
disagreed opinions are presented in Table 25 and
26.
Fig. 6: Response of scientists on the patenting system nowadays
Opinions of researchers towards globalization of agriculture and WTO
OMONRICE 16 (2008)
129
Table 25: Opinion of scientists on the Patenting System
S.No. Agreed opinions Frequency
(%)
1 It has been proper enforcement of farmer's and breeder's right. 23 25.5
2 To formulate procedure for proper benefit sharing, and recognize the
contribution of inventors. 12 13.3
Table 26: Opinion of scientists on the Patenting System now-a-days
S.No. Disagreed opinions Frequency
(%)
1 We have our own patenting system sui generis wherein we have to keep
precision for our farmers to confine with their use of seeds for personal
use. 9 10.0
2 Inventors should be adequately rewarded by the country of origin and the
companies who get the patent right to market the product. 6 6.7
3 Indian Patent Act needs to be revamped to comparable up agreement
laws. Strengthening of research and development and problem of bio-
diversity through sui generis system. 4 4.4
4 The number of patents applied in Indian context is so low that it does not
make a big dent. The patent owned may not be really needed at
commercial level of production. 4 4.4
5 It should ensure that the patenting is done in a shorter period of time. 4 4.4
6 Base studies need to be conducted to ascertain the possibility in the
future of the invention. 3 3.3
7 First has to be judged taking conscience of all inventors. Patenting as
gene / nature need to be avoided. 2 2.2
8 Everything can not be salable and exploited but nature has to be
preserved by all means and all have right of dignity and life. 1 1.1
The results in Table 25 indicate that about 25.5
percent of the scientists observed the patenting
system as proper and helpful to formulate
procedure for benefit sharing and recognize the
contributors.
Those who disagreed with present patenting
system expressed their opinions in this regard. The
information received is presented in Table 26.
These issues are somewhat in line with A.D.
Damodaran (2002). According to him, patenting
activities under the new IPR regime, which puts
several constraints on 'indigenisation', patenting
activity will necessary have to go up significantly;
any failure on this front can have disastrous
consequences for the country in future from the
points of view of self-reliance and indigenous
strength. If the Indian drugs sector is already
facing threat, the strong Trade Marks Regime has
also started pinching other sectors as well.
CONCLUSION
There was the vast variation in the empathy of the
scientists. However, there was the best point that
their feelings, empathy, affection would be very
kind-hearted and humane. Their opinions would be
of immense value to make improvement in the
globalization of agriculture. This also means that
globalization of agriculture should be for the
benefit of the mass of farmers and people.
The response of researchers about the affect of
TRIPs agreement on our farmers and food security
was very poor. Only 27.8 percent of researchers
expressed their opinion, whereas 72.2 percent of
them did not mention anything for this issue. Out
of total responses, about 65.0 percent were
Nguyen Cong Thanh et al.
OMONRICE 16 (2008)
130
pessimistic about the globalization of agriculture
and its impacts. The majority did not respond
might be attributed to their lack of awareness of
WTO and its implications.
The result on apprehension among Indian farmers
about the removal of Quantitative Restrictions
(QRs) on a large number of agricultural
commodities to meet WTO obligation revealed
that only 30.0 percent expressed their opinions and
most of them (100 %) responded pessimistically.
In this regard, no scientists had optimistic opinions
on the apprehension.
For the issue of the impact of QRs on Indian
agriculture, most of the scientists (77.9 %)
responded "Undecided". There were 13.3 percent
respondents who had agreed with the positive
impact in long run of the removal of Quantitative
Restrictions on Indian agriculture. In addition,
opposite to this, there were 8.8 percent of
respondents who had not agreed with the
assumption.
The cheap consumer goods are ostensibly being
dumped in Indian market by foreign producers. Is
this a healthy trend? For this assumption, there
were 24.4 percent scientists who revealed that this
is the unhealthy trend.
