Science, Politics, and the Agriculture revolution in Asia / edited by Robert S..Anderson, Paul R.Brass,Edwin Levy, Barrie M.morrison

Agriculture in southern Asia has undergone a radical transformation in recent years, one that continues to alter the political economy of the area. Beyond the familiar ele ments of the green revolution, there has been an increase in resource exploitation for food production, and a rise in the economic and political strength of food producers, as well as the emergence of new political parties, land reform, and class polarization. In this context, the authors review the expe riences of Asian farmers with commercial agriculture and the role of research institutions in fostering commercialism. They examine major issues associated with the "technology first" phase of the agricultural revolution, then explore alternate routes to productive agriculture and rural develop ment. After looking at specific examples of the interplay between science, technology, and agricultural change in Asia, they point to expected future developments, describe the kinds of research that may be needed for the next phase of agricul tural development, and analyze the role of international fund ing agencies in encouraging what increasingly appears to be inappropriate research.