The Political Economy of Rice Trade between Bangladesh, India and Nepal

Aditya Pillai, Sagar Prasai

Research output: Book/ReportReport

Abstract

The trade of rice across the political boundaries of South Asia is centuries old. While the formal institutions that support and mediate this trade have transformed with the emergence of the modern state, the essential practices that undergird them retain a familiar shape. Relationships between the farmer and aggregator of rice, the cycles of informal capital that dictate production and the political importance of the grain in stability of the state are as central to the politics of rice in the region today as they were in the 17th century.

This report identifies the key institutional practices of rice trade between India, Bangladesh and Nepal and examines some of the more salient political economy motives that drive it. A lot of this report deals with Indian institutions because India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter in the region. The social complexities of India’s rice markets are equally important because of its position as the largest rice exporter in the world, reaching around 140 countries each year.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherAustralian Centre for International Agricultural Research
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2018

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