In the process of globalization, the participation of
private sector would be arisen. The question has
asked whether it will be positive development or
not. In this aspect, most of respondents (62.2%)
said "yes". Only 6.7 percent of respondents said
"no", and 31.1 percent of respondents did not give
their opinions.
In case of the responses of researchers about the
AoA resulting into the reduction in protection and
increased market access, most of scientists (70 %)
had selected the "undecided" response. 14.4
percent respondents said "yes" with the question.
It means that 13 out of 90 scientists had agreed
with the opinion i.e., the AoA agreement has
resulted in protection and increased market access.
For the patenting system in the post WTO or
globalization of agriculture era to protect the right
of the inventors, WTO has regulated the TRIPs
agreement. In this regard, most of scientists (75 %)
did not decide their opinions whether the patenting
system nowadays is appropriate or inappropriate to
our country. There were 25.0 percent of scientists
who had agreed with the view that patenting
system nowadays is appropriate to our advantages,
and remaining 10.0 percent of scientists revealed
that patenting system nowadays is not appropriate
to our advantages.
The results of attitude of researchers in general
had showed that only 21.0 percent of researchers
supported globalization of agriculture (high group
of favourable). The medium attitude was high (51
%), and the low group of favourable was also
relatively high (28 %). From that result, we can
say that most of researchers did not support
globalization of agriculture. In other words most
of researchers in this study have been responded
unfavourably towards globalization of agriculture.
From this result we can understand that why most
people all over the world have joined hands to
protest against globalization. But it has been
already in existence, so the best solution should be
to give good suggestions for the improvement in
the globalization of agriculture.
The unfavourable attitude may be attributed to low
level of awareness of WTO issues among the
scientists. The items not found favourable in the
Attitude Scale need due attentition on the part of
planners and administrations. The results stress
need to increase awareness of researchers about
WTO issues.
The percentages of non-response and undecided
are high indicates that respondents were not sure
whether impacts of the WTO issues would positive
or negative.
REFERENCES
Damodaran, A.D. 2002. Intellectual Property
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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2000. WTO – Why all
the fuss?
Gupta, V.P. 2001. Agribased Allied Professions
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by B.S. Hansra K. Vijayaragavan – National
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http://pib.nic.in/focus/foyr.
Ramaswamy P. (1995). Impacts of Globalization
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Ramesh, Chand. 2001. Indian Agriculture and
WTO: Looking Beyond Doha. Keynote Paper
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Ramesh, Chand and Linu, Mathew Philip. 2001.
Subsidies & support In Agriculture – Is WTO
Providing Level Playing Field? Economic &
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Shivamuthy, M., Krishnamuthy, B., Chetan,
Vanitha and Lakshminarayan, M.T. 2001.
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Hansra K. Vijayaragavan – National
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December 7 – 8, 2001. p. 10.
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Shivamuthy, M., Krishnamuthy, B., Chetan,
Vanitha and Lakshminarayan, M.T. 2001.
Scope & Importance of Contract Farming in
Agri-business. Abstracts, edited by B.S.
