After a decade of neglect of agricultural research, the importance of agriculture in fulfilling the basic objectives of development is increasingly being recognized. This volume provides a comprehensive review of India's experience in agricultural development and the role played by the stateand the public sector. It draws lessons from the agricultural policies undertaken since Independence, both in terms of their relevance for the country's future course of action and their wider significance for the developing world.The essays in the volume focus on key policy issues in agriculture, food security, and rural development, including land reforms, institutional constraints in water management, agricultural diversification, disaster management, and public-private participation in agricultural investment. Arguingthat policies need to be rooted in the history, geography, and polity of the country, the essays carefully diagnose the challenges in the current scenario, and offer reasoned suggestions to achieve the twin objectives of agricultural development and poverty reduction.