The issue of agricultural development influences the livelihoods of a vast majority of Indians, and this report explores the role that the business sector could play in rural transformation by bringing the concerns of the local governance agenda through the Panchayati Raj—the South Asian political system. Presenting several detailed case studies, this account seeks to show how partnership models could ensure reasonable income levels, even despite potentially hostile environments. Because India grapples with the paradox of endemic backwardness in more than 200 districts, this reference is a must read for policymakers and practitioners in the area of pro-poor growth, rural development, local governance and public-private partnership.