Trends in Changing Pattern of Productivity of Agricultural Land in the District of Burdwan of West Bengal - A Case Study

ISSN 2319-9725
Nirmalendu Sarkar Department of Commerce, Dinabandhu Mahavidyalaya, Bongaon, 24 Pgs (N), West Bengal, India Santosh Kumar Dutta Department of Economics, Hooghly Mohsin College, Hooghly, West Bengal, India Arup Majumder Ph.D Student, Dept. of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, India Swapan Kumar Biswas Department of Commerce , Burdwan University, West Bengal, India

Abstract: In the world of competition, only those who are progressive, innovative, receptive and efficient could march ahead while the conservative and less progressive are left behind. The adage, the survival of the fittest, seems to be very much relevant in the days of globalization. Therefore, the biggest challenge before Indian farmers is to increase production and productivity of agricultural land so that our country can cope with the rising demand of food crops emanating from high rate of population growth. We are ideally placed to ride the crest of this wave into the future with the help of various methods of intensive agriculture, adoption of high yielding varieties (HYVs), application of timely and adequate quantities of fertilizers and providing irrigation facilities, making hired and family labour efficient, giving emphasis on the use of modern implements etc. Based on this hypothesis regarding the trends in changing pattern of productivity of agricultural land in the district of Burdwan of West Bengal, the present study intends to highlight a comprehensive analysis of recent trends in area under cultivation, production and productivity of agricultural land in respect of some important crops at the state level (West Bengal) as well as for our sample district, namely Burdwan for the assessment of agricultural potentiality. Keywords: Agricultural Land, Productivity, HIV Seeds, Certain-irrigated area, Institutional, Chemical Fertilizer, Progressive, Sustainable, Rising Population, Intensive Method, Semi-log Regression Equation.

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Land is the prime resource for the development of mankind. It is basic and necessary factor for all types of production. But due to the constraint emanating from the relatively fixed supply of land; it can perform on the expected lines only by gaining on productivity fronts. Again, Schultz (1964)1 considers the traditional economic structure as the main hindrance to its growth. However, he argues that even this type of economy can raise agricultural productivity by adopting quality inputs and applying the advances in knowledge and technology to a broad range of productive activities. No significant economic breakthrough is possible in a labour-surplus economy like India without transformation of its agricultural sector. The transformation should take place in two very important factors which are quite interdependent e.g. technological and institutional. These two being interdependent, a deliberate change in either of them independently will not bring forth any lasting effect on agricultural productivity. Accordingly, simultaneous change has to be introduced both in the prevailing technology and reforms in different institutional factors operating in the economy for the purpose of rapid agricultural growth. On the other hand, rapid population growth has also necessitated the growth and increase in efficiency of agriculture. Under these circumstances, this study deals with the behavior of area, production and productivity pattern change in the district Burdwan along with the state of West Bengal. The specific objectives of the study are: a) To study the present condition of agriculture in general we have to examine the agriculture output per unit of land in India and Abroad and b) To examine the trends in area, production and productivity of agricultural land in the district of Burdwan and the state of West Bengal as well for the period from 1985-86 to 2004-05. 2. Methodology No primary data have been generated in this study. The whole study is based on the secondary data. For this, we have collected pertinent information necessary for trend analysis of area, production and productivity of the district of Burdwan and the state of West Bengal for the study periods covering from 1985-86 to 2004-05 from various issues of the District Statistical Hand books published by Principal Agricultural Officer of Burdwan and Statistical Abstracts and Economic Review of West Bengal Published by Bureau of Economics & Statistics, Government of West Bengal.
N.B.: 1 Schultz, T. (1964): Transforming Traditional Agriculture, Yale University Press, New Haven. International Journal of Innovative Research and Studies

