Agricultural Growth, Productivity and Regional Change in India Challenges of globalisation, liberalisation and food insecurity

Agriculture productivity, growth and regional change in post-colonial India from a spatial perspective are yet to be rigorously examined. In particular, the impacts of economic liberalisation, globalisation and deregulation are not being empirically investigated at a small-area level using advanced statistical and spatial techniques. Understanding the process of regional formation and the rapid transitioning of agricultural landscapes in the Post-Liberalisation phase is pivotal to developing and devising regional economic development strategies. This book employs advanced methods to empirically examine the key characteristics and patterns of regional change in agricultural growth and productivity. It offers insights on changes in agricultural production and practices since the colonial period through to the Post-Liberalisation phase in India. It also incorporates the key public policy debates on the progress of India’s agricultural development with the aim of formulating spatially integrated strategies to reduce rapid rise in the regional convergence and to promote equitable distribution of strategic government investment.

1 Introduction 2 Evolution of agriculture development in India 3 Agricultural growth process 4 Agriculture growth and regional change 5 Regional dimensions of land and labour productivity 6 Regional convergence in agricultural productivity 7 Hierarchically nested agriculture regions of India 8 Agriculture growth models 9 Food production, consumption and insecurity 10 Conclusion

Surendra Singh is formerly Professor at North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, India. He is Visiting Professor at several premier organisations, including the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, and the Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto. He has published both books and research papers in reputed international journals on various aspects of Indian agriculture. He was formerly coordinator of the Indo-Polish Inter-Governmental Program on the study of degraded landscape in extremely humid areas of Northeast India. He is also the recipient of the Career Award from the University Grants Commission New Delhi (1982–1985). Prem Chhetri is Professor of Logistics and Geographic Systems at RMIT University, Australia. He was Deputy Head for Industry Engagement and Program Director for Open Australia Universities. He has received a number of Australian Research Council and federal and state government grants. His recent publications include articles in Transportation Research Part E, European Journal of Transport and Infrastructure Research and International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management. He is the recipient of several awards, including the RMIT University 2013 Research Excellence Award, and the RMIT 2009 Learning and Teaching Award. His research focuses include city logistics, urban modelling, tourism potential mapping, emergency response and the application of GIS in transport, infrastructure and logistics planning.