Artha Vijnana: Journal of The Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics

R. S. Deshpande ¹, Amalendu Jyotishi ², A. Narayanamoorthy ¹

Affiliations
1 Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Unit, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Nagarbhavi, Bangalore-72, IN
2 Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Unit, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Nagarbhavi, Bangalore-72, ID

Abstract

India's largest share of poor is located among agricultural labourers belonging to Scheduled Castes. The poverty in this group persists and gets perpetuated due to continued discrimination in the employment opportunities and wage market. Owing to the low wages, they are perceptually under debt burden. This issue becomes sharp due to interlocking of labour and credit market. The insignificant participation of this group in the formal credit market makes the situation worse. In this paper, an attempt is made to analyse the indebtedness and market participatian of the deprived castes especially on the background of one of the most radical institutianal changes, i.e., lanf reforms. We have used secondary level information available from different sources in order to analyse the issue. The study concludes that due to marginalisation in land market as well as extremely weak bargaining position in the labour market, the indebteduess of this group has been increasing. This situation is aggravated by the relative neglect of this group by formal credit agencies.

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R. S. Deshpande ¹, A. Narayanamoorthy ²

Affiliations
1 Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Unit, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore - 560 072, IN
2 Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (Deemed to be a University). Pune - 411 004, IN

Abstract

With the positive and firm steps towards liberalisation, the policy towards agricultural development in India has more complex problems to deal with than ever before. Infrastructural development takes equal priority as that of the development of the bypassed regions, crops and peasant classes which did not receive the benefits of the technological change of mid-sixties.

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A. Narayanamoorthy , R. S. Deshpande

Abstract

Over-exploitation of water resource due to the inefficient use has caused deep concern during the last two decades. This is common across the sources of irrigation. The dilemma of the situation is that on the one side we have the fast increasing density of wells/canal systems causing stress on water resources and on the other side stands the largely salinated land mass. The only reason for these two is the inefficiency in use of water for irrigation. Resouroe literacy. proper pricing policy or legislating access to water are a few methods suggested to control the use rates. On the technology front however, we have different methods of irrigation which directly control the water delivery System. In the eighth plan a centrally sponsored scheme on 'Use of Plastics' in Agriculture' was launched to promote plastic in agriculture. Drip irrigation method has been one of them. It is also referred to as 'micro irrigation' along with the other such methods like sprinkler irrigation perforated pipes etc. Initially drip irrigation was used under water stress conditions to vegetable crops and using this Israel could achieve high productivity growth.

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R. S. Deshpande

Abstract

Some of the recent debates on development theories have broughtforth the neccessity to strengthen the theoretical and empirical analysis in the precincts of resource economics. In the theoretical development of the resource economics, common property resources as well as the open access resources pose a great challenge due to the use rntes and pricing policies. The environmental cost of the uneconomic use rates has assumed threatening proportions.

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R. S. Deshpande ¹, N. Rajasekaran ¹

Affiliations
1 Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune, IN

Abstract

Water management in irrigated area is quite a different task as compared to that under rainfed regions. Here it becomes essentially a component of resource planning. Watershed management programmes undertaken with the government and non-governmental initiatives have shown excellent results towards resource conservation, as well as, monitoring the use rates. The present paper applies a system approach framework to analyse the impoct of watershed management in Maharashtra. The paper gives a complete framework for such analysis and discusses If case study of the National Watershed Development Programme of Maharashtra. The impact analysis helped in bringing out the positive externalities and point out towards the minimisation of entropy in the production process. The paper concludes on a need for conducive institutional structure to achieve this.

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R. S. Deshpande

Abstract

Studies on watershed management under surface and groundwater irrigation have focussed on the analyses from two distinct perspectives. Firstly, the environmental perspective, which mainly arises out of the mismanagement (or generally overuse) of water. This has been a subject of debate for long. Almost a consensus has been reached to underscore the irrigational overuse of water both under the surface and groundwater irrigation systems.

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R. S. Deshpande , N. Rajasekaran

Abstract

National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) vas introduced during the Seventh Five Year Plan. The main objective of the programme was to stabilize the productivity in rainfed areas and to conserve as well as upgrade the land and water resources. The programme was reviewed during 1990 and fresh guidelines were issued focusing on holistic intergrated approach towards the watershed treatment components. The participation of the beneficiaries and project planning, were incorporated as the important components. It was felt necessary to review the impact of the NWDPRA on various aspects of the agricultural economy. The present study was undertaken to analyse the impact of NWDPRA on various aspects of the agricultural sector and to give a feedback for the effective implementation of the project.

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R. S. Deshpande , V. Ratna Reddy

Abstract

Experience of agricultural development in the country suggests wide regional differentials in the growth performance, along with a serious neglect of the balance of ecosystem. Large portions of Maharashtra situated on the Deccan Plateau are the fragile eco-regions by passed by technology. These areas contribute a sizable share to the food grain economy of the state.

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R. S. Deshpande , S. R. Nikumbh

Abstract

This paper primarily deals with the symbiotic relationship between cultivated and uncultivated lands under watershed development approach. One of the dominant variables which is a cause as well as offers solution to the problem of land degradation is the type of ownership of land. In a cross section of four situations, two with different administrative perspective and the other two with local participation offer clues to the problem of the treatment of degraded lands. Even in a watershed development approach care has to be taken of the cross institutional perspectives.

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R. S. Deshpande

Abstract

India has a long tradition of voluntarism. The principles of self-help and development from within, were the key words at the time of independence. Over the last four and half decades there is a continuous attempt to incorporate this in our development philosophy.

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R. S. Deshpande

Abstract

Sustainability of the level of growth, changes experienced in the structure of this growth and the overall reforms in the economic policy have together brought the agricultural policy perspectives at cross roads. Sustainability here would mean the capability of maintaining the present level of growth without affecting the eco-structure (Pearce, 1988). Therefore, the management of this situation under present conditions is entirely different compared to those confronted in mid-sixties or in early seventies. In the absence of any long term policy document for the most important sector of the economy, the directions are (unfortunately) received from the exogenous factors. Hence, a look in retrospect of the developmental patterns of agricultural sector becomes necessary.

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R. S. Deshpande

Abstract

Instability is one of the important decision parameters In development dynamics and more so in the context of agricultural development. The nature and behavior of the growth-instability relation changes according to the eco-environmental situations. In particular this assumes added importance when it emerges in the context of new technology and especially in a situation like Maharashtra, where the troughs in agricultural production are severe as compared to other similar regions. Moreover, Maharashtra presents an interesting regional contrast with vast drought-prone tracts spanning over about twelve districts.

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