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For computation of acquired data, several prevalent statistical techniques have been applied. We used the semi-log regression equation in order to analyze the trends of area, production and productivity of agricultural land. 3. Result and Discussion: The issue of trends in changing pattern of productivity of agricultural land has become very crucial in the district of Burdwan as well as the state of West Bengal. To assess the role we begin by making (i) A Comparative Study of Agricultural productivity in India & Abroad and (ii) concluding with Agricultural Performance of West Bengal as well as the district Burdwan in terms of Some Important Crops of the Region. 3.1 Agricultural productivity in India and Abroad: A Comparative Study It is an established fact that the development of Indian economy largely depends on her progress in agriculture. In fact, industrial progress of recent years has been quite satisfactory. We have reached around 8 per cent growth in industrial production during last few years. However, the success of agriculture has largely helped the industrial growth. Moreover 60 per cent or more of our population still directly and indirectly depends on agriculture. Accordingly, agriculture still is the most important activity for this country and its people in view of the number of people employed in this sector. But agriculture in India has not advanced much either in terms per acre of yield or application of modern advanced technology though Green Revolution was initiated in the year 1960 and since then agricultural productivity has been pushed forward substantially. From data (for the year 2000) submitted in the table -1, a comparative study of productivity levels of land used in Indian agriculture with the levels of land productivity of other countries in respect of several crops has been made. The study reveals the very low level of land productivity in India. Productivity of wheat in India is about 37.9 per cent as compared to the productivity of France. As far as rice is concerned, productivity in India is 48.3 per cent of the productivity of China, and 42.7 per cent of the productivity in U.S.A. The productivity of cotton in India is about one third of the productivity in China. Even, in comparison to Pakistan, productivity of cotton in India is just 56.6 per cent that of Pakistan. As far as groundnut is concerned, the productivity in India is 25.8 per cent of the productivity of the crop in China. It reveals from the above observation that the productivity of land in terms of major crops is very low; as such there is wide scope for its improvement.

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Crop Country France China U.S.A. India U.S.A. Japan China India China U.S.A. Pakistan India China U.S.A. Argentina India

Vol 2 Issue 3 Productivity (100 kgs. Per hectare) 73.3 37.3 28.2 27.8 70.4 67.0 62.3 30.1 8.4 6.9 5.3 3.0 33.3 28.0 27.5 8.6

Wheat

Rice (Paddy)

Cotton (Lint)

Ground nut (in shell)

Table -1: Land Productivity of Some Selected Countries In Respect Of Certain Crops (Year 2000)

Source: Tata service ltd. Statistical outline of India, 2002- 03 p. 260. Ranking attributes Area Production Yield 1 2 52 Rice (paddy) 1 2 38 Wheat 3 4 125 Coarse grains 1 1 138 Pulses 2 5 147 Oil Crops (primary) 1 4 77 Cotton sheets 1 1 7 Jute & Jute like fibres 2 1 13 Tea 7 7 14 Coffee (green) 2 2 31 Sugarcane Table 2: Indias Global Rank in Major Crops (Rank in 2000) Source: Reserve Bank of India, report on Currency and Finance 20002001(Mumbai, 2002). From table- 2 it is clear that India has the largest area under rice (paddy) and wheat in the Crops world and is the second largest producer of these crops. However, in terms of productivity its rank is only 52nd in the world in case of rice and 38 th in respect of wheat. It has the largest area under cultivation of pulses, but in terms of productivity its rank is only 138 th in the world. Not only productivity of land in India is lower than many developed and developing countries but also it is much lower than the estimated potential.
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March, 2013 Crop Rice Wheat Jowar Maize Groudnut Cotton Jute Sugarcane

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Potential 4000/5810 6000/6800 3000/4200 6000/8000 2000/3000 700/850 2500/3000 96000/1,12,000 Table 3: Potential and Actual Productivity

