"Growth Miracle" is a term often applied to India these days. As a rice breeder who first visited the country more than 35 years ago, I witnessed many years of what might be called steady stagnation. From the beginning, I understood the capability and potential of the diverse peoples of India, most of whom place a very high value on education. But in the 1970s, it was hard to imagine how the potential could ever be unleashed.

With the advent of globalization and the knowledge economy, a predilection for education suddenly became a tremendous economic advantage. With the economic liberalization policies of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when he served as finance minister, the Indian people began to realize their full potential.

As I write this I have just arrived in India (my third visit this year) on a flight that originated in Detroit. Shortly after takeoff, I realized that I was sitting in the midst of a group of automobile executives. Briefing books were all over, opened to pages with such titles as "How to Behave in India" (these folks were clearly first-timers), "Piston and Ring Suppliers" and "Braking System Suppliers." I realized that I was witnessing yet another increment in the transfer of economic activity to India. It may not be long before we see a new advertising slogan from Detroit automakers: "India Inside."

What we are witnessing in India these days is the fruition of a lot of hard work by a lot of very hard-working people. A large portion of India's population is doing well -- better and better with each passing day -- and they deserve it. But a very large portion of India's population -- at least half of the population of more than 1 billion -- are not doing so well. They are not benefiting from the prosperity that seemingly should trickle down to agricultural and rural communities. The reason is that the Indian food system has not kept pace with the demand of its burgeoning middle class -- busy young men and women who are looking for value-added food products [the addition of value from farmer to store]. They are ready for supermarkets, American style.

While capturing the international market for automobile components and many other goods and services, India stands in danger of losing portions of its internal food market to the detriment of its rural people.

To halt this loss, some would say that industrialization is essential. But India, with a majority of its people still on the land, cannot afford to replicate the experience of the United States, which has shifted the majority of its people to urban areas. Agricultural education in India, while positioning the country to be competitive in the global agricultural economy (and to retain domestic markets), should sensitize students to the need for the benefits of "value added" in a manner that reaches the rural people who are most in need. The good news is that those working to develop the Indian food system will eventually learn this. The bad news is, eventually.

Following up on the recent visit of Cornell President David Skorton, the university and its partners in India, working through the Cornell-Sathguru Foundation, are seeking to establish a capacity development program in food processing and marketing. The program would be under the direction of the Office of International Programs of Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and India-based partner institutions Tamil Nadu Agriculture University and Acharya N.G. Ranga Agriculture University.

The proposed programs initially will supplement course content for training 60 Indian students per year, gradually rising to 240 students a year in the fifth year with a portion reserved for other South Asian students and students from Cornell. These 240 graduates will double the number of agribusiness management diplomas currently awarded annually in India and will significantly enhance the development of an important value-added sector for internal consumption.

Ronnie Coffman, an international professor in plant breeding and genetics, has been visiting India regularly for more than three decades. A constant traveler, he sent this article from Mozambique and is currently in Nairobi.