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Agrarian Relations of Rajasthan

Most studies in India have been confined to the states where the problems have been

overwhelming. Also, they have had a tendency to be based entirely upon secondary research.

Furthermore, they do not take into account the intra-regional complexities and the marginalied

population of the state. !hus, the study is a humble attempt to bridge the gap. It intends to carry

out the study in a state of "a#asthan where there has been a paucity of empirically-backed

analysis in the state of agrarian relations.

!he survey primarily deals with the broad contours of research in the post liberaliation era. As

is already known the study of any region falls under two broad categories. $nderstanding the

features of a specific region or region itself as part of the bigger picture. !he focus of this work is

on the latter. i

1.0 Introduction

"a#asthan has been carved owing to the cultural and regional homogeneity of the region. !he

land-locked area was integrated into a state in the region on %st &ovember %'(). It*s

geographically the largest state, with over %+., of the geographical area that covers almost

,/,/' s0 kmsii . Also, it has (.)1 of the country*s total populationiii

2eing primarily a rain-fed state, precipitation is the only source of annual renewable supply. !he

variable rainfall in the state happens to be around (1( mm3 however there are large variations

across regions in the state. 4estern region gets (%+ mm and the 5astern region gets 1++ mm of

rainfall. !he south-west monsoon 67une-8eptember9 accounts for nearly '+ percent of the annual

rainfall.iv

:hysiographically, the state can be divided into four ma#or regions. 4estern desert with barren

hills, rocky plains and sandy plains, Aravalli hills running from south west to north east starting

from ;u#arat to

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each other. :arameters such as working of village institutions, wages, analysis of tenancy, among

others have been taken up in the survey and shall be interpreted through proper analysis.

2.0 Demographics

"a#asthan has been a sparsely populated state since its inception. !he population density standsat /+% compared to >/ at the national scenario. 2ut what is more of a surprise is the rapidity of

the population growth. As per census /+%%, the population of "a#asthan was ).>) crore with over

1( rural population. If we look at the decadal growth rate it is relatively higher in the %''+*s

6/>.%9 compared to the /+++*s 6/%.9 where it is comparatively lower and possibly growing at

a decelerating rate. vii India*s decadal growth rate in the /+++*s was considerably lower than the

state 6%1.)9.

!he aforementioned high population growth rate has proven to be a death-kneel for any

assumption in regards to the demographic dividend. ?n the other hand, sex ratio of "a#asthan is

'/) compared to India*s '+ according to the /+%% population census. From the postindependence era it has been observed that the settlement pattern, sex ratio and other variables

have been in complete contrast to the other states. Also, mortality and fertility rate have received

lesser attention comparatively by scholars. ?nly Mehta*s old study remains a focal point

explaining the fertility pattern in the states and districts of "a#asthan. 2ut the arguments based of

Mehta*s study needs to be worked upon in the post %''% scenario.

!hus, the need is to collect cross district level data to understand the demographics and

eventually build up upon the data. ?n the other hand the most contradictory and unstable

component of population growth, migration, needs to be factored in too. In many ways migration

can be contended to be one of the more important factors in economic development.

!hrough close examination of the census data the true migration ad#ustment factors for in and

out, rural-urban migration, among others can be tracked and the inter-district population

movement can be identified and some sort of cluster constructed.

!he numbers of "a#asthan are in complete contrast to the national scenario. @igher rural to rural

migration, lower rural to urban migration, lower urban to urban migration and lower urban to

rural migration only says that there is something more to it than it meets the eye. As a matter of

fact not even one number can be comparable to the national scenario.

!here is a suspicion that the agrarian economy of "a#asthan is undergoing a structural changethat could be having different facets such as the increase in wage labor, credit markets among

others. 2ut, many scholarly analysis have been of the view that capitalist mode could have

penetrated far deeper then what has been previously envisioned. !he immediate impact can be

witnessed on the small farmers who start out at a blatant disadvantage. :ossibly it could be

owing to the inability to cope up with latest technology and economies of scale. 2ut the complete

argument needs to be seen in perspective step-by-step.

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3.0 Land Reforms

In the post-independence scenario in two distinct phases the agrarian transformation carried out

by the state can be witnessed. and reforms can be said to be the building-blocks on which all

the other reforms can be based upon. $nfortunately, across regions it has been meted out varying

degree of success.

