New Delhi, Aug. 8 -- India had for long protected its agriculture sector through high tariffs and been reluctant to reduce them in free trade agreements (FTAs). This, however, has changed in recent years.

The country is now aggressively seeking market access for its agri-products like rice, shrimp, spices, tea and coffee through its trade agreements and, in return, is willing to open up agriculture and food products selectively to FTA partners.

India is the world's largest producer of food items like bananas, millets, pulses, chickpeas and mangoes, and ranks second globally in the production of citrus fruits, wheat, rice and cashew nuts. It maintains a positive agricultural trade balance with the US, UK and EU.

Therefore, India has tak...