Vol 2 Issue 3 Actual (2001-02) 2086 2770 785 2018 1065 189 2174 67,000

Source: S. Gangadharam, Agricultue: New Thrust on Dry -land Farming Needed, The Economic Times, January 2, 1992, P. -13 & Government of India, Economic Survey 2002-03. From table - 3, it is clear that in case of wheat the actual productivity in 2001-2002 was only 770 kgs per hectare as against the potential of 6000/6800 kgs per hectare. It appears that only 50 per cent of potential has been used. In case of rice, the actual productivity in 2001-2002 was only 2086 kgs per hectare but the potential is estimated as 4000/5810 kgs per hectare. This is true in all other crops. Although India is one among the major producers of agricultural commodities in the world, productivity for a number of commodities like paddy, wheat, jute, groundnut etc are far lower than the yield levels in major producing countries of those crops and in case of some other crops it is even lower than the world average. It reveals from the above discussion that India has huge unused agricultural potential and it is imperative therefore to utilize the potential for meeting the increasing demand of rising population. In order to overcome the problem of low productivity of land, a number of steps like the use of HYV seeds, crop rotation, increase irrigation facilities, intensive method of cultivation etc has to be taken up. 3.2 Agricultural Performance of West Bengal as well as the district Burdwan in terms of Some Important Crops of the Region: Our basic hypothesis relates to the changing pattern of productivity of agricultural land in the district Burdwan along with the state of West Bengal. For this, we have applied the semi-log regression equation technique to trace the nature and extent of cropping pattern both in Burdwan district as well as the state of West Bengal during the periods from 1985-86 to 1994-95 and 1995-96 to 2004-05.
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Crops

Area (Percent per annum) Burdwan West Bengal 1985-86 1995-96 1985-86 1995-96 to to to to 1994-95 2004-05 1994-95 2004-05 0.590038 0.08296 0.77249 0.2646 (-) 3.5387 0.2268 0.180547 0.54034 0.745638 (-) 1.22703 (-) 1.03061 0.126302 (-) 1.7826 (-) 0.01203 0.356409 0.028 0.8664 0.0319 0.01906 1.582078 1.16607 0.277138 (-) 0.52654 0.465493 (-) 0.27995 0.13231 1.402912 0.2707 (-) 0.4720 0.2121 0.1398 0.87678 0.621408 (-) 0.26094 (-) 0.2034 1.082145 (-) 0.927748 (-) 0.12737 0.550842 (-) 0.0373 0.529 (-) 0.00022 0.0106 1.001615 0.810879 0.136229 (-) 0.725 1.157757

Aus Aman Boro Rice Wheat All cereals (Total) All Food grains (Total) Mustard All oilseeds (Total) Jute Sugarcane Potato

