THE CHANGING PUBLIC ROLE IN SERVICES TO FOOD AND AGRICULTURE - THE LEGAL REGULATION OF FOOD MARKETS IN INDIA

A framework allowing the commercial transfer of property rights is an essential prerequisite to market exchange widely considered the prerog ative of the state, Here, the social history of the legal regulation o f agricultural markets in central, south and northeast India is examin ed. Regulatory law is shown to be riven with unanticipated outcomes, w orking as intended only under rare conditions of competition and absen ce of preharvest commercial debt, Meso level institutions of collectiv e action and micro level behaviour by firms also regulate exchange, un systematically according to their multiple objectives, Foreign funded projects add another layer of customary procedure. In the light of thi s analysis, the current policy debates over agricultural market reform are discussed and an analytical framework and suggestions for reform are offered.