Instability in Indian Agriculture in the Context of the New Technology
Instability in Indian Agriculture in the Context of the New Technology

Author: Shakuntla Mehra

Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst

Published: 1981-01-01

Total Pages: 60

ISBN-13: 9780896290266

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Extract: This report analyzes the processes that might result in more or less instability of yields for individual crops; for the same crop produced in different regions and in different seasons in the same region; for foodgrains generally in different regions of the country; or for farms of different sizes. Because the new crop technology has made an important contribution to the growth of yields per hectare, and because the new technology itself has made the greatest headway in irrigated areas, the obvious question is: has seed-fertilizer technology increased yield variability, and, if so, has this added variability been confined only to unirrigated areas?

New Seeds and Poor People
New Seeds and Poor People

Author: Michael Lipton

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2010-11-29

Total Pages: 312

ISBN-13: 1136891560

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First published in 1989, this book deals with the impact of cereal production upon the Third World, specifically ‘Modern Varieties’ (MVs). Using evidence from plant breeding, economics and nutrition science, the authors seek to pinpoint what has been achieved, what has gone wrong and what needs to be done in future. Although the technical innovations of MVs mean more employment, cheaper food and less risk for small farmers, the reduction in crop diversity increases the risk of danger from pests and though MVs enlarge cereal stocks, many are too poor to afford them. The book concludes that technical breakthroughs alone won’t solve deep-rooted social problems and that only new policies and research priorities will increase the choices, assets and power of the rural poor.