Table- 4: Trend of Growth Rate of Cultivated Area of Important Crops* for the District Burdwan and West Bengal (in general) (* Estimates based on semi-log regression equation.) Source: Various Issues of District Statistical Hand Books and Economic Reviews (Government of West Bengal). The estimated trend growth rate of the cultivated effective value productivity of land of some important crops for the district Burdwan and West Bengal is presented in the table - 4. The estimates based on semi-log regression equation during the two decades covering 10-year period each, the first one from 1985-86 to 1994-95 and the second one from 1995-96 to 200405. From table- 4 it is found that in Burdwan, the growth rate of cultivated area for rice for the periods 1985-86 to 1994-95 and 1995-96 to 2004-05 had been 0.2646 per cent and 0.0280 per cent respectively. Rate of growth of cultivated area for rice during 1985-86 to 1994-95 and 1995-96 to 2004-05 noted significantly positive, but the growth came down during the year 1995-96 to 2004-05 as against the period 1985-86 to 1994-95. On the other hand, growth rate of cultivated area for rice in W.B. came down to (-)0.0373 during the period 1995-96 to 2004-05 from 0.2707, which was achieved during the period 1985-86 to 1994-95. Table - 4 revealed that in the district Burdwan as well as the state of West Bengal, the trend of growth rate in cultivated area for wheat, mustard, total (all) oilseeds, jute, sugarcane and potato have increased during the period from 1995-96 to 2004-05 when compared against of those crops for the period 1985-86 to 1994-95. Again, the growth rate in cultivated area for boro and all
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(total) foodgrains for the district as well as the state of W.B. have noted significantly positive, but the growth rate of cultivated area came down during the year 1995-96 to 2004-05 compared to 1985-86 to 1994-95. Growth rate in cultivated area for aus and aman in Burdwan was negative during those periods. However, this is true for aus, aman paddy and total (all) cereals in West Bengal also. mustard, total (all) oilseeds, jute, sugarcane and potato have increased during the period from 1995-96 to 2004-05 when compared against of those crops for the period 1985-86 to 1994-95. Again, the growth rate in cultivated area for boro and all (total) foodgrains for the district as well as the state of W.B. have noted significantly positive, but the growth rate of cultivated area came down during the year 1995-96 to 200405 compared to 1985-86 to 1994-95. Growth rate in cultivated area for aus and aman in Burdwan was negative during those periods. However, this is true for aus, aman paddy and total (all) cereals in West Bengal also.
Production (Percent per annum) Burdwan West Bengal 1985-86 1995-96 1985-86 1995-96 to to to to 1994-95 2004-05 1994-95 2004-05 1.282562 (-) 1.49882 0.889867 (-) 0.32507 0.93373 1.23692 1.024 (-) 3.5998 0.9848 1.0217 (-) 0.83093 (-) 0.03414 (-) 0.58222 (-) 0.15798 0.658362 0.31594 0.216116 0.2177 0.9567 0.2209 0.219236 1.612259 1.372497 0.712179 (-) 3.31997 0.510193 0.89006 1.488214 1.0163 (-) 0.2084 0.9231 0.887359 1.067533 1.015946 0.249243 (-) 0.50311 1.381133 0.548575 0.569247 0.4985 0.4964 0.4991 0.50057 1.17843 1.154044 0.632529 (-) 0.88285 1.133509

Crops

Aus Aman Boro Rice Wheat All Cereals (Total) All Food grains (Total) Mustard All Oilseeds (Total) Jute Sugarcane Potato

Table 5: Trend of Growth Rate of Production of Important Crops* for the District Burdwan and West Bengal (in general) (* Estimates based on semi-log regression equation.) Source: Various Issues of District Statistical Hand Books and Economic Reviews (Government of West Bengal).

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Table- 5 is related with the trends in growth rate of production of some important crops for the district Burdwan and West Bengal covering two decades during the periods 1985-86 to 1994-95 and 1995-96 to 2004-05 and it is based on semi-log regression methodology. Table - 5 reveals that during 1995-96 to 2004-05, the growth rate of production for the total foodgrains production has decelerated to 0.219236 per cent from 1.0217 per cent growth rate of the period 1985-86 to 1994-95. But the growth rate of total foodgrains in W.B. came down to 0.50057 during the period 1995-96 to 2004-05 from 0.887359, which achieved during the period 1985-86 to 1994-95. It is noted further that during the period 1995-96 to 2004-05, there has been deceleration of all the major foodcrops e.g. aus, boro, rice, total foodgrains and total cereals except wheat production in the district Burdwan as well as the state of West Bengal when we compare the production of those crops for the period 1985-86 to 1994-95. Again, when we compare the production of cash crops, e.g. mustard, total oilseeds and jute except potato and sugarcane production in the district Burdwan along with the state of West Bengal during the decade 1995-96 to 2004-05 with that of 1985-86 to 1994-95, we find from table-5 that there has been an upward trend of growth in the same.
Productivity (Percent per annum) Burdwan West Bengal 1985-86 1995-96 1985-86 1995-96 to to to to 1994-95 2004-05 1994-95 2004-05 0.69252 0.85076 0.46443 0.7597 (-) 0.0934 0.75805 0.788054 (-) 1.37128 (-) 0.77978 0.644811 0.872629 0.53206 0.283776 0.32797 (-) 0.14029 0.1897 0.1181 0.18908 0.199843 0.03018 0.206423 0.435041 0.206565 0.044701 1.169819 0.757754 0.085302 0.7464 0.2651 0.7115 0.748119 0.19075 0.394538 0.510185 (-) 0.29971 0.298989 0.602416 0.675949 0.018405 0.5396 (-) 0.0329 0.497 0.489787 0.176816 0.343165 0.4963 (-) 0.15784 (-) 0.02425

