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

Neyyattinkara taluk commanded by the Neyyar irrigation project (45.92%). In
Thrissur tal uk. the decline was 36.45 per cent and in Chittur tal uk. it was almost 23
per cent. These taluks also witnessed the overall decline in paddy area.
Thus. the foregoing discussion on the dynamics <strong>of</strong> crop shift and the
widespread conversion <strong>of</strong> paddy fields into dryl perenniall cash crops bring out the
fact that. by and large. the irrigation projects in the state could not yield the
expected results. The major reasons attributed for the conversion <strong>of</strong> paddy fields are:
a) lack <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>itability. b) non-availability <strong>of</strong> labour and high wage rates; c) nonavailability
and scarcity <strong>of</strong> watcr J6 ; d) water logging in the paddy fields; e) lack <strong>of</strong>
interest among the younger generations l7 ; and f) the declining operational size <strong>of</strong>
paddy fields l8
I. The problem ,1f acute \\ater shortage during the summer season is identified as an
Important reas,'n f'H COIl\ ersion <strong>of</strong> paddy fields. In the absence <strong>of</strong> irrigation facilities.
cultural operat'l'lh largel~ depend on the availability <strong>of</strong> rainfall and the failure <strong>of</strong> rainfall
causes crop losses.
"This issue needs explanation in terms <strong>of</strong> demand for and supply <strong>of</strong> labour for performing
agricultural operations. While the farmers withdrew from labour intensive food crop
production due to specific reasons <strong>of</strong> low pr<strong>of</strong>itability and high transaction costs involved in
farming activities and the labour management problems; the substantial improvement in the
social and economic statu'> <strong>of</strong> labour made them withdraw from the agricultural labour
market. Thus. the withdrawal <strong>of</strong> farmer as well as agricultural labour from farming
operations "as sheer coincidence. For a very interesting account <strong>of</strong> the development
dilemmas and the dynamics <strong>of</strong> agricultural labour market in Kerala, sec the most recent
studies by Thomas and Thomas (1999). Kalll1an (1999), and Nair, M.K.S (1999).
" In Ihe first instance. tim problem ,h'es nol permit large-scale mechanisation. Secondly. it
adversely affects the 11'1: <strong>of</strong> other inputs as well. A third issue is that the farming operations
would not attract lahourers as there j, no full tl111e work. Farmers also would not like to
<strong>of</strong>fer a full da~ \\age for a ,hort-tillle cngagcmcnt. '1 Ills ullimately resultcd in multiplication
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