Beruflich Dokumente
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Degradation
An Analytical Framework
C H Hanumantha Rao
The observed pattern of growth in the crop sector of Indian agriculture has had adverse consequences for rural
ecology directly as well as indirectly through its impact on livestock development and the poverty situation. This
paper attempts to suggest an analytical framework for understanding the causes of ecological degradation in the
context of the changing crop and livestock economy as well as the impact of these two on rural poverty.
AGRICULTURAL economists in India have
been interested essentially in the economics
of crop production and comparatively less
in Livestock economics. Their interest in rural
ecology has been negligible. Recently,
however, economists have started analysing
problems of eco-development, but these
analyses are generally unrelated to the trends
and pattern of crop production and livestock
economy [Mishra, 1987]. Even the studies
done on livestock economy do not adequately reflect the dynamics of crop production.
Similarly, it is only recently that, the
economists have been concerned with the
impact of the rate and pattern of crop production changes on rural poverty [Mellor
and Desai, 1985]. Even here, the interrelationships between livestock economy and
poverty and the impact of both on environment have not received1 adequate attention.
It is understandable that in the wake of
rapid population growth and severe shortages of foodgrains, the economists should
be preoccupied with issues like technological
change in foodgrains production, marketed
surpluses of foodgrains and price, etc. Yet,
crop production, livestock economy, rural
poverty and environment are highly interrelated and no single sector can be studied
satisfactorily independent of the other three
sectors. There are clear indications that the
observed pattern of growth in the crop sector
has had certain adverse consequences for
rural ecology directly as well as indirectly
through its impact on livestock development
and poverty situation.
projects.
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