economics of on-farm development - Institute for Social and ...

the state cannot be treated as a pure effect <strong>of</strong> irrigation on account <strong>of</strong> the all-time
low irrigation ratios as well as the specific land use pattern <strong>of</strong> the state,
characterised by predominance <strong>of</strong> plantation crops7 with high density planting.
Though the available statistics on net irrigated area and intensity <strong>of</strong> cropping
In Kerala do not permit in drawing any meaningful and realistic conclusions about
the irrigation Impact. they p[()\ide some useful insights about the low performance
<strong>of</strong> irrigation in the state. The <strong>of</strong>ficial irrigation statistics 8 pertaining to the state may
help in understanding this probkm in a proper perspective. Overall trends suggest
that while the net sown area in the state has increased by about 46 per cent during
the period 1952-1997. net irrigated area increased only by less than 10 per cent. The
proportion <strong>of</strong> net irrIgated area i,; almost stagnant at 15 per cent since the 1990s. The
source-wise Irrigated area indicates sharp contrast between area under canals and
other sources. especially wells. It is all the more important to note that while the
emerges bet\>oeen irrigation and intensity <strong>of</strong> cropping; the latter does show an upward rise"
(Dha"an.1991:651).
, The plantation crops are exempted from the land ceiling laws as part <strong>of</strong> the land reforms in
the state.
I There is immense scope for independent research on the quality and content <strong>of</strong> irrigation
statistics as available in the state. However, different sources generate data employing
different concepts thereby rendering the comparability between them rather difficult. While
there were earnest efforts by various agencies. viz., the Public Works Department
(Irrigation). the Department <strong>of</strong> Economics and Statistics (formerly known as Bureau <strong>of</strong>
Economic and Statistics) and the Department <strong>of</strong> Agriculture to build up a data base on
irrigation and related aspects <strong>of</strong> the state after its formation, the attempts in this direction
were ralher non-existent earlier. This being so, any attempt to improve the quality <strong>of</strong> the
data is hound to fail. For more discussion on this. see GOK, 1983. section III: Irrigation
(141-154), especially, chapter one by Joseph and chapter two by Sthanukrishna IYI!r.
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