In the course of over half a century of planned development in India, there has been a major transformation of farming from the traditional to the modern, with millions of farmers participating in the green revolution and becoming increasingly conscious of science and technology. The country has entered the new era of globalisation with confidence, even as the expectations of farmers have been aroused. The Millennium Study was conceived, planned and coordinated over the last four years, by officers of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, involving, among others, the Secretary of the Ministry, R.C.A Jain (who has spent over 27 years in the field of agriculture and rural development) and M.K. Srivastava of the Indian Statistical Service. Beginning in the year 2000, the project involved the efforts of over a hundred economists, policy-makers, academicians and scholars with three reputed institutions acting as coordinating / facilitating nodal centres, namely (i) Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi (ii) Institute of Social and Economic Change, Bangalore, and (iii) Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. State of the Indian Farmer : A Millennium Study (published in 27 volumes along with a CD-Rom) is unique in the sense that it is focused on the ‘farmer’ — the man behind agriculture. This is the most comprehensive effort after the National Commission on Agriculture submitted its reports in 1976. These studies, on various individual themes, under this mega-project, are quite penetrating and painstaking, their authors being recognised authorities on the concerned subjects. A comprehensive overview of these studies by Prof. Y.K. Alagh, provides a critical appraisal of the major issues addressed in these volumes. The mega study has been further enriched by a crisp and insightful preface by Prof. C.H. Hanumantha Rao touching almost every issue concerning the Indian farmer in today’s scenario. The 27-volume study, documenting the progression of agricultural development during the last five decades, will indeed go a long way in enriching our understanding of the nuances of development process and its welfare implications. The study will certainly help the future planners, policy-makers and all those interested in the welfare of the Indian farmers and the alleviation of rural poverty.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR C.H. Hanumantha Rao
Professor Chennamaneni Hanumantha Rao is currently Chairman, Board of Governors, Institute of Economic Growth, University of Delhi and Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), Hyderabad. He is also Member, National Adivsory council, Government of India. Born in 1929 in Karimnagar, Andhra Pradesh, he did his graduation from Nizam College, Hyderabad. As an activist of the All Jyderabad Students Union, he participated actively in the freedom struggle. He did his M.A. in Economics from Osmania University, Jyderabad (1957) and his Ph.D. from University of Delhi (1962). He was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Chicago during 1966-67. He was a Fellow at the Institute of Economic Growth, University of Delhi (1961-92) and also its Director (1976-80). In addition to a distinguished academic career, Professor Rao has been at the forefront of several high-level policy making bodies under Government of India. He was Member, Planning Commission (1982-86); Member, Seventh and Eighth Finance Commissions; Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (1983-85); Chairman, ational Commission on Rural Labuor (1990-91); Chairman, Technical Adivsory Committee on DPA and DDP, Ministry of Rural Development (1993-97); Chairman, HIgh Powered Fertilisers Pricing Policy Review Committee (1997-98); and Member, Board of Directors, Reserve Bank of India (1994-2000). His publications include "Technological change and Distribution of Gains in Indian Agriculture" (Macmillan, 1975); "Agricultural Growth, Rural Poverty and Environmental Degradation in India" (OUP, 1994); "Andhra Pradesh Development: Economic Reforms and Challenges Ahead" (edited with S. Mahendra Dev, CESS, 2003) and over 100 research papers in academic journals. Professor Rao has received many awards during his illustrious career. The awards/honours include Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Memorial prize (1974-75), Sri Kambhampati Satyanarayana (Senior) Memorial Award (1998), K.H. Batheja Award (1994), Financial Express Award (1955), Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Philosophy from Srikrishna Devaraya University, anathapur (1991) and the Kakatiya University, Warangal (1998), in Andhra Pradehs; and Sri Ravi Narayan Reddy Memorial Award (1994), and Telgu Atma Gaurava Puraskaram (2000). He has been awarded 'Padma Bhushan' by the President of India in 2004.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Yoginder K. Alagh
Yoginder K. Alagh is currently Chancellor, Nagaland University and President of Human Development Institute. Prof. Alagh was former Minister of Power and Planning and Science and Technology, Government of India. Earlier he was Vice Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.
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