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Accepted Contribution:
Agrarian Economy of Bihar: Structural Constraints vs Technological Optimism?
Manish Kumar
(Delhi School of Economics)
Awanish Kumar
(Azim Premji University, Bangalore, India)
A number of international institutions have argued that technological change, as contrasted with the transformation of the agrarian structure, can be the prime mover of agricultural growth in Bihar. In this paper, we will try to respond to this argument.
Contribution long abstract:
The last few decades have witnessed the emergence of a new discussion around Bihar. The overarching element in this discussion is Bihar’s development since the year 2005 when Nitish Kumar became the chief minister of the state. Some scholars, such as Dasgupta (2010) and Nagaraj and Rahman (2010), have questioned the tall claims made by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. However, there has been another argument, especially related to the agrarian change and agricultural development in Bihar that has largely gone uncontested. A number of international institutions such as the World Bank (2005), Agha Khan Development Network (2007), and scholars like Avinash Kishore (2004, 2013) and Tushaar Shah (1999) have argued that technological change, as contrasted with the transformation of the agrarian structure, can be the prime mover of agricultural growth in Bihar. In this paper, we will try to respond to this argument by referring to the development trajectory of agriculture in Bihar over the last few decades.