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

Ashok K. Mitra ¹

Affiliations
1 Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune 411 004, IN

Abstract

Ever since the collapse of central planning first in Central and Eastern Europe and then in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in late eighties, the Eastern European economies are in the process of transition from the centrally planned command economy to the market based economy. In recent years Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union have undergone fundamental economic and political transformation. Far reaching changes going far beyond the earlier years characterise the agrarian economy. A new agricultural structure based on private ownership, true cooperatives and market economy has emerged and has become operationally functional.

Full Text

     

Ashok K. Mitra ¹

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

Abstract

Progress of irrigation development in India has given rise to two major problems, among others specially in respect of major and medium irrigation systems. Firstly, the problem of paucity of resources which not only restricts taking up new projects, but also puts severe restrictions specially on operation and maintenance of the existing surface irrigation systems and completing the on-going unfinished projects. Secondly, the problem of overall poor performance which may be often the fall out of the first problem. The dismal perfonnance in operation and maintenance of most of the systems, owing mainly to the paucity of funds and low water rates, calls. for allocating more funds for the operation and maintenance costs and enhancing the water rates in order to restore the financial health of the public irrigation works which has deteriorated at a rapid rate. In this paper an attempt has been made to examine these issues with reference to cost aspect of the operation and maintenance of the existing major and medium, irrigation systems and pricing of irrigation water.

Full Text

     

Deepak Shah , Ashok K. Mitra

Abstract

The advent of globalization, liberalization and privatisation in the wake of ushering in new economic policies has thrown up newer kind of challenges before the country that require some bold initiatives on the part of policy makers. The agricultural policy reforms have come upfront as a result of this economic liberalization in India and the new economic environment has led 10 significant changes in the export strategies encompassing the agricultural sector. Vertical integration of production and marketing agencies have brought about structural changes in the economy and in this pro-liberalization environment, the export of agricultural commodities without doubt have gained considerable strength due to their inherent export advantages. Nevertheless, under the changed economic scenario being witnessed during the early nineties. The relevant issues that could strike one are what prospects do the agricultural exports of India hold and what do the relative potential for exports of traditional agricultural commodities as against the non-traditional ones look like and what steps need to be initiated to realise such potentials. How better endowed India and other developing nations are to mutually cater to their vast expanding markets for agricultural commodities and to realise their true export potential in this respect. What prospects do the future hold in terms of export potential of various high value horticultural products in the fast changing international market conditions and in the light of agricultural trade liberalization pursued by various developed and deveoping nations.

In an attempt to address the above issues and as a prelude to have better understanding of the structural changes in agricultural exports, we have tried to analyse and evaluate the pattern of production and export trade of India in relation to changes that have taken place in the structure of production and export trade of Asia and the world over the past 15 years with special reference to non-traditional c.xports.

Full Text

     

Ashok K. Mitra ¹

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

Abstract

The new economic policy set in motion since mid-1991 has progressively started posing new challenges to as well as creating new opportunities for the Indian economy. Direct and indirect impact of these policy changes are bound to affect the agricultural sector of the Indian economy. It is argued that impact of overall liberalisation of the economy would be higher investment and growth in agriculture induced by favourable terms of trade. In all these arguments dominant role of market forces, both domestic and international is visualized to be of crucial importance. In keeping with these policy changes, therefore, Indian agriculture not only has to become cost effective but also competitive internationally as well as in domestic market. In this changing scenario and under changing circumstances-it would be of major interest to examine and analyse the extent to which the technological change introduced in Indian agriculture in seventies has had wider spread as also the cost effectiveness of such technological changes. The present study is an attempt in that direction. The study envisages to examine the nature of and extent of changes in production, input use patterns, factor input proportions, cost structure and value of output brought about by the interaction of price factor and technological change in agriculture during the last two decades.

