Agricultural Diversification in India: Potentials and Prospects in Developed Region

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Agricultural diversification as a strategy to achieve important development goals has received increased attention of policy makers in the country during the recent years. The strategy envisages changes in production activities of farm sector, to adjust to changes in economic environment and to face the challenges of persistent unemployment and natural resources degradation. The broad objectives of this strategy are to raise per capita income through opening of avenues for productive employment in farm and non-farm sectors, and to make the economic growth broad based and sustainable in the long run. The success of the policy for agricultural diversification requires identification of suitable region specific diversification alternatives, creation of physical and institutional infrastructure facilities, and implementation of appropriate intervention strategies. Against this backdrop the book explores the potentials and prospects of agricultural diversification in the agriculturally advanced Green Revolution region with focus on the state of Punjab which has attained highest level of agricultural growth and development in the country. Agricultural diversification acquires special significance in this region because of the ecological and environmental problems and strain on natural resources associated with the green revolution technology, and difficulty in sustaining growth in output and income. Time series and cross section data are used to draw inferences regarding the role of the state policy and development of infrastructure like irrigation facilities, roads, markets, institutions etc., in promoting agricultural diversification. The study further examines the implications of agricultural diversification for income, employment, natural resources and ecology. The grassroots level impulses of agricultural ecology. The grassroots level impulses of agricultural diversification have been examined by carrying out a micro level investigation in Ludhiana district, which is relatively more advanced in agricultural production and dairy development among all districts of Punjab.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ramesh Chand

Dr. Ramesh Chand (b. 1956) obtained his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, in 1984. He has been presented with Jawaharlal Nehru award for outstanding research contribution of his doctoral thesis. At present he is Principal Economist at National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. His current research interest includes agricultural policy, demand, supply and trade. He was earlier Professor of Marketing at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana; Reader at Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi; Associate Professor at Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan; and Agriculture Economist at National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mumbai. He has been consultant to World Bank and FAO, ESCAP, ICRISAT; Indian Institute of Foreign Trade and G overnment of Punjab. Dr. Ramesh Chand has served as member of high power committees, expert groups, working groups constituted by various government organizations. He has published articles in many national and international journals like American Jn. Of Agril. Economics, Economic and Political Weekly, Indian Jn. Of Ag. Economics, Experimental Agriculture. He is the author of several monographs and following books: (i) Agricultural Development, Price Policy and Marketed Surplus in India (ii) Agricultural Diversification and Development of Mountain Regions. (iii) Agricultural Diversification in India. He was the Chief Editor of the journal Agricultural Economics Research Review (1998-2000) and Visiting Professor to University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia (2000).