Genetically modified seeds have to be approved by biosafety regulators before they can be commercialized. Illegal seeds are, however, common in many developing countries including Brazil, China and India. They potentially pose dangers to biosafety and also undermine the intellectual property...

Earlier analyses of area yield crop insurance schemes used a linear additive model (LAM) to express the relationship between individual and area yield. Although similar to the capital asset pricing model used in finance, the theoretical foundations of the LAM are unknown. A contribution of this...

This monograph was written to be part of the series of studies commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture under the rubric of "State of Indian Farmer - A Millennium Study". On the basis of existing literature, this study documents the status of our knowledge on risks of agriculture and their...

This paper uses the theoretical framework of the theory of tax reform to analyse whether a "small" change in an existing food subsidy program can be welfare-improving and revenue-neutral. It shows how existing econometric methods can be adapted to estimate demand parameters even when household...

This article attempts to measure the impact of IndiaÂ’s limited liberalization on the seed industry and on farmers. Using a unique data set on the structure, research, and sales of private seed firms at two points in time, 1987 and 1995, we provide evidence that liberalization increased the...

Off-farm work improves and reduces the riskiness of household income. Theoretical analyses reveal that the level and riskiness of off-farm income affect demand for farm/nonfarm investments. A two-limit Tobit model is estimated using ARMS data for 1996-2003. The impact on investment behaviour is...

Abstract The limited presence of futures exchanges in developing countries where commodity markets fall short of the ideal underscore the importance of understanding the relation between spot and futures markets. The paper examines the exceptional success of the soya oil contract at the National...

Earlier analyses of area yield crop insurance schemes used a reduced form linear relationship between individual and area yield. However, without knowledge of the structural framework, the analysis and design of alternative schemes is problematic. This paper resolves this problem. The paper...

Investment behavior is analyzed using a dynamic portfolio model including off-farm income. The correlation structure of off-farm income and asset returns and the ratio of off-farm income to wealth is shown to affect portfolio choice. Empirical analysis indicates that off-farm income tends to...