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The New Village—IV Factors Behind Technological Change V Nath This Paper Has Been Concerned Primarily with Describing Technological Change in Agriculture

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The New Village—IV Factors Behind Technological Change V Nath This Paper Has Been Concerned Primarily with Describing Technological Change in Agriculture The New Village—IV Factors Behind Technological Change V Nath This paper has been concerned primarily with describing technological change in agriculture. Certain other as­ pects of change, eg in levels of living, education, health and attitudes of people, have also been described briefly, mainly with a view to seeing the relation between them and changes in agriculture. Perhaps the most significant conclusion is that change in agricultural techniques is part of a larger change pro­ cess which affects many aspects of the life of the villager. Change in agriculture is but one aspect of the process of economic growth in Central Punjab. Further, what has been described here is the beginning of a process of technological change. It should gather momentum in the future and produce larger and more important changes — intensive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, use of small tractors, increasing emphasis on specialised farming, change in attitudes towards the role of agriculture. These changes can be seen already among the more progressive farmers. This descriptive paper throws up many questions relating to analysis of change, e g, the role of innovators, chan­ nels of communication within the village, reasons for the acceptance or rejection of specific practices, the contribu­ tion of Sikh religion, better nutrition or health to enterprise and vigour. These and other questions are being investigated currently by a number of investigators working in different parts of lndia, It is hoped that similar studies will be made of villages in other regions so that we can have a better understanding of the process described in this paper. THE MAN time of Independence. The people of but most important, intensive irriga­ THE Jat generally, and the Sikh Jitpur mentioned in particular the tion. From these practices they soon Jat particularly, is known to be work of a Deputy Director of Agri­ went on to new practices which were a good cultivator, combining hard culture who had in the 1930's, taught necessary for obtaining higher per acre work with intelligent use of resources. them the improved method of making yields from their smaller holdings. This fact has been repeatedly stressed khandsari sugar which they are follow­ Thus, they were in the fore-front of by administrators, agricultural officers ing to this day. the movement for irrigation by pump­ and others who have had occasion to But, rapid advance in techniques and ing sets, because they realised that work with Jat cultivators. In the agricultural productivity, with which irrigation was the key to intensive canal colonies of West Punjab, Sikh we are concerned in this study, has farming and that the only way to in­ ]ats proved to be particularly adept occurred only after Independence, and crease water supplies in this area was at intelligent use of irrigation waters, the explanation for it must be sought through the use of mechanical power and some of the highest standards of in the factors operating in this period. for lifting water from wells. farm husbandry, yields per acre an.i A number of factors have been operat­ Besides generally stimulating the agricultural incomes to be found any­ ing simultaneously, and we shall con­ movement towards more progressive. where in the country were reached on tent ourselves with listing the most intensive agriculture the refugee culti­ their farms. The refugee cultivators important among them. vators were responsible for popularis­ from the canal colonies are among the ing several specific improvements. The most progressive cultivators in this rapid spread of American cotton in area, and their presence has made a THE INFLUENCE OF THE REFUGEE East Punjab in the early 1950s was major contribution to Jitpur's agricul­ CULTIVATORS due mainly to their influence. They started growing American cotton which tural progress, as explained below. After the partition of the Punjab, they used to grow in the canal colo­ Already the standard of farm hus­ large numbers of cultivators from the nies, and the local cultivators followed bandry in this area was fairly good canal colonies came to East Punjab to their example. The large price differ­ in pre-Independence years. Cultivation their ancestral villages from which ence between American and desi was intensive and crop yields were they had emigrated 30 or 40 years cotton in the early 1950s aided this moderately high. The average yield of earlier, or to other villages in which movement and growing of American sugarcane in 1951-52, just before the they had been allotted lands. The cotton became universal in several opening of the C D block, was 40 to canal colonists, as stated earlier, had districts of the Punjab within a few 45 kg (of gur) per acre, as compared attained high standards of farm hus­ years.* The rapid increase in popula- with 55 kg per acre today. The bandry and agricultural incomes in standard of livestock husbandry was West Punjab and were used to im­ * The Programme Evaluation Orga­ also high, as evidenced by the fairly proved methods of farming advocated nisation of the Planning Commis­ high yields of milch animals. by the Department of Agriculture. sion made a study of the spread Agricultural extension work was When they came to East Punjab and of American cotton in certain com­ well organised in pre-Partition Punjab, were given holdings which were much munity development blocks of its Department of Agriculture being smaller than those they had left behind, PEPSU in 1954 It was found in among the best in the country. Seve­ their first endeavour was to re attain this study that 70 to 90 per cent ral important improved practices such the standard of agricultural income of the cultivators were growing as use of C-591 wheat, and CO-312 which they had enjoyed earlier. They American cotton and that the sugarcane, growing of berseem as started building up their new holdings example of the refugee cultivators green fodder and use of improved im­ through methods which had given who had brought American cotton plements like iron ploughs, iron Persian good results in the canal colonies — with them was a major factor in wheels, chaff cutters and improved use of improved seed, use of iron its spread -- "Cotton Extension sugarcane presses, had become univer­ ploughs and other implements, tho­ in PEPSU," 1955, PEO, Plan­ sally accepted in this area by the rough preparation of land, and last, ning Commission. 777 May 8, 1965 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY rity of the fodder crop, berseem, was EX.SERVICEMEN AND EDUCATED after non-agricultural employment, and also because they preferred berseem CULTIVATORS leave cultivation as soon as they get suitable jobs. ' But to the extent that to other fodder crops. Some of the Two other groups whose presence they do stay in agriculture, they are prosperous refugee cultivators, who ha had a significant influence on an influence for progress. Some of had owned citrus orchards in the technological and economic progress them, like the garden colonists and canal colonies, started planting or­ in the area are ex-servicemen and the chairman of the milk producers' chards. The Punjab government en­ educated cultivators. The major con­ society, are good cultivators. More­ couraged the practice by establishing tribution of the ex-servicemen has over, like the ex-servicemen, they are planned garden colonies, in which be­ been in spreading the idea of better anxious to adopt new techniques, es­ sides specialised advice, liberal tac- living — better and cleaner homes, pecially new implements and other cavi loans and other facilities were cleaner villages, use of modern medi­ also given to the planters. labour-saving devices; and for the cine, modern-type consumer goods, same reasons. They have also shown etc. The block staff and the village a noteworthy aptitude for taking up Of course, the refugee cultivators leaders said that ex-servicemen were were not successful in