Determinants of Work Animal Density in Tamil Nadu: An Econometric Analysis

Dhas, Albert Christopher (2008): Determinants of Work Animal Density in Tamil Nadu: An Econometric Analysis.

Abstract

From independence, size and composition of bovines in Tamil Nadu showed differential growth pattern. The total bovine population showed an increasing trend up to the early-Sixties and thereafter stagnant till the early Eighties. While the milch animal stock increased steadily, the work animals showed a declining trend from seventies. These trends not only indicate the growing importance of dairy animals but also the competitive linkage between work and milch animal population.

The work animal stock is highly influenced by the agro-climatic, institutional and economic factors and an analysis of capturing them is attempted in this paper. Initially, the changes in the size and composition of bovines, work animal population and its density since independence are traced. Subsequently, the factors determining work animal population and its density are examined using regression models.

Two regression analyses are made, one representing phase I (1956-1974) and the other for phase II (1977-1994). Phase I basically represents the period when mechanisation in agriculture had been at the early stages and phase II represents the period when mechanization (both energisation of irrigation and tractorisation) was at a relatively higher level.

The study revealed that while the agro-climatic and irrigation factors had played a major role in shaping the work animal density during the period prior to mid-Seventies, the technological, economic and institutional factors played a major role in recent years.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Work Animal Density; Work Animals; Mechanisation; Irrigation; tractorisation; energisation, milch animals; bovines; Density; Cropping Pattern, Cropping Intensity; Econometrics;Tamil Nadu
• Subjects: Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q5 - Environmental Economics; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O13 - Agriculture ; Natural Resources ; Energy ; Environment ; Other Primary Products; N - Economic History > N5 - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, and Extractive Industries; C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C0 - General > C01 - Econometrics

References

Dhas (1986): Structure of Milk Production in Tamilnadu: An Analysis of Trends and Sources of Growth, Unpublished M.Phil thesis, Centre for Development Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Dhas (1989): “Changes in Draught Animal Population and Its Effect on the Composition of the Bovine Stock in Tamilnadu”, in Livestock Economy of India, Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, Oxford & IBH Publishing Co.Pvt.Ltd, New Delhi.

Mishra,S.N., and Sharma,Rishi K.(1990): Livestock Development in India: An Appraisal, Institute of Economic Growth, Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd.,. New Delhi.

Nair,K.N. (1977): “Size and Utilization of Draught Animals in Kerala”, Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Vol.32, No.4.

Saxena, Rakesh (1995): Status and Utilisation of Draught Animal Power in Gujarat, Working Paper No.93, Institute of Rural Management Anand

Vaidyanathan,A. (1978): “Aspects of Indias’s Bovine Economy: Some Preliminary Results”, Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Vol.33, No.1.

Vaidyanathan,A. And Nair, K.N. (1979): “A Comment on’Questions in the Sacred Cow Controversy’ ”, CDS Working Paper No.95, Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum.

Vaidyanathan, A.(1988): Bovine Economy in India” CDS Monograph Series, Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum and Oxford & IBH Publishing Co.Pvt.Ltd., New Delhi.