This book investigates how trade liberalization policies influence agricultural cropping patterns and production efficiency within the semi-arid tropical regions of India. Authors Ashok Gulati and Tim Kelley utilize empirical data to evaluate the resource costs of domestic production compared to international imports. The text provides a rigorous framework for understanding the shifts in cultivation for key commodities like oilseeds, pulses, and cotton in the context of a globalizing market.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of Indian agricultural policy and trade reform. Readers frequently note the technical density of the prose and the specific focus on regional economic data sets.