!he two basic ob#ectives a9 to abolish intermediaries such as amindars and #agirdars between

government and tillers to eventually make them owners of land b9 impose ceilings on ownership

of land holdings and distribute surplus to the landless poor have not been realied in full.

$nfortunately, the ideal of transferring the land to the tiller have been restricted to a mere

tokenism.

In the case of "a#asthan the steps towards land were commenced in as early as %'' when the

"a#asthan :rotection of !enant ?rdinance was passed. 8ubse0uently, "a#asthan "ents "egulating

Act %'% was passed and ultimately in %'(/ "a#asthan and "eforms and "esumption of 7agirswere passed. !he intention of ensuring security against tenure, discrimination and regulation of

rents and protection of and to the tiller of land against forcible eviction was noteworthy and one

of a kind.

Alongside administrative re-structuring and reforms led to the abolition of #agirdariBamindari

systems. !he promulgation of "a#asthan !enancy Act %'((, amended the multiplicity of land

enures and tenancy prevailent in different parts of the newly formed state. &ow they have been

formally replaced by khudkasht, khatedar and gairkhatedar systems.

!he en0uiry committee report and %'(/ ordinance recommended abolition to all #agirs with

incomes below "s (+++B year as against larger @igh Income 7agirs. !he ordinance left doors

open to ac0uire Chudkasht land by e#ecting the tenants.

"a#asthan 2iswedai and Damindari Abolition Act %'(' came into force on % &ovember %'('.

!he process of abolition started on %( &ovember %'(' when all Damindari estates were settled

and Damindari abolished. In due course /,'>,>')#agirs were resumed and ( kinds of tenures

abolished as a result of various land reforms effected.

Many other laws were passed subse0uently such as "a#asthan !enancy Act %'((3 "a#asthan

discontinuation of cessess act %'(' and "a#asthan and "eform of Ac0uisition of andlowners

estates act %')3 and ultimately "a#asthan imposition of ceiling on agricultural holdoings act%'1. 6@oo#a /++)9 .6Eugandar 2ook, 8axena and @a0ue "eport to be referred and added to

this9

!he laws in spirit discouraged concentration of land ownership beyond the ceiling level and

prevented the possibly dispossession of numerous small and marginal holders that would have

occurred, through a competitive process in land market in the absence of ceiling on land holding.

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@owever, the gross cropped area has increased by about 1 percent points 6to reporting area9 in

/++'-%+ over %''+-'%. !he increase in ;=A was due to significant increase in area sown more

than once. !he cropping intensity has also considerably %> increased over the years. It has

increased from %/%./ per cent in /+++-+% to %/'.' per cent in /++1-+> and thereafter declined to%/>.% per cent in /++'-%+. It may be also worth to note here is that gross irrigated area has

declined from >+.' lakh hectares in /++1-+> to 1.% lakh hectares in /++'-%+. ?n the other hand,

land put to non-agricultural uses has successively increased from %.' lakh hectares in %''+-'%

to %'.> lakh hectares in /++'-%+.x

As per the land statistics for /+%+-%%, only (% percent of the reported area in "a#asthan has been

cultivated. .)

percent of the area, and another //.> percent of the reported area was classified as barren anduncultivable land. In /+%+-%%, the net sown area was only about %).) percent of the reported

area. In contrast, net sown area accounted for )'./ percent of the reported area in ;anganagar.xi

3.0 o!ert"

8ome scholars are of the view that the state has managed to be consistent in lowering poverty

across both rural and urban areas. In the case of rural areas, poverty ratio, according to !endulkar

methodology and the !endulkar line ranked by /++'B%+ per capita ;8 in %''B' to /). in /++'B%+. In urban areas, poverty ratio has come down from /'.' in

%''B' to %'.' in /++'B%+. !he impact of the same can be seen when we see the actual poverty

figures, >. in %''B' to /.> in /++'B%+.xii

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6=omplete with the help of @anumantha "ao 9

$.0 Agrarian %cenario

Farming has continued to occupy the pre-eminent position in eradicating position in eradicating

rural poverty and in the overall growth perspective. 5ven in the state of "a#asthan agricultureforms the spine of the economy. !he contribution to &8%3 @aaell %'>/3 "ay %'> a3

"ao etc %'>>9 Many of the studies have highlighted variability in crop production that are

different for every crop prior and post the adoption of green technologies. Many of these, though,

cannot be used to draw inference on the impact of the green revolution or production viability.

