Let it grow

With the Indo-US nuclear deal dominating the Bush visit, an unprecedented number of agreements between the two countries have gone largely unnoticed.

With the Indo-US nuclear deal dominating the Bush visit, an unprecedented number of agreements between the two countries have gone largely unnoticed. New Delhi and Washington may be setting the stage for strategic ties to combat terrorism and WMD threats, but the common man is more likely to be affected by the agreements on trade, agriculture, energy security, environment, biotechnology and the knowledge economy. The establishment of a Bi-National Science and Technology Endowment Fund and a standing Science & Technology Joint Commission reflect the seriousness of intent in these fields.

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Bilateral cooperation in agricultural research has rightly received special attention during President Bush’s talks with the Indian leadership. Opening up the US market to Indian mangoes is a welcome indicator that the US is open to working with India to ensure that Indian food products meet American organic standards. This could provide a huge market for Indian fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products and spices. This is not surprising, considering that the high point of Indo-US collaboration was always in the field of agriculture. In fact, the ‘Green Revolution’ in India probably would not have been possible but for the active assistance of the US government and organisations like the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations. Fields of new varieties of corn, rice and wheat sprang up in the subcontinent. Between 1952 and 1972, American agricultural universities entered into partnerships with Indian institutions to establish agricultural universities in states like Punjab, Haryana, UP, MP, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.