Crops

Aus Aman Boro Rice Wheat All Cereals (Total) All Food grains (Total) Mustard All Oilseeds (Total ) Jute Sugarcane Potato

Table 6: Trend of Growth Rate of Productivity of Important Crops* for the District Burdwan and West Bengal (in general) (* Estimates based on semi-log regression equation.) Source: Various Issues of District Statistical Hand Books and Economic Reviews (Government of West Bengal).
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Table- 6 presents the estimated results of semi-log regression equations showing the rate of growth of productivity of some important crops covering two decades starting from the year 1985-86 for the district of Burdwan along with the state of West Bengal. In Burdwan, the trend of productivity growth rate for rice during 1985-86 to 1994-95 and 1995-96 to 2004-05 had been positive, but the growth rate declined during the year 1995-96 to 2004-05 when compared to the figures of 1985-86 to 1994-95. Again, in West Bengal, we observed the similar trend in the growth rate of rice productivity. From the table- 6 it is revealed that the productivity growth rate for mustard in the district of Burdwan changes between (-) 1.37128 per cent and 0.03018 per cent during the periods 1985-86 to 1994-95 and 1995-96 to 2004-05 respectively. Thus, it is revealed that not only wheat but also mustard and total oilseeds continued to grow at higher productivity rate in the district Burdwan. However, the growth rate of productivity of the remaining crops declined during the period 1995-96 to 2004-05 but improved during the period 1985-86 to 1994-95. In the period 1995-96 to 2004-05, it is observed that there is a decennial trend growth rate of productivity of all the crops except in case of sugarcane productivity when compared against the productivity of those crops for the period 1985-86 to 1994-95 in case of West Bengal. It transpires from the study that agricultural sector has been experiencing lower growth rate of productivity for most of the crops both in the district Burdwan as well as the state of West Bengal. This poor performance is more worrying in view of the fact that present decelerated productivity growth rate has led to decline in the overall growth of the economy. In these circumstances, each crop related socio-economic problems have to be diagnosed and appropriate solutions have to be found. 4. Conclusion: As civilization advances, the demand for quality and quantity of food and other necessaries of life increases which emphasis the need for enhancing agricultural land productivity. Indian economy still depends largely on agriculture. Therefore, in a developing economy like India, there should be persistence effort to increase agricultural productivity of land. It reveals from our discussion that agricultural sector has been experiencing significantly positive growth rate of productivity (albeit in some cases growth rate is found negative).However, the growth has really decreased recent years for most of the crops not only in the district Burdwan but also the state of West Bengal. The poor performance has an adverse effect on the development of the economy of the country which in turn has affected the economic condition of people of this country.
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For better comfortable mode of life, we have to grow more food, generate more power, establish industrial sector, explore mineral resources, use forest products, extending hosing facilities and their amenities, construct highways and railways, reserve water resources etc. all these activities are bound to make changes in socio-economic structure of the society. Therefore, to fulfill our objectives a special emphasis has to be placed on land reforms, credit and marketing facilities, balanced application of fertilizer, use of improved seeds, extension of irrigation facilities and finally involvements of common farmers in a decentralized manner through the panchayats as well as co-ordination with the concerned government departments, agricultural universities and research institutes. Accordingly, changing pattern of productivity of agriculture land is very much needed for the progress of the mankind. Again, it should be kept in mind that the changes should not come at the cost of environment i.e. it must be sustainable or eco-friendly.

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March, 2013 References: -

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