[Reader-list] Study disputes Gujarat's miracle in agriculture growth

[anupam chakravartty]

Hi Bipin,

I would like to know your views on the following news item that appeared
this morning.

Thanks

"The study says that the "miracle" argument fails to take into account a
crucial figure - fall of agricultural output by 30 per cent during two
drought years, 1999 and 2000.


Then, there is yet another distortion - the 9.6 per cent growth rate is on
current prices, which means that the "figures are not corrected for
inflation".

It underlines, "The 'growth' observed in the recent past (2002 onwards) is
nothing but a good recovery from a major dip in production occurred during
the drought years of 1999 and 2000." The state officials are examining the
study.

The study also disputes the argument that dependence on rainfall went down
in Gujarat due to a large number of check dams built in the state in
1999-2000.

The highest growth, 22 per cent, during 1980-2006, was on account of milk
production. As for crops like cotton and groundnut, "with good monsoons,
production grew substantially with steady expansion in cropped area or yield
growth", but in drought years "production suffered with shrinkage in area
under irrigated winter crops, and sharp reduction in yield of crops sown in
kharif, including cotton and groundnut".

Read more: Study disputes Gujarat's miracle in agriculture growth - The
Times of India<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Study-disputes-Gujarats-miracle-in-agriculture-growth/articleshow/6897547.cms#ixzz14r5xAFat>
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Study-disputes-Gujarats-miracle-in-agriculture-growth/articleshow/6897547.cms#ixzz14r5xAFat

Thanks
Anupam