A Amarender A. Reddy

Pulses Production Technology: Status and Way Forward

India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world. However, pulses production has been stagnant at between 11 and 14 million tonnes over the last two decades. Per capita pulses consumption over the years has come down from 61gm/day in 1951 to 30 gm/day in 2008. This paper analyses the status of pulses production technology, constraints in cultivation of pulses and the possibilities of increasing production. It emphasises the expansion of area under short duration varieties, development of multiple disease/pest resistance varieties, use of micro-nutrients like zinc and sulphur and increase in area under rabi pulse crops to increase pulses production. The minimum support price is not effective for pulse crops; prevailing market prices should be taken into account while fixing the msp to bridge the gap between demand and supply.

Consumption Pattern, Trade and Production Potential of Pulses

This paper analyses regional patterns in the production and consumption of pulses in India and the potential for expansion of output. The paper notes the large differences in both production and consumption of pulses across regions, as well as the increase in imports in recent years. It argues that an improved package of practices, including technological interventions, and a region-specific approach are needed to alleviate the problem of short supply of pulses and chronic malnutrition among the people.

Policy Options for India’s Edible Oil Complex

Stagnating oilseed yields for the last two decades and an inefficient and underutilised processing sector have resulted in an uncompetitive complex in India. The country’s commitments at the World Trade Organisation have led to increased edible oil imports and a simultaneous decline in area under oilseeds. India needs a long-term edible oil policy to improve competitiveness by bridging the existing technology and yield gaps.

Occupational Structure of Workers in Rural Andhra Pradesh

The paper examines the determinants of workforce structure with respect to status and sector. It develops multinomial regression by using National Sample Survey Organisations (NSSO) household survey data to analyse factors that influence types of employment of workers in rural Andhra Pradesh. The variables considered for the study are assets, social group, religion, education level, age, and other household and regional factors of the workers. The selected variables in the model explain about 80% of variation in the types of employment of a worker. The educational level has high and significant impact on the choice of non-agricultural employment especially in services and regular employment, in rural Andhra Pradesh. As expected, income, size of landholding, state of being regular employee in non-agriculture is negatively associated with part-time employment compared to full-employment. On the other hand, the probability of self-employees in agriculture is higher in part-time work. Surprisingly, workers with technical education are more likely to be part-time employees. The probability of women workers to be employed as part-time workers is higher than that for male workers. There is significant increase in weekly wage rates of the non-agricultural workers as educational level increases, but there has been no significant increase in weekly wage earnings of casual labourers as educational level increases. There are significant wage differentials across different types of employment, by educational level of workers, by social group, and male and female workers.

Commercial Cultivation and Profitability

This chapter describes the trends in production, trade (export and import), competitiveness and profitability of desi and kabuli chickpea around the world.

Disparities in Agricultural Productivity Growth in Andhra Pradesh

The paper examines agricultural productivity growth since formation of united Andhra Pradesh in 1956 at district level by using Malmquist productivity indices. Overall, TFP growth in agriculture and allied activities in Telangana is 1.3 % per annum, 1.1% per annum in Coastal, while in Rayalaseema TFP growth is stagnant. It indicates that, there is a convergence in TFP growth among districts of developed Coastal and less developed Telangana regions, but districts in Rayalaseema region are left out of this growth process, as this region is not able to catch up with other two regions in agricultural productivity. Irrespective of region most backward districts in agriculture, that is Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Anantapur, Kadapa, Adilabad, Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar and Nizamabad showed stagnation in TFP growth during last 50 years. With the existing resource endowment and technology, Telangana can increase its output by 28% from the existing level, while Rayalaseema region can enhance its output by 25%, Coastal region by only 14 % as revealed from efficiency estimates. Shadow input shares indicate that, still gross irrigated area, fertilizer use and availability of labour are limiting factors to increase production at district level. Inefficiency effects model (Bettese and Coelli 1995) reveals that, market infrastructure and credit availability are essential to increase efficiency. Study results emphasis the importance of resource endowment (physical and human) in base year for subsequent growth.

REGIONAL DISPARITIES IN FOOD HABITS AND NUTRITIONAL INTAKE IN ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA

Andhra Pradesh is one of the largest states in India. The study assessed the regional disparities in Andhra Pradesh in food habits and nutritional intake in three different regions namely Coastal, Rayalaseema and Telangana in the backdrop of demand for separate Telangana state. The analysis revealed that consumption of most food items was less than the requirement in three regions. The diet was based mainly on cereals, which supplied about 74 per cent energy, 67 per cent proteins and 10 per cent fats. The share of high value commodities (vegetables, fruits, milk and meat products) in total food expenditure is much higher in Coastal compared to both Telangana and Rayalaseema regions, which shows significant differences in food habits across three regions. The expenditure elasticity for fruits, milk and meat products are much higher in all three regions, while for cereals expenditure elasticities are less. About 30 to 45 per cent of the population was undernourished across regions. Incidence of nutritional deficiency is more prevalent among the landless, scheduled caste, scheduled tribes and poor. Although it appears that, nutrient deficiency in calories, proteins and fats appears to be low in Coastal region, if we consider micro nutrient most likely that the region may be better of considering the high proportion of fruits, vegetables, milk and meat products in the diet compared to Telangana and Rayalaseema regions. Further, In Coastal region, disparities between landless and large land holders in nutrition status is much higher than Telangana and Rayalaseema regions, may be due to large proportion of agricultural labour in Coastal region. The study identifies that there is no link between production and consumption of different food items at regional level. It mostly determined by food habits and income levels.

Dynamics of the Agricultural Economy of Andhra Pradesh, India Since the Last Five Decades

Andhra Pradesh is one of the largest state in India, with agriculture as a major source of income for about 60% of its population. In the last 50 years, the annual growth rate of agriculture has been 2.88%, which is far below the target growth of 4% per annum. Further, Andhra Pradesh is divided into three district regions with growing demand for separate state from less developed regions. The paper examined regional disparities in agriculture in Andhra Pradesh since its formation in 1956. The study illustrates that there is a convergence among districts in agricultural growth, but least developed districts are left out of this convergence process. Both agricultural intensification and diversification strategies played important role in development of districts based on their resource endowment. Livestock based agricultural growth is evident in districts adjacent to large urban centres since the last two decades. Overall, TFP growth in agriculture and allied activities in Telangana is 13% per decade, 11% per decade in Coastal, while in Rayalaseema TFP growth has been stagnant from 1956 to 2009. Irrespective of region, the most backward districts in agriculture, that is Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Anantapur, Kadapa, Adilabad, Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar and Nizamabad showed stagnation in TFP growth during the last 50 years. With the existing resource endowment and technology, Telangana can increase its output by 28% from the existing level, while Rayalaseema region can enhance its output by 25%, Coastal region by only 14% as revealed from efficiency estimates.

Uses, Consumption and Utilization

The paper examines the consumption pattern, post harvest processes and uses in chickpea across the world.

Under-employment and Work among Women in Rural Andhra Pradesh

The paper examine the changes in work participation and employment pattern of women in rural Andhra Pradesh during 1993-94 to 1999-2000 based on the unit level data of NSSO 50th and 55th rounds. Participation in economic activities decreases and unemployment increases with levels of education, as opportunities for educated women are low in rural areas. Employment in service sector and regular employment increases with level of education. Gender differences in wages were quite high. Wage differences between males and females ranged from 50% among casual labourers in services to 193% in regular employed in industry. However, there seems to be reduction in wage differences among gender as well as among sectors during 1993-94 to 1999-00.