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ThesisItem Open Access Study of the economic effects of the Punjab canal colonies(University of Leeds, 1925) Bajwa, Kapur SinghTo readers interested in the material progress of the Province, no introduction seems necessary for so fascinating, a subject as the "Enonomic effects of the Punjab Canal Colonies. The origin, growth and development of the Canal colonies is an interesting and surprising miracle of the 20th century -a miracle which has given rise to an important trading city like Lyallpur, the capital of the Lower Chonab Colony. The development of the Lower Bari Doab Colony has an importance of its own as it is the youngest of all its sister colonies and as most of us have seen the change that has come over the new Bar. One can see what it was like less than ten years ago as one passes in the Karachi mail through the desert skirting the youngest Canal Colony, not a vestige of cultivation on either side: only sand hills and a barren plain, dreariness unreclaimed save by the vivid mirage of water and trees. How this blight and hideousness of land, was redeemed by the miracle of the 20th century and what are the consequences of this change form the scope of my thesis. I have chosen what appears to me to be the notable features and grouped round them the circumstances which led to them and the consequences which came from them. It has not been possible, however, to mention all the noteworthy points in the development of different colonies and my apologies are, therefore, due for any partiality or neglect which I may appear to have done. I have deliberately given much attention and large space to Chapter LV (on means of communications) as the prosperity of colonies very much depends upon the progress and improvements effected in their means of communication and I feel therefore no hesitation in quoting A. Smith, that "improvement in the means of transport is the greatest of all the agricultural improvements". Chapter V (on population is meant to indicate the relation between migration of population and canal irrigation. Chapters VL & VII (dealing with depressed classes and the janglis respectively) are important both from social and economic point of view. The importance of Chapter VIII (unrocognised assets of the Canal Irrigation) lies in its exposition or a few important effects which are generally overlooked by a superficial observer. Chapters XI (experiment of co-operative sale) is very important from the present day stand point and the Chapter XIII dealing with the problem or indebtedness has much bearing upon the Chapter XI. The latter is a remedy of the economic ills of indebtedness diagnosed in the former. As for my appendices, I may submit that they form an integral part of my thesis and therefore deserve a careful perusal. Appendix "A" is based on an inductive enquiry into the village No. 369 near Cora, district Lyallpur. The usefulness of Appendix "B" lies in its reference to sufferings and hardships undergone by early colonists and also in its real story of a Sufaid Posh grantee.ThesisItem Restricted Changing income and employment structure of agricultural labour in Punjab(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2020) Gurlal Singh; Sharma, V. K.The present study has been designed to investigate the income and employment structure, decomposition pattern and impactofdifferentfactorsaffecting demand for agricultural labourin Punjab. The primary data was collected from 270 agricultural labourers in three different agro-climatic zones of state and secondary data was extracted from state and centrally sponsored projects. The results of the study showed that the share of agricultural workforce declined from 55.25 per cent in 1991 to 30 per cent during the period, 2011. The compound annual growth rate showed that there was decline in casual agricultural labour to the tune of 4.06-man days per hectare annually since 1990. The income of agricultural labour household was observed as `10615.95 per month and consumption expenditure of farm laboures was recorded as `11493.93 per month. On an average the liabilities of agricultural labourers as debt was `57143 and average value of owned household assets was `225701. The poverty head count ratio was recorded as 8.89 per cent. The major reasons for casualisation of farm labour were overuse of permanent labour hours by the farmers and influx of cheap migrant labour in the state. The higher wage rate and freedom of work were the main reasons for the contractualisation of agricultural labour. The farm labour employment was declined as 18.17 hours per hectareduring 2008-09 to 2015-16. The decomposition of declined agriculture labour employment showed that the technology replaced 28.56 hours of farm labour. Contrary to this, cropping intensity contributed an increase in agriculture labour demand as 12.35 hours per hectare during the same period. It was observed that one per cent increase in the cropping intensity would incline the use of labour by 1.33 per cent, while one per cent increase in wage rate would decline the labour demand by 4.7 per cent. The agriculture laboures household of the state facing the problem of illiteracy, healthcare, debt burden, use of drugs, less availability of farm work, and deprived economic condition. The study brings into account that during the last two and half decades, most of the zones experienced a significant decrease in use of agriculture demand in the state. It was concluded that agricultural labour use pattern changed as permanent to casual and to contractual in the state.ThesisItem Open Access Food Security and Sustainability: A comparative study of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2020) Singh, Priyanka; Goyal, MiniEnsuring food security has been the central theme of agricultural development policy. Therefore, studies are being increasingly taken up to assess the food security status from national perspective in recent past. Since, precise assessment of regional food security and its sustainability is prerequisite for strategic planning and prioritizing allocation of resources; the present study ascertained the sustainability of food security in the most populous and productive states of India i.e. Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The study, using secondary data, examined the growth performance of foodgrains over a comprehensive period of TE1990/91TE2016/17 and for the three decadal periods viz., TE1990/91-TE2000/01, TE2000/01- TE2010/11 and TE2010/11-TE2016/17 at national level and for the selected states. The production of food grains shows an impressive and significant growth (CAGR 1.60%) at national level during the whole period as well as in the sub periods with the highest growth in TE2010/11-2016/17 (CAGR 1.70%). Unlike in Uttar Pradesh, where foodgrains witnessed productivity led growth during the overall period; both increase in area and yield contributed in production growth of foodgrains in Punjab. The district wise composite index of sustainable food security for the selected states has been constructed from its components – food availability, access and utilization. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) technique was used to assign weights to indicators of each dimension of food security. In Punjab, the sustainability of food security increased as one moves from southern to northern parts of the state. Districts in the western (Fazilka, Muktsar etc.) and southern (Mansa and Sangrur) part of Malwa region of the state were rated low in sustainable food security index. In Uttar Pradesh, large number of district fell into the moderate range of sustainable food security index. The results of the study will support the decision makers in implementing suitable policy measures to address regional food insecurity in both the states.ThesisItem Open Access Implications of Increasing Road Accidents – A Study of Ludhiana City and National Highway-95 (NH95)(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2020) Kaler, Simrathjit Kaur; Sukhdev SinghThe present study was conducted to assess the increasing road accidents and its implications by taking Ludhiana city and National Highway 95 as the area of study. Based on 300 respondents, consisting 150 respondents each from NH95 and Ludhiana city selected by purposive sampling technique, study led to conclusion that accident victims had socio-economic and psychological impact post accidents. Majority of the victims were males (87.6) and (56 %) aged in between 21 – 50 years. More than half of them belonged to general caste and (51%) sikh religion (59%). 54 per cent had two wheelers followed by pedestrians and cycle riders. About one third victims did not possess driving license and knowledge of road signs. Almost all the respondents did not have insurance coverage with them. Overspeed (66.6%), rash driving (64.6%), negligence of driver (45.3%), alcohol consumption (26%) etc turned to be major contributory factors of road accidents. Further, the study found unemployment (65%), family disturbance (90%), loss of mobility (84%), raised anxiety (84%), trauma (72%) and depression (41%) were the major socio-economic and psychological effects faced by accident victims. Respiratory diseases, inadequate staff, long working hours, improper equipments and hurdles put by authorities and politicians were the problems faced by traffic police personnel while traffic management. To provide mechanisms for prompt first aid on the spot (71.6%), emotional and medical help (29.3%), stop hearing mobile phones (34%), to avoid alcohol and drugs (62%), ego and frustrations (35%), improvement in road infrastructure (57%), provision of street lights (25%) and sign boards (55%), were some of the suggestions given by the victim respondents at societal, individual and governmental level.ThesisItem Open Access Assessment of sustainability of livestock farming system in Punjab(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2020) Kashish; Kataria, PoonamThe present study was conducted to examine the role of livestock sector in national economy, interaction between crop & livestock sector and assessment of sustainability of livestock sector with particular reference to the state of Punjab. The secondary data on the variables pertinent for the examination of role of livestock sector were culled from various published sources. The other objectives were accomplished by using the primary data for 2017-18, collected through personal interview method from 180 mixed farm holders of three agro climatic zones (Sub Mountainous Zone referred to as Zone 1: 45; Central Plain Zone as Zone 2: 90; South Western Zone as Zone 3: 45) of Punjab, equally spread over three land holding categories (Small: <5 acres; medium: 5-10 acres; large: >10 acres) selected with Four Stage Sampling Technique. The contribution of Punjab, home to only 1.6 per cent of country’s livestock resources, stands at 7 per cent in case of milk production, 5.4 per cent in case of eggs and 3.4 per cent in case of meat. The strength of Punjab’s livestock sector lies in the fact that it contributed 8.1 per cent to total GSDP in relation to only 4.6 per cent at all India level in TE 2016-17. As regards the narratives of crop – livestock production in selected mixed farms, the cropping intensity was observed to be the highest in case of Zone 2 (210.7 %) followed by that in Zone 3 and Zone 1 (203.6 %). The fodder area irrespective of agro- climatic zones, has been observed as 1.20 acres in case of small, 1.51 acres in case of medium and 2.21 acres in case of large farms, which is in direct proportion to the herd size (ACUs) of 3.92 for small, 4.30 for medium and 5.38 for large farms. The dependence