Growth and instability in agriculture - A case of pulses production in India

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L) is one of the most versatile emerging crops having wider adaptability. Globally, maize is known as queen of cereals. According to advance estimate it is cultivated in 8.49 m ha (2010-11) mainly during Kharif season. Forty five per cent of the total maize, produced in India is being used as human food and 52 per cent goes to feed industry. This study was an attempt to estimate the growth rate and to identify the sources of instability in maize production in India. The study is based on time-series data for 60 years (1950-51 to 2009-10) on area, production and productivity of maize in India. Exponential growth rate, Instability index and Hazel's decomposition analysis were used. The area under maize during the study period increased at significant growth rate of 1.17 per cent while production at growth rate of 3.08. The variation around the trend (instability index 14.65) and the variation around mean (CV 53.84 %) was more in case of production than in area and productivity. Increase in mean yield accounted for 61.42 per cent of the increase in production. Variance of production of maize was mainly due to factor other than area and producttivity. Acknowledegment: I dedicate this work to my parents Shri. Shivalingappa, A.N and Smt. Tharamathi, K.S. and my lovely wife Jayalakshmi, G.S. I also thank my sister Nandini, (brother-in-law) Kiran, Thanvitha, Kushal and all Kalmane family members. All VRS and GKVK friends for their lovely friendship, love, help and care and for enjoyable and memorable moments. I place on record with deep sense of gratitude to my