Agricultural Tenancy in Contemporary Rural India

Abstract

This thesis is an enquiry in to agricultural tenancy in contemporary rural India. The thesis examines newline changes in the prevalence of tenancy as well as changes in the nature of tenancy contracts. Using newline the case of two States, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, the thesis explores links between observed newline forms of tenancy and underlying production conditions and production relations. This newline understanding is used to comment on recent changes in tenancy laws. newline The motivation for this study comes from the recent resurgence in the incidence of tenancy after newline a three decade long decline during the period 1971-2003 (NSSO 2015). The recent increase is newline accompanied by varying forms of tenancy contracts in different regions. The analysis of such an newline increase therefore requires an analysis of agricultural and non-agricultural factors present at the newline ground level. newline This study uses the secondary databases as well as primary data, both quantitative and qualitative, newline from two villages, one each in, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. These villages are purposively chosen newline and are located in two different agro-climatic regions with different tenurial histories. newline Another important aspect with the contemporary tenancy relations in these states is the legislative newline changes brought forth by new Acts on tenancy. I have taken up a brief review of new tenancy newline reforms in Punjab and Andhra Pradesh respectively. newline