on tree leaves as a source of green fodder in Zone 1 got reflected in comparatively smaller area allocated to fodder crops (0.26 acre/ACU) contrasted to 0.39 acre/ACU in Zone 2 and 0.37 acre/ACU in Zone 3. As regards the fodder consumption on per ACUs basis in Zone 1, it was lower than that in maximum fodder endowed Zone 2 by 35 per cent in case of small farms, 26.8 per cent in case of medium and 11 per cent in case of large farms. However on dry matter (DM) basis, Zone 1 was statistically (p< 0.05) at par with Zone 2 and Zone 3 attributed primarily to high DM content of tree leaves in comparison to commonly cultivated fodder crops. The annual methane emission (enteric and manure) from livestock component of mixed farms was estimated as 237.0 kg CH4/farm in Zone 1, 408.25 kg CH4/farm in Zone 2 and 314.18 kg CH4/farm in Zone 3, with buffalo and crossbred cattle taken together accounting for 92.3 per cent in Zone 1, 94.7 per cent in Zone 2 and as high as 98 per cent in Zone 3. As regards the quantification of crop livestock synergy beyond the farm level by way of fodder sale, a total of 31 farms per 100 mixed farms were synergized in Zone 1, the corresponding figure for Zone 2 and Zone 3 being 22 and 24 respectively. Irrespective of Zones, the area synergized by way of FYM application stood at 29.04, 30.15 and 28.07 per cent of GCA in case of small, medium and large farms. The assessment of sustainability of milk production established the supremacy of crossbred cattle as being environmentally most sustainable in case of Punjab, the methane emission intensity being the lowest in case of crossbred cows (24.62 g/kg) in comparison to buffalo (29.88 g) and indigenous cattle (31.73 g). It needs to be highlighted that the methane emission rate has been the lowest in case of indigenous cattle in comparison to buffalo and crossbred cattle. The conspicuously higher emission intensity in case of indigenous cattle can be attributed to poor genetic potential leading to lower milk productivity. The quantitative assessment of sustainability of livestock component of mixed farms accomplished through Composite Index of Livestock Sustainability, CILS (based on Livestock Production Efficiency and Livestock Ecological Sustainability dimension) conclusively established Zone 2 as the contender of first position in terms of sustainability. It was enunciated by CILS value of 70.0 attained by Zone 2, which was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that recorded in case of Zone 1 (57.2) and Zone 3 (61.4). The analysis points towards prioritized attention to Zone 1 and Zone 3 and particularly so to the small farmers by creating conducive policy environment to enhance the sustainability.ThesisItem Open Access Agrarian crisis and status of agricultural labourers in Punjab(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2020) Chaudhary, Anurag; Sukhpal SinghThe present study examined the agrarian crisis and status of agricultural labourers in Punjab. In order to accomplish the specific objectives, both primary as well as the secondary data was used. The primary data was collected from a sample of the 300 agricultural labour households selected from 12 villages of 6 districts of Punjab namely Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Mansa and Shree Muktsar Sahib districts through multi stage random technique. The secondary data related to area, production and yield of crops such as rice, wheat, maize and cotton from the year 1960-61 to 2017-18 was collected. Secondary data related to area under high yielding varities of crops, agricultural workforce, number of operational land holdings etc was also collected. The study revealed that the agrarian crisis has severely penetrated in the life of the agricultural labourers. On an average, out of the population of 1351 persons only 380 persons were earning and the remaining 971 persons were totally dependent on them for carrying out their livelihood, almost 69 per cent population belonged to the scheduled castes but it was interesting to note that as such as 12 per cent households belonged to general castes. Most of the agricultural labour households were living in the pucca houses, however average number of rooms was just 2.37 revealing that a family of 4.50 was living in just 2.37 rooms. Casualisation of agricultural labourers has taken place to a great extent. Agricultural labourers were engaged in the activities such as permanent agricultural labour casual agricultural labour, industrial labour, labour in services sector, labour in brick kilns, working as domestic servants and sale of animals and milk and on an average per capita income from these activities was `1407.86, `21115.40, `699.46, `671.31, `422.27, `259.69 and `408.50 respectively, So the per capita income was `23850 whereas total per capita consumption expenditure was `24983 and the average propensity to consume was 1.04. On an average, 84.11 percent households were indebted, only 13.26 per cent of the loan taken was used for some productive purposes whereas remaining 86.14 per cent of the total loan was used for unproductive purposes such as socio-religious ceremonies, buying motorcycles, mobile phones etc. It was suggested enhance some employment opportunities by developing some non farm activities for the agricultural labour households.ThesisItem Open Access Economic viability and resource use efficiency of tenant farming in Punjab(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019) Bansal, Surbhi; Grover, D.K.The present study has been designed to review the dynamics of tenant farming/reforms, to study the fiscal viability and input use productivity of major crops of the state for the tenant as well as the owner farmers. The study has been based on the primary data collected from 180 farmers (120 tenants and 60 owners), spread over all the major agro-climatic zones of