Liberalise trade in machines (Indian Express)

Indian Express published an op-ed by research analyst, Manmeet Ajmani, and senior research fellows, Devesh Roy and Hiroyuki Takeshima who write that to boost agricultural productivity, open up trade, lower tariffs on equipment. Mechanization covers the whole spectrum of activities from land preparation, threshing, harvesting storage, and even transport. India’s mechanization coverage is around 40-45 percent, compared to 90 percent in developed countries. If productivity in agriculture and incomes of farmers were to go up significantly, Indian agriculture must hit the mechanization frontier. Liberal trade in machinery presents an opportunity to access distant and international markets. The key is to keep both ways open.