Transitions in rice production systems in eastern India. Evidence from two villages in Uttar Pradesh
Vishwa Ballabh; Sushil Pandey
Economic and Political Weekly 34(13): A-11-A-16
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-9976 Document Number: 352478
The paper considers the nature of economic and institutional changes occurring in rice production systems of two villages in eastern Uttar Pradesh over the period 1982-96. The question of whether eastern Uttar Pradesh's agrarian relations characterized as being semi-feudal, permit expansion of production through the rise of new institutions and spread of knowledge and technology is addressed. Results indicate that the changes that have occurred in the study villages reflect a dynamism in the agricultural sector in rural eastern India that has resulted from improved infrastructure, rising opportunity cost of farm labour and a greater interaction of the rural sector with the market economy. In this predominantly rainfed region, increased irrigation has accelerated changes in agricultural production systems in the villages. New opportunities for increasing farm productivity and incomes have led to changes in crop choice and input usage but have also induced changes in land and labour markets.