Rural development is essentially a process of widening decision-making options of the majority of the poor. Creating choices without generating capacity to act might impair learning abilities of both, who create choices and also those who have to exercise these. Development agents, institutions...

An exploratory study of scientific goal setting in dry farming areas was pursued during 1985. The post-graduate students as well as scientists engaged in dry farming research from a North Indian agricultural university and its regional station were interviewed besides the scientists from All...

A simple search on the web about unaided technological innovations by common people from the unorganized sector will reveal the paucity of information worldwide. It is this gap, which Honey Bee Network started at IIMA about two decades ago tried to fill. In this paper, a very brief history of...

The productivity of agricultural inputs has been consistently declining over last two decades. Given the economic squeeze, Indian economy cannot afford to provide resources required for such a non-sustainable use of inputs. Even in the affluent countries, the non-sustainability of external input...

Indian experience of technological change through ‘Green Revolution’ in now an internationally acclaimed achievement. Several countries in Africa are being advised to follow Indian experience. We have reappraised the lessons of Indian experience for the point for new sustainability. Decline...

There has been tremendous upsurge in writings on rural development during last decade. Incidentally the economic policies followed during this period in various countries of South Asia have intensified interventions has been not to resolve these contradictions, instead to contain them or dilute...

The discussion in the recent COP 8 (Conference of Parties) meeting ending on March 31, 2006, the subject of Prior Informed Consent and protection of intellectual property rights of knowledge holders remained very contentious. I discuss various kinds of incentives that need to be provided for...

Professional norms can take precedence over social expectations. Sometimes, these norms are ahead of societal expectations and therefore the fairness follows the just norms. However, sometimes, reverse is the case. When sati was outlawed, it was enactment of justice which was considered by many...

The subject of this case study is the role of intellectual property rights in the benefit-sharing arrangements surrounding the gene Xa21 of Oryza longistaminata, a wild rice from Mali, which was isolated, cloned and patented at the University of California at Davis. A specimen of Oryza...

In this paper, I first discuss the key concept of IPR and its relevance for our conditions. I particularly refer to the opportunities that exist globally with specific reference to patent expiration, biodiversity based drug development. I also review the recent trends in filing patents based on...