Full Text

     

Ashok K. Mitra

Abstract

The new economic policy set in motion since mid-1991 has progressively started posing new challenges to as well as creating new opportunities for the Indian economy. Direct and indirect impact of these policy changes are bound to affect the agricultural sector of the Indian economy. It is argued that impact of overall liberalisation of the economy would be higher investment and growth in agriculture induced by favourable terms of trade. In all these arguments, dominant role of market forces both domestic and international is visualised to be of crucial importance. In keeping with these policy changes, therefore, Indian agriculture not only has to become cost effective but also competitive internationally as well as in domestic market In this changing scenario and under changing circumstances it would be of major interest to examine and analyse the extent to which the technological change introduced in Indian agriculture in seventies has had wider spread as also the cost effectiveness of such technological changes.

Full Text

     

Ashok K. Mitra

Abstract

In a country of uncertain rainfall and with a large population directly dependent on agriculture, multifarious role of Irrigation development can hardly be overemphasized. Subject to different agro-climatic conditions in a country of continental dimension, irrigation is expected to usher an era of high productivity with stability in agricultural production and a wider distribution of available water both in terms of area and number of users served. On counts of both efficiency and equity the performance of most surface irrigation systems in India leaves much to be desired. Apart from the technical difficulties, the main factor responsible for the below par performance is unsatisfactory irrigation management, particularly the delivery and utilization of water at the farm level. Viewed against this background the issue of farmers' involvement and participation in water management and distribution is mooted. In this study we present three case studies of farmers' participation in irrigation management through users' co-operative on three surface irrigation systems in Maharashtra.

Full Text

     

Ashok K. Mitra

Abstract

There is widespread agreement on the need to improve the management of irrigation systems in developing countries, so as to increase the efficiency of water use and productivity of irrigated agriculture. Since irrigation management, apart from its technical aspect, is being increasingly viewed from its organisational and cultural aspects, it would be of immense importance and relevance to examine the organisational structures which have been successful in effecting positive changes in and improving efficiency of irrigated agriculture in Japan set out in a comparative perspective with Indian systems in historical and contemporary times. Even though irrigation systems in their structure and dimension are widely different in Japan and India, there is one aspect of irrigation development in recent years in India where the approach seems to be similar. The Command Area Development Authorities in India have much in common with the Land improvement Districts in Japan at least in their basic approach towards the development of command area with a view to efficient utilisation of land and water resources in any irrigation system. However, in order to be able to appreciate the role of these two organisations in the respective countries it is necessary to review historically the phases through which development in respect of irrigation have proceeded in two countries, ultimately leading to these two forms of organisational structure. Keeping this in view the present study is an attempt to set out the main issues relating to irrigation management in Japan and India in a comparative perspective.

Full Text

     

Ashok K. Mitra

Abstract

Investment in irrigation forms a major part of the strategy of increased agricultural production and rural development in the successive five year plans. This calls for greater efforts on preparation of basinwise regional plans for optimum development of water and related resources, within the national policy framework. There is a greater need for laying stress on economic efficiency in planning, implementation and management of irrigation projects so that the projected benefits to the farmers are achieved. Irrigation planning and management pose problems which are extremely complex. It needs a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach drawing insights and skills from many fields to tackle these complex problems.

Full Text

     

Ashok K. Mitra

Abstract

Generation of employment is an important and inseparable aspect of planning. Since the inception of the first five year plan this aspect has been attracting more careful and systematic attention of the planners. But then, in spite of all the measures taken there is a large backlog of unemployment in the country and this is in addition to the new entrants in the uuemployed labour stock every year.

Full Text

     

Ashok K. Mitra , B. P. Misra

Abstract

There has been a lot of discussion about employment, underemployment and unemployment both in agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. Of late, along with the study on the problems of unemployment in agriculture, greater emphasis is put on the growth and pattern of employment in non-agricultural sector also. It has been the opinion held by many that with the growth of the economy the shift in employment pattern is broadly in the nature of bringing down the proportion of employment in the agricultural sector and some increase in the proportion of employment in the industrial sector.

Full Text

     

Ashok K. Mitra

Abstract

This is an exercise carried out essentially with the census and organised sector data on workforce in order to know how it has grown over the years and what is its pattern of distribution in different sectors of the economy in general and in manufacturing sector in particular. The workers engaged in different sectors of the economy could be classified in two ways, i.e. by industry and by occupation.

Full Text