Hansra K. Vijayaragavan – National
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Ý kiến của các nhà nghiên cứu về toàn cầu hóa nông nghiệp và WTO
Nước ta mới gia nhập Tổ chức Thương mại Thế giới (WTO) vào ngày 7/11/2006, còn đối với Ấn Độ thì
họ đã là thành viên của tổ chức này từ tháng 4 năm 1994. Tuy nhiên họ vẫn còn nhiều nghiên cứu về
những cơ hội và thách thức đặt ra do quy định của WTO. Nghiên cứu này tiến hành nhằm đánh giá ý
kiến của các nhà khoa học trong lĩnh vực nông nghiệp làm việc trong các cơ quan và viện/trường thuộc
Hội đồng toàn Ấn Độ về Nghiên cưu Nông nghiệp (ICAR) trên các lĩnh vực như tác động của hiệp định
về quyền sở hữu trí tuệ liên quan đến thương mại (TRIPs), ý kiến về sự lĩnh hội của những người nông
dân Ấn Độ về sự dỡ bỏ hạn chế số lượng xuất nhập khẩu (Quantitative Restrictions), sự quan tâm khi
hàng nông sản nước ngoài tràn ngập thị trường trong nước với giá rẻ đe dọa hàng nội địa, ý kiến về sự
tham gia của bộ phận tư nhân vào hoạt động kinh tế, về các tác động của hiệp định về nông nghiệp
(AoA) trên sự tiếp cận thị trường và ưu nhược điểm của hệ thống bản quyền (Patenting System) ng ày nay
ở Ấn Độ.v.v…Vì Ấn Độ cũng là một nước nông nghiệp như nước ta và những bài học của họ trong quá
trinh gia nhập WTO là r ất quý giá cho nước ta để tranh thủ cơ hội và phòng tránh thách thức. Do đó,
nghiên cứu này có thể giúp ích cho các cá nhân và tổ chức hữu quan trong hoạch định chính sách, sản
xuất và xuất khẩu nông sản của nước ta trong quá trình hội nhập WTO.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
- C. H. Hanumantha Rao
The experience of the 1990s clearly demonstrates that far from trade liberalisation dampening the performance of agriculture, the lack of public investment and effort has been responsible for failure to benefit from trade liberalisation by stepping up and diversifying agricultural output in a cost-effective way.
- Ramesh Chand
- Linu Mathew Phillip
The WTO agricultural package on domestic support and export subsidies provides for complex classification of support and subsidies for agriculture, some of which are totally exempt from reduction commitments. This classification favours developed countries, which are able to maintain a high level of support for agriculture. Developing countries should press for combining all forms of support for agriculture and seek reduction in total support in order to attain a level playing field.
- Duncan Matthews
1. Origins of the TRIPS Agreement 2. Negotiating The TRIPS Agreement 3. Content of the TRIPS Agreement 4. Implementing The TRIPS Agreement 5. Impact of the TRIPS Agreement On Developing Countries 6. Future of the TRIPS Agreement
- Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2000. WTO -Why all the fuss?
Agribased Allied Professions and Rural Entrepreneurship. Abstracts
- V P Gupta
Gupta, V.P. 2001. Agribased Allied Professions and Rural Entrepreneurship. Abstracts, edited by B.S. Hansra K. Vijayaragavan – National Conference on Agri-business & Extension Management – Status, Issues & Strategies. December 7 – 8, 2001. p. 34.
Impact of WTO on India's Spices Exports. Second International Agronomy Congress on Balancing Food & Environmental Security -A Continuing Challenge
- K V Peter
- T Paul Lazarus
Peter, K.V. and T. Paul Lazarus, 2002. Impact of WTO on India's Spices Exports. Second International Agronomy Congress on Balancing Food & Environmental Security -A Continuing Challenge. November 26 -30, 2002 -New Delhi. Extended Summary. Vol 1.p. 658.
Impacts of Globalization on Agricultural Marketing Systems and Procedures
- P Ramaswamy
Ramaswamy P. (1995). Impacts of Globalization on Agricultural Marketing Systems and Procedures. Nayyar H. and Ramaswamy P. (ed). Globalization and Agricultural Marketing. P.P.273-275. Rawat publication. Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Indian Agriculture and WTO: Looking Beyond Doha. Keynote Paper and Abstracts
- Chand Ramesh
Ramesh, Chand. 2001. Indian Agriculture and WTO: Looking Beyond Doha. Keynote Paper and Abstracts. p.3.
Anti-Dumping As A Remedy for Unfair Trade. Manorama Year Book
- Krishan Venugopal
Venugopal, Krishan. 2002. Anti-Dumping As A Remedy for Unfair Trade. Manorama Year Book. 2002. p. 572.
Intellectual Property Rights. Manorama Yearbook
- A D Damodaran
Damodaran, A.D. 2002. Intellectual Property Rights. Manorama Yearbook 2002. P. 537.
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