| This study deals with the determinants of changes in productivity in the crop sector of Indian agriculture known as the Green Revolution. It is unlike earlier productivity studies in at least three respects. First and most important, in this study the recognized determinants of productivity change--high yielding varieties, multiple-cropping and irrigation--are made endogenous.;Second, this study expands the previous models of the Indian agricultural sector to take fuller account of regional variation in edaphic and climatic features such as soil type, pH, slope, normal air temperature, normal rainfall, cloud cover, latitude, etc. In this way this study resembles recent "Ricardian" models of U.S. and Brazilian agriculture, and even follows their lead in estimating the so-called Ricardian effects of changes in climate.;Third, integrating the two threads, this study will examine the interaction between the technology and infrastructure variables, which influence productivity change, on the one hand, and the edaphic and climatic factors, on the other hand. Thus I can examine ways in which, from one perspective, the edaphic and climatic environment have conditioned the effectiveness of the productivity-enhancing investments and activities, and we also examine ways in which, from a complementary perspective, the productivity-enhancing investments and activities have modified or ameliorated the effects of changes in climate. |