6=hand and "a#u /++>9

!he review of literature shows conflicting inferences in advent of newer technologies. Added to

it no study has dealt with the problems accentuated by the neo-liberal reforms within the

institutional context. !hus, the study shall deal with the complete institutional crisis of Indian

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agriculture. !hey can be drafted under local state issues, crop changes, production and

productivity issues, land lease relations, credit issues, employment and wage patterns.

2ut, for a comprehensive analysis the sectoral shifts in outputs from &8? needs to be computed

to get a complete picture of the situation. 6As cited in :anagriya /+%9. Also, the agricultural

output has dropped alarmingly from ).1 to %>.1 during %'>% and /+%+ respectively. Industry*scontribution has risen from %)./ to %'.( while services* contribution has risen from 1./ to )%.>.

8ome scholars have already flagged this. !hey have stressed upon, the need to take immediate

remedial action, with such a large workforce dependent upon the same. 6:anagriya /+%9

&ow though, the growth rate of agriculture has become sluggish with the gradual slowing down

of agriculture. It could be owing to some state specific factors which need to be studied in greater

detail 68ingh /++19.

(.% 8tructural !ransformation of "a#asthan

=ultivators have focused upon crops that suit the needs of the state. @ence less water intensive

crops such as oilseeds, millets and pulses have been encouraged across the state. Above all

"a#asthan is amongst the top two pulses producing state in the country. Also, it*s the largest

producer of rapeseed, mustard, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, guar-gum and moth in the country.:resently, "a#asthan has a ma#or share in the production of crops like 2a#ra 6+ percent9, moth

bean 6>( percent9, rapeseed and mustard 6(% percent9, coriander 6)) percent9 and fenugreek 6>1

percent9 of the country*s production. xviii

Above all, "a#asthan can be said to be in the midst of a structural transformation in favor of

growing oilseeds, pulses and horticultural crops. It has become the largest producer of mustard,

pearl millet 6ba#ra9, and three spices 6coriander, cumin and fenugreek9, cluster beans, isabgol and

second largest producer of maie. xix.

In recent years, production of guar gum has been pegged at >+ of the country*s production.Additionally, the reliance on livestock has only increased owing to the nature of agriculture

being primarily rain-fed. It also has the second largest livestock in the country that now

contributes almost %+ percent of the milk. xx

!he cultivated area stands at //+ lakh hectares that is more than half of the total area. Also, over

1+ percent of the agriculture is rain-fed. !he soils traditionally have been coarse and poor with

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the cropping intensity dropping down to %%1. Also, soil salinityBalkalinity and poor 0uality

ground water have become a ma#or constraint to enhance productivity. xxi

(./ ?verall growth in agriculture xxii

=ompound ;rowth "ate 69 in =rop Area, :roduction and Eield in "a#asthan

Area :roduction Eield

Annual :lan %''%-'/ -).) -/+./ -(.1)

>th Five Eear :lan6%''/-'19 +.)( .%% .

'th Five year :lan6%''1-+/9 -%.1) -+.> +.'

%+th Five year :lan6/++/-+1 %/.'> /+. ).)%%th Five year :lan 6/++1-%%9 ./1 %/.'/ '.

;rowth in Area, Eield and :roduction in "a#asthan, %''%-/+%+

Eears

;ross cropped

area 6+++ ha9 :roduction 6+++ M!9 Eield 6CgB@a9

%''+-'% /%/' %)+> 1>

%''(-') %')1 %'') 1)//+++-+% %'/+ %>+' 1%>

/++(-+) /%)'' %>1) >)(

/++)-+1 /%( /%)' %++1

/++1-+> ///+> / %+(%

/++>-+' //11% /)' %+>

/++'-%+ /%1( %>(%( >(%

/+%+-%% /(' )+1 %1

Food-grain production in "a#asthan and India

Eears "a#asthan India "a#asthan*s share in India 69

%''+-'% %+.' %1). )./

/+++-+% %+.+ %').> (.%

/++)-+1 %.' /%1. ).'

/++1-+> %).% /+.> 1.+

/++>-+' %).1 /. 1.%

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/++'-%+ %/. /%>.% (.1

/+%+-%% /.) /%.) '.>

(. =rops 8pecific ;rowth in "a#asthan

=ultivators have focused upon crops that can suit the needs of the state. @ence less water

intensive crops such as oilseeds, millets and pulses have been encouraged across the state. Above

all "a#asthan is amongst the top two pulses producing state in the country. Also, it*s the largest

producer of rapeseed, mustard, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, guar-gum and moth in the country.

:resently, "a#asthan has a ma#or share in the production of crops like 2a#ra 6+ percent9, moth

bean 6>( percent9, rapeseed and mustard 6(% percent9, coriander 6)) percent9 and fenugreek 6>1

percent9 of the country*s production. xxiii

(.

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&.0 Agricultural 'redit

6=omplete with the help of Chera and Mehta9

(.0 ro)lems of agriculture de!elopment in specific areas

6=omplete with the help of Mehta and Agrarian 8tudies9

*.0 Irrigation

!he agrarian scenario in the state is said to be primarily rainfed. In /+%+-%%, only ) percent of

the total area sown area of the state was irrigated. ?f the net irrigated area, 1 percent was

irrigated by groundwater and /( percent was irrigated by canals. 6"awal ikas /+%(9

?f the two districts, the extent of availability of irrigation is lower in case of $daipur. ?nly /

percent of net sown area of $daipur was irrigated in /+%+-%%. !he main source of irrigation here

were the open wells with a whopping >/ percent of open wells. In contrast, ;anganagar can be

touted to be a canal irrigated district. About 1( percent of the net sown area in this district was

irrigated in /+%+-%%, with over ''.( percent of the irrigated area fed by irrigation canals. !he two

ma#or canals cutting across the district come from the Indira ;andhi &ahar :ariyo#ana 6I;&:9.

11.0 +ertili,er

:ost the introduction of newer technology fertilier use has seen a spiked across the country.

Along with seed and irrigation it has been reckoned to be an important source of attaining self

sufficiency. In the empirical evidence obtained from the districts we can observe that fertilier

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i Argument cited from Mehta B.C. (1989). Researches in the structure and growth of

Rajasthan. Himalaya Publishing House

ii umbers cited from Hoo!a "ima (#$$% ). History of Rajasthan. e& 'elhi. "ua

Publishing House

iii umbers hae been comuted from *o+ state rimary census abstract #$11. Accessed

on 8th ,ebruary #$1% -in

htt/00&&&.censusindia.go.in0#$11census0hlo0ca0PCAdf0PCA2C"C2$8$$.df

i Planning Commision. (#$$%) "a!asthan 'eeloment "eort

3&ain M and 4!ha M ('ec #$1#) State of Rajasthan Agriculture 2011-12. Accessed on 5th

6anuary #$1%.

htt/00sun.edu0academics0academiccentres0agroeconomiccentre0researchstudies0"

.7#$o.7#$157#$3tate7#$of7#$"a!asthan7#$Agriculture.df

i Argument cited from Mehta B.C. (1989). Researches in the structure and growth of

Rajasthan. Himalaya Publishing House

ii *oernment of "a!asthan Census. -in htt/00censusindia.go.in0#$112ro2

results0aer#0datales0"a!0:2ou21$219.df and

htt/00&&&.censusindia.go.in0#$11census0dchb0$8##PA";B'CHB

7#$;4

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=ii ;able and the numbers comiled from Panagriya Arind? *oindarao M and Charabrty

Pinai (#$15) State Level Refors! "rowth and #evelo$ent in %ndian State. e& 'elhi.

4=ford Publishing House

=iii *o"/ Agricultural Policy #$1@ Accessed on @1 'ecember #$1 -in

htt/00&&&.rishi.ra!asthan.go.in0'raftAgriculturePolicy*-+3H.df

=i Argument arahrased from 3 yas (#$$:). Rajasthan the &uest for sustaina'le

develo$ent. Academic ,oundation

= 3&ain M and 4!ha M ('ec #$1#) State of Rajasthan Agriculture 2011-12. Accessed on

9th ,ebruary #$1%.



=i *o"/ Agricultural Policy #$1@ Accessed on 9th

,ebruary #$1% -inhtt/00&&&.rishi.ra!asthan.go.in0'raftAgriculturePolicy*-+3H.df

=ii umbers cited from 3&ain M and 4!ha M ('ec #$1#) State of Rajasthan Agriculture

2011-12. Accessed on 9th ,ebruary #$1%.



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9th ,ebruary #$1%.



==i Contents taen from the states agricultural olicy. *o"/ Agricultural Policy #$1@

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==ii 3&ain M and 4!ha M ('ec #$1#) State of Rajasthan Agriculture 2011-12. Accessed on

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6anuary #$1%

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6anuary #$1%
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