Ecosystemic Multifunctionality of Developing Country Agriculture

Abstract

In the wake of the failure of the Cancun Summit, the paper argues for a new approach to negotiations in the agricultural sector by developing countries. The paper emphasises that piecemeal efforts to address agricultural issues facing developing countries need to be given up in favour of concepts that are more structural and give a greater profile to the special and distinctive characteristic of the agrarian economies in the developing world. The paper advances the notion of ecosystemic multifunctionality to argue for special and differential position for the agriculture sector in developing countries like India. It is argued that this concept would be beneficial to developing countries in their quest for world agricultural markets that are sensitive to livelihood and food security issues. The post-Cancun phase of negotiations could go a long way, in case a negotiation stance based on the concept of ecosystemic multifunctionality takes root.