Abstract:
The study reports data on the cost of production of crops grown during the year 1957-58 on reclaimed, partially reclaimed and unreclaimed land at the Chakanwali Reclamation Farm which represents high water table conditions. The methods of investigation and the basis of classifying the various items of expenditure under the major group of inputs, land, labour and capital were the same as laid down in the earlier studies relating to Bhallewala Reclamation Farm. Field drainage is an additional item under capital input. This study covers an area of 206.18 acres, cultivated by 16 Batai (Share-cropping) tenants with an average holding of 12.89 acres. A little more than 1/4th of the acreage cropped is on reclaimed, about 1/2 on partially reclaimed and about 1 3 on unreclaimed land. Analysis of cost of production of crops show that in the case of the major crop of rice in reclaimed area, land input accounts for 30% labour input about 34% and capital input about 30% of the total input. Due to the low output of other Kharif crops and unirrigated Rabi crops the land input goes down to 10-15%. The pattern of inputs is markedly different from that with perennial irrigation. Agriculture is capital intensive and not land or labour intensive. The pattern of inputs for partially reclaimed and unreclaimed land is almost the same as for reclaimed land. The cost per unit of output is higher than the return per unit in reclaimed, partially reclaimed as well as unreclaimed land for about all the crops. However, the deficit is minimum in the case of the major crop of rice. Rabi fodder crops of Berseem and Berseem barley was the only instance in which there was a net income. The Chakanwali Reclamation Farm is a high water-table area with non-perennial irrigation. Except the major crop of rice and one or two minor crops for getting a positive income, the other crops show a deficit even for the peasant, proprietor or the tenant. The net income of the tenant per acre of holding depends on the action and interaction of a number of factors, the effect of each of which cannot be singled out. However, combination of factors which resulted in high and low incomes are indicated. The level of returns to the tenant from his holding is very low and is shown to be deficit fanning even for reclaimed land. The position is very unsatisfactory as compared with the position for perennial irrigation at the Bhallewala Reclamation Farm near Montgomery in the Lower Bari Doab Colony. Even in the latter case the tenant's returns are at bare subsistence level.
Page(s):
95-110
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Science, Volume: 15, Issue: 3, Year: 1963