ECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF DROUGHT PRONE REGIONS OF INDIA
Keywords:
Drought, Economic, Diversification, IndiaAbstract
Drought is a natural disaster that is often referred to as creeping phenomenon and its impact spreads over many sectors of economy and society. These impacts are extensive in spatial extent and are complex to estimate. Drought produces both direct and indirect impacts. The study has been carried out at two levels; first at regional level and second at micro- level (village). At regional level, sample areas consists of four different agro-climatic regions viz., arid, semi- arid, sub- humid and humid. Further, from each of these zones, one district each is selected from the four drought-prone regions of India. The selected districts are Jaisalmer, Sangli, Jalaun, and Puruliya. Two villages each from one district have been selected. The database comprises of relevant information collected from both primary and secondary data sources. The methodology of the study includes key informant interviews, structured questionnaire and informal discussions. Various statistical techniques have also been used in the study.
The paper broadly supports the hypothesis that the effects of drought on rural economy differ with different ecological settings. The paper outlines that occupational diversification has become part of the survival strategy of households in drought-prone areas of India. The different socio-economic groups are not equally vulnerable to drought so, their coping strategies also vary markedly. This study finds that gender inequality also has an important influence on rural economic structure, in particular to drought prone economies. The role of livestock in rural areas is also investigated. The paper also highlights the status of agricultural development in terms of technological development and alternative cropping methods. Credit structure forms an integral part of economic system, is also analysed in this paper.
Downloads
References
Acharya, S. S. (1992). Drought and Response of Rural Families. Economic and Political Weekly, Vol.27, No. 36, pp. 1894-1896.
Agarwal, P.K. (2007). Climate Change Implications for Indian Agriculture. Jal vigyan Sameeksha, Hydrology Review, Vol. 22. National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, India.
Ahluwalia, Montek (1978). Rural Poverty in India. World Bank Staff Paper, No. 279.
Alderman, H. and Paxson, C.H. (1992). Do the Poor Insure? A Synthesis of the Literature on Risk and Consumption in Developing Countries. Policy Research Working Paper, No. 1008, World Bank, Washington D.C.
Bandyopadhyay, N. and Saha, A.K. (2014). Analysing meteorological and vegetative drought in Gujarat, pp. 61- 71. In: Climate Change and Biodiversity: Proceedings of IGU Rohtak Conference, Vol. I. Advances in Geographical and Environmental Sciences. (Singh, M. Ijhar, I.M. and Singh, R.B. eds.). Springer, Japan.
Bandoyopadhyay, N., Bhuiyan, C., and Saha, A.K. (2015). Temperature extremes, moisture deficiency and their impacts on dryland agriculture in Gujarat, India, pp. 119- 124. In: Drought: Research and Science – Policy Interfacing (Andreu, et. al. (Eds.). Taylor & Francis Group, London.
Bebe, B.O., Udo, H.M.J., Rowlands, G.J. and Thorpe, W. (2003). Smallholder Dairy Systems in Kenya Highlands: Breed Preferences and Breeding Practices. Livestock Production Science, Vol. 82, No. (2- 3), 117-127.
Bhardwaj, Krishna (1990). Regional Differentiation in India: A Note. Economic and Political Weekly, pp. 605-616.
Chandrasekhar, C.P. (1993). Agrarian Change and Occupational Diversification, Non- Agricultural Employment and Rural Development in West Bengal, Journal of Peasant Studies. Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group.
Eriksen, S. K. Brown and P. M. Kelly (2005). The Dynamics of Vulnerability: Locating Coping Strategies in Kenya and Tanzania. Geographical Journal. Vol. 171. 287-305.
Ellis, Frank (2000). Rural Livelihood Diversity in Developing Countries: Evidences and Policy Implications. Natural Resource Perspective. Overseas Development Institute. No. 40.
Ffolliott P.F., K.N. Brooks and M.M. Fogel (2002). Managing Watersheds for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resource Benefits into the Future. Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture, Vol. 41, 23-40.
Jodha, N. S. (1990). Rural Common Property Resources: Contributions and Crisis. Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development. New Delhi.
Koppel, B. (1994). Development or Deterioration Work in Rural Asia, Lynne Rienner Publishers, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.
Mayande, V.M and Katyal, J.C. (1996). Low Cost Improved Seeding Implements for Rain-fed Agriculture. Technical Bulletin-3, pp. 26.CRIDA, Hyderabad.
Mahapatra, Sitakant (1978). Modernisation of Tribal Agriculture, Technological and Cultural Constraints. Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 13.
Nadkarni, M.V. (1985). Socio-Economic Conditions in Drought-Prone Areas: A Bench- mark Study of Drought Districts in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi.
Nagarajan, R. (2009). Drought Assessment. Capital Publishing Company, New Delhi.
Rao, V.M. (1980). Rural Development and the Village: Perspectives for Planning for Development. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd., Delhi.
Rao, V.M. (1987). Changing village structure: Impact of rural development programmes. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd., Delhi
Shylendra, H.S. and Rani, Uma (2004). Rural – Urban Linkages, Occupational Diversification and Sustainable Rural Livelihood Systems: In Search of Sustainable Livelihood Systems. Sage Publications.
Saleth, Maria (1997). Occupational Diversification among Rural Groups: A Case Study of Rural Transformation in Tamil Nadu. Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 32, No. 30, Jul. 26 - Aug. 1, pp. 08-17.
Venkateswarlu, J. (1986). Efficient Resource Management for Dryland. 15 Years of Dryland Agriculture Research, Souvenir, CRIDA, Hyderabad.
World Meteorological Organisation Report (2013). The Global Climate 2001- 2010, A decade of Climate Extremes, 1-20, Switzerland.
