According to an official release, the mandated negotiations on agriculture commenced from January 1 last year. As part of the agreed work programme in the WTO for the negotiations, member countries are requested to submit their proposals for these negotiations. The Indian proposals primarily seek to achieve the objectives of protecting our food security and livelihood concerns by having sufficient flexibility for domestic policy measures and protecting domestic producers from a surge in imports or against a significant decline in import prices.

The proposals seek opportunities for a meaningful expansion of our agricultural exports by securing effective market access in developed country markets through substantial reductions in their tariffs and in their trade distorting domestic support. The proposal also seeks elimination of export subsidies extended by the developed country markets. The proposals are in the key areas of market access, domestic support, export competition and food security, the minister said. They envisage the continuance of the present flexibility in public stock holding, public distribution of foodgrains as also dispensation for developing countries to take measures for poverty alleviation, rural development and rural employment.

The proposals focus on food security livelihood concerns by suggesting specific measures under a `food security box.' It specially seeks flexibility for developing countries in the manner of providing subsidies to the key farm inputs. It has been suggested that as a special and differential measure, developing countries should be allowed to maintain appropriate levels of tariff bindings keeping in mind their developmental needs and the high distortions prevalent in the international market so as to protect the livelihood of their population dependent.