Dynamics of Subsistence and Commercial Agriculture Pattern in Rajasthan

Abstract

ABSTRACT newlineBackground: This thesis on agriculture pattern in the state of Rajasthan is conducted at a time newlinewhen the forces and relations of production are witnessing a drastic transformation. To newlineunderstand the changes, cropping pattern, crop input use and crop output sale trend are analysed newlineto decipher where do subsistence and commercial agriculture stands in today s milieu. A review newlineof theoretical literature blended with empirical research provides insights on commercial newlineagriculture studies which kept growing through the 70s and after. However, then a dearth of newlinestudies in the 21 st century, especially on the present landscape of subsistence and commercial newlineagriculture prompted the need to investigate agriculture pattern in the dry land area of India. An newlineinvestigation of this type which builds on the work of neo-liberal theorists will be of significance newlinefor agriculture economists, development practitioners and policy researchers. newlineObjectives: The objectives of the study are to (1) examine the changes in cropping pattern in the newlinestate of Rajasthan; (2) fathom out farmers and crops which command greater use of HYV seed- newlinefertiliser usage; (3) identify factors that transform a subsistence farmer to a commercial farmer; newlineand (4) explore the emerging challenges in practicing subsistence and commercial agriculture in newlinethe study area. newlineMethodology: The study uses secondary and primary data to bring out the dynamics in newlineagriculture from a macro and micro perspective. Macro aspect is studied using time series data to newlineascertain changes in cropping pattern in last 60 years. While micro details about decision making newlinein farming such as crops grown, HYV seed-fertiliser used, crops sold, livestock reared and loan newlineobtained were enquired using structured questionnaire. For this 300 farmers spread over three newlinevillages of Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan were selected using simple random sampling. newlineQuantitative data is analysed using simple statistical measures and regression. A logistic newlineregression model was fit with four predictors. newlineFindings: The study lays out a composite account of changes in cropping pattern in last six newlinedecades in terms of crops grown, seed use practice, and fertiliser application. It is found that the newlineincidence of subsistence and commercial farming has almost an equal sharing in the agrarian newlineeconomy of Rajasthan. While the micro data obtained from interviewing farmers suggest that newlinethe crop sale tendency is higher. Capitalism has made inroads into the farm sector through seeds newlineand fertilisers. The high use of HYV seed and fertiliser in the study villages lends support to the newlinewidely accepted view by economists that commercialisation of agriculture is an inevitable and newlineessential feature of the emergence and consolidation of capitalism. Lastly, the study reveals newlineobstacles which farmers encounter under the present set of policies guided by neo-liberalism and newlinepinpoint the need of reforms in it. In order to ameliorate the distress of farmers, there is need of a newlinegenuinely positive agrarian policy intervention to safeguard water depletion, soil degradation newlinewith fertiliser use, crop protection from stray cattle, and farmer s protection from traders. newlinexiii newline