Technological Possibilities of Indian Agriculture (An Old and Rare Book)

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ASOK BASU has analyzed many dimensions of technological change in Indian agriculture. Not only has he explored the nature of technological change with emphasis on agriculture, but also he has evaluated the conditions necessary for it and the restraints which hold it in check for various commodities and regions of this country.

Technological change not only holds great promise in Indian agriculture but also it must take place in a complex decision framework based on millions of small farms with limited capital and managerial capabilities. But as Basu indicates, and has been illustrated in India and other developing countries, these conditions need not serve as absolute obstacles to technological improvement and increased productivity in agriculture. Starting from these conditions of agriculture, progress in technology can be attained if the technology is developed and communicated to farmers; the tenure systems provide a structure of costs and re- turns which allows innovation to be profitable and sufficiently free from risk; capital is provided in sufficient quantities to small as well as large farmers and more are thus allowed to function more fully in the market; and the supply of inputs for development is increasing in nature which factor prices are favourable relative to output prices. Basu's analysis generally falls within this framework. His general conclusion that the scope for techno- logical change remains broad in India and that it be attained within the framework of small farms is well founded.

He has made excellent use of available data in putting a quantitative footing under most of his major propositions. Also, he has made an extensive review of the literature relating to technological change in agriculture and successfully intertwines basic findings from other studies with his own inferences.

TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE in Indian agriculture has aroused great interest in all quarters. It has already acquired much importance and is going to assume a wider dimension in coming years. Many authors have enriched the literature with their studies on individual aspects of this important and growing subject. However, until now, no comprehensive endeavour has been made to analyse the different important economic aspects relating to the possibilities of technological change in Indian agriculture. The present work is a modest attempt in that direction.

In this study the problems and possibilities of mechanical technology and biological technology (high-yielding variety seeds, chemical fertilisers and pesticides etc.) have been discussed separately. The first chapter of the present study is concerned with the nature of technological change which is in the process of being realised in Indian agriculture and has recorded its progress to date. Next, an analysis has been made of the prerequisites for techno- logical change in agriculture and the extent to which these are present in India has been examined. This has been followed by an examination of the nature of production functions in Indian agriculture along with suggestions for better allocation of resources. The study also includes careful analysis of the employment position as prevalent in the agricultural sector in India and the impact of technological change on rural employment. Finally, an attempt has been made to scrutinise the scope that exists at present in our agricultural sector for the introduction of improved technology.

All the propositions and observations of the exercise have been supported and substantiated by suitable data. Wherever possible, international comparisons have been made with developing as well as developed countries, particularly with the U.S.A. and Japan, the two most technologically advanced countries of the West and the East.