Impact of agricultural development on demographic behaviour

The present study was conducted to understand the relationship between agricultural development and fortility behaviour of rural population. In developing countries like India, agri in one cultural development is one of the most important instruments of ting change in a rural setting and hence, its impact on demographic behaviour particularly fertility a vital element in the future pol ofoment in the future policy-needs better needs better The conceptual frame understanding. The conceptual frame developed for the study started with the hypothesis that the relationship between agricultural development and fertility can be best described in terms of a process. This process consists of several sequences of changes starting from economic prosperity of cultivators and culmi nating in fertility changes (end variable) through a host of process variables like changes in economic status, exposure to outside work, higher aspirations and finally a change in the demand dimension for the additional child.

Findings of the study are present ed in the form of a comparative ana lysis of end variable (cumulative fer tility) and process variables between agriculturally developed and undeve loped villages in Gujarat. The spe special features of the study lie in up a new conceptual frame which brings out the e in building significance of a macro variable like 'externalities and a micro variable like 'cost conscious ness' in understanding the fertility. behaviour.

The study should be of interest to all those concerned with develop ment aspects of the population pro blem as a student, teacher and more importantly as a researcher.