A Planning Commission study has found that the growth of agriculture has been spread evenly all over the country contrary to reports that it was restricted to a select few areas. The study, carried out by G S Bhalla and Gurmail Singh, also notes a distinct change in the cropping pattern during 1980-83 to 1992-95, the period for which it was carried out. This change was manifested in the shift from coarse cereals toward oilseeds and other commercial crops, particularly so in the central region of the country and, to a lesser extent, in the southern region.
The study has found that there was a significant rise in the productivity of half of the total male agricultural workers spread over most of the states. This is likely to lead to higher wages and incomes for these workers and may trigger off a process of rapid growth in the non-agricultural sectors through input, output and consumption linkages.
Agricultural output rose by 3.40 per cent during the period studied, largely due to the turnaround experienced by the eastern and southern states and the continuation of high growth by the north-western region. Good performances by two of the four states in the central region also contributed to the growth in agricultural output.
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The states in question, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, successfully shifted large areas from low-yield and low-priced coarse cereals to high-value oilseeds.
This was made possible due to two factors: the relative prices of oilseeds and the fact that they registered a very high rate of growth.
Singh and Bhalla have cited a significant acceleration in the growth rate of crop output in the eastern region to support their claim that there has been an extension of the green revolution in this region, in general, and West Bengal in particular. Arguing that this was made possible by increasing the area under irrigation through substantial private investment in pumpsets and tubewells, the study has called for complementary investment by the public sector in infrastructure to sustain the present level of private investment.
With a view to supporting the high growth in crop output in the eastern region, the study has suggested the continuation of minimum support prices.
It has also suggested that the Food Corporation of India should be asked to be specially active in the emerging surplus areas.
The southern region witnessed a turnaround between 1980-83 and 1992-95, with all the states except Kerala recording accelerated growth in crop output.
The study has singled out Tamil Nadu for praise since the state had registered a deceleration in agricultural growth earlier.
However, the study has pointed out that the southern states have not been able to reap the benefits of new technology because of the continuing river water disputes.
The study has also highlighted the huge potential for crop diversification and exports and the need to involve small and marginal farmers in the process of diversification.
The authors have called upon policy makers to devise appropriate institutional strategies to involve the small and marginal farmers so that they may be able to avail of the benefits of increasing growth, agricultural diversification and exports.