Geography and agricultural productivity in India : implications for Tamil Nadu
Harvard University
Geography and agricultural productivity in India : implications for Tamil Nadu - Chennai Govt. of 2001 - 86 p.
The Problem: The growth rate of agriculture in Tamil Nadu may be cause for concem. Recent studies by Professor Jeffrey Sachs show that tropical conditions, such as Tamil Nadu's can slow economic growth through lower levels of agricultural productivity. In 1995-96, the negative growth of Tamil Nadu's agricultural sector pulled the state's growth rate down so low that Tamil Nadu was unable to meet its growth target for the Eighth Plan. Moreover, farmers in Tamil Nadu are shifting away from foodgrain production to higher value commercial crops. thereby raising substantial food security concerns. A continued decline in Tamil Nadu's agricultural sector, particularly in foodgrains, could have grave implications for the State's large percentage of rural poor, food supplies and long term growth.
This Report: Since the Green Revolution began in the late 1960s, India has experienced considerable regional varia tion in agricultural productivity. In particular, states in the Northwest have consistently performed better than central and southern states. Existing analysis on the determinants of this variation have focussed on economic policies and institutions. This report analysis the effects of geography on cross-state variations in rice, wheat, maize and total foodgrain yield within India and presents the policy implications of this analysis for the State Government of Tamil Nadu. It uses the tools of sta tistical analysis, Geographic Information Systems, and econo metric models based on a production function approach. To measure geographic variation, this study uses rainfall and tem perature data, as well as the "Koeppen Zone" measure, an indicator of agro-climatic characteristics. The study is intended to complement work done by other analysts on the effects of economic policy on agriculture.
Agriculture
TN 338.9
Geography and agricultural productivity in India : implications for Tamil Nadu - Chennai Govt. of 2001 - 86 p.
The Problem: The growth rate of agriculture in Tamil Nadu may be cause for concem. Recent studies by Professor Jeffrey Sachs show that tropical conditions, such as Tamil Nadu's can slow economic growth through lower levels of agricultural productivity. In 1995-96, the negative growth of Tamil Nadu's agricultural sector pulled the state's growth rate down so low that Tamil Nadu was unable to meet its growth target for the Eighth Plan. Moreover, farmers in Tamil Nadu are shifting away from foodgrain production to higher value commercial crops. thereby raising substantial food security concerns. A continued decline in Tamil Nadu's agricultural sector, particularly in foodgrains, could have grave implications for the State's large percentage of rural poor, food supplies and long term growth.
This Report: Since the Green Revolution began in the late 1960s, India has experienced considerable regional varia tion in agricultural productivity. In particular, states in the Northwest have consistently performed better than central and southern states. Existing analysis on the determinants of this variation have focussed on economic policies and institutions. This report analysis the effects of geography on cross-state variations in rice, wheat, maize and total foodgrain yield within India and presents the policy implications of this analysis for the State Government of Tamil Nadu. It uses the tools of sta tistical analysis, Geographic Information Systems, and econo metric models based on a production function approach. To measure geographic variation, this study uses rainfall and tem perature data, as well as the "Koeppen Zone" measure, an indicator of agro-climatic characteristics. The study is intended to complement work done by other analysts on the effects of economic policy on agriculture.
Agriculture
TN 338.9