Using farm level data generated by National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) and National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), the authors of the book provide empirical evidences on seven issues related to asset build up for farm-households in developing countries. First, what are the empirical evidences on asset-liability portfolio structure of farm households? Second, whether there have been shifts in composition of asset-liability structure over a period of time? Third, what are the determinants of likelihood of financial inclusion and exclusion of farm households? Fourth, how is the structure of capital expenditure incurred by farmers, and what are the determinants of capital expenditure? Fifth, what are the factors which would govern the accumulation of non-farm business activities and thereby enhance livelihood options in rural areas? Sixth, with respect to all these issues, are there fundamental differences as between large and small farmers and rural and urban farmers? Finally, which are the possible policy directions to facilitate asset-build up in farm households?

The book is based on the research work of authors and on field level evidences; and a new methodological framework has been developed by authors which could facilitate further cross-country research in this neglected area.

S. Bisaliah, PhD in Agriculture Economics from University of Minnesota, has been engaged in teaching, research, development work and academic administration for the last four decades. He has 170 research articles and policy reports on agriculture/rural development and capital formation in agriculture.

S. Mahendra Dev is Director, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), Mumbai, India. Earlier, he was Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, Govt. of India, Delhi and Director, Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderabad. He received his PhD from the Delhi School of Economics and completed his post-doctoral research at Yale. He has more than 100 research publications in national and international journals and   has written extensively on agricultural development, poverty and public policy, food security, employment guarantee schemes, social security, farm and non-farm employment.

Syed Saifullah is presently working as a Senior Policy Officer in the Policy Assistance and Support Service of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. A PhD in Economics from University of Paris-Dauphine, France, his field of specialisation includes: modelling for policy analysis, providing policy assistance and advice for sustainable agriculture and rural development, and international trade. Dr Syed has published several research papers and is co-author of the book: Agriculture in the Cook Islands: New Directions (1993). 

Dhritisree Sarkar is a PhD student at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), Mumbai. Her research topic is “Feminisation of Poverty in India”. She has done her Masters in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.  Her research interests include development economics, agricultural economics and econometrics.