Punjab pertaining to the crop year 2017-18. The study highlighted that the operational cost of major growing crops namely paddy, wheat, cotton and sugarcane cultivation per hectare was observed slightly lower for tenant farmers in comparison to owner farmers. Total cost of cultivation (C2) was also found relatively lower in case of tenant farmers as compared to owner farmers. The returns over variable cost were found to be comparatively higher for tenant farms in relation to owner farms. The returns over variable cost were estimated `92169, `69929, `84424 and `200081 from paddy, wheat, cotton and sugarcane on tenant farms as compared to `89673, `68700, `82916 and `187784 on the owner farms respectively. The regression analysis brought out relatively efficient input use productivity on tenant farms especially in terms of micro nutrients and other chemical fertilizers. Expensive farm machinery, ineffective government policies and inadequate timely financial assistance from banks were found as major constraints confronted by the tenant farmers in the state.ThesisItem Open Access An Empirical Study of the Efficiency of Indian Stock Market(College of Agriculture, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2007) Harmeet, Chadha; Sachdeva, YPThesisItem Open Access Economic Impact of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) on Rural Women Labour in Punjab and Karnataka(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019) Ahmed, Syed Rizwan; Sanjay KumarMahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme is to provide at least or more than 100 days of guaranteed employment in financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual labour work. The scheme guaranteed rural women in the economic activity by stipulating minimum 33 per cent participation rate thereby enhancing their livelihood, social, and income security. The present study examined the impact of MGNREGS on rural women labour in Punjab and Karnataka. In order to accomplish the broad objectives, both primary as well as secondary data were used. The secondary data in terms of MGNREGS implementation, revealed that Kerala and Tamil Nadu were higher performing states and Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa were at the lowest. Similarly in Punjab, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana were the best performing districts, while the poor performing districts were Pathankot, Patiala. In Karnataka, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Bagalkote were the most efficient districts, while Yadgir, was least efficient district. Impact of MGNREGS on employment, wage income, consumption expenditure, and financial inclusion of rural women labour in Punjab and Karnataka was compared through collecting primary data by selecting Hoshiarpur (Phase I), Nawanshahr (Phase II), and Ludhiana (Phase III) districts from Punjab, and Chitradurga (Phase I), Ballari (Phase II), and Kolar (Phase III) districts from Karnataka. Finally 12 selected villages were selected covering total 300 sample women labourers and the reference period of study was the year 2016-17. Results showed that in Punjab and Karnataka, overall the number of days worked under the MGNREGS were about 51 and 91 days per year, respectively. Annual income of the rural women labourers earned from MGNREGS was Rs. 5753 and Rs. 10536. Annual spending pattern of rural women labour under MGNREGS, on food items and non-food items revealed that in Punjab, after the implementation of MGNREGS, total food expenditure was Rs.12648 and total non-food expenditure was Rs.12383. Similarly in Karnataka, was Rs. 16,964, and Rs. 18,755. Gini co-efficient revealed that MGNREGA helped in improving the income and consumption expenditure after its implementation among the rural women labour thereby reducing the inequality level in study areas. Therefore there is improvement in the distribution of income and consumption expenditure among the beneficiaries due to MGNREGS in Punjab and Karnataka. Financial inclusion aspects reported that use of bank accounts, its account activity has improved moderately. In both states, 43 per cent of account holders obtained pass books and ATM cards. 73 per cent of them take some transport facilities to access to financial services. In Punjab, 51 per cent revealed that they take nearly half day duration of time to visit a bank or post office for completing transaction for depositing and withdrawing of money, whereas 44 per cent in Karnataka. In Punjab, 31 per cent of the respondents revealed that payments get credited to beneficiary account holders within one week, in Karnataka, the response were 55 percent. In Punjab, 23 per cent of them received payments from Government including MGNREGS while in Karnataka, the response were 23 per cent. In Punjab, 22 per cent of them deposits for savings directly in their bank accounts, and in Karnataka, the response were 23 per cent. In Punjab, 30 per cent sourcing of loan was from local money lenders while in Karnataka, the response were 24 per cent. In Punjab, annual savings was Rs. 4350 while in Karnataka, was Rs.6093. In Punjab, major problems faced by the rural women labour participant of MGNREGS were lack of adequate work, While in Karnataka, unnecessary delay in wage payment, and they complained of low wage rates. Likewise unemployment allowance was not paid, lack of childcare facilities and medical aid at work site, presence of social prohibition etc were reported. Suggestion forwarded by them, with regard to smooth and effective functioning of scheme was revealed that more women friendly work and skilled activities are needed to be identified, so that the beneficiaries may get minimum 100 days of employment in a year. Employment in the scheme may be provided more during agriculturally lean seasons. Wage rates may be enhanced and should be provided in time.
