AStudy of Incomes, Savings and Investments Pattern in and Agriculturally Progressive area of Himachal Pradesh (KANGRA DISTRICT), 1976 by J.P. Bhati
Abstract: In the asset structure land alone accounted for about 64.54 per cent of the physical resources. Among the critical inputs like fertilizers, irrigation and seed the outlays were only 5.23%, 0.53% and 10.38 per cent respectively of the total operational cost per hectare. The yield rate of more significant crops was in no way superior to the state’s average yields. Another fact worth underlining is that break through in agricultural technology when standardized will have a tendency to reduce yield variation within a range for a particular location. But in this case the productivity per unit of land varied widely, for example paddy yield varied from 10.04 to 16.34 quintals per hectare reflecting technological poverty and/or lack of its proper adoption. And absence of diversification of enterprise with in agriculture is conspicuous. The fixity of capital in land resources in a big way and insignificant outlays on critical inputs typify more of a traditional farm establishment. In turn, these and other constraints in habited diversification of farm enterprises substantially. Though the agricultural setting continued to be traditional, certain important forces having portents to modernize the environment are at work i.e. increase in area under irrigation through gradual it is, only 9.2 per cent of the household having no literate person, larger accrued of income through remittances as a proportion of total farm family income (13.44%) added with income from salary (11.37%) indicates out migration and people’s industrious/venturesome nature. Given a proper support in the farm of assured irrigation and a good extension farm service programme, Kangra may be deemed to have the receptivity/or the influences favouring change. The present level of capital formation Rs.338.46 per cultivating household, is a welcome feature. However, indications are that a major share of this accrual (89.52%) has been used for creating non productive assets. Phenomenon of bounded labour and/or heavy indebtedness was, fortunately, not noticed. Being not saddled with such vestiges or feudalistic economic constants being economically free, a planned programme of agricultural development in the form of a “Package at the farmers doorstep” has much to comments and to give hope for a better future. Never the less, the present level of savings at various sizes of farms is not encouraging, quite under stand-ably due to low level of income.
