The authors review the experiences of Asian farmers with commercial agriculture and the role of research institutions in fostering commercialism. After looking at specific examples of the interplay between science, technology, and agricultural change in Asia, they point to expected future developments.

Agriculture in southern Asia has undergone a radical transformation in recent years, one that continues to alter the political economy of the area. Beyond the familiar elements of the green revolution, there has been an increase in resource exploitation for food production, and a rise in the economic and political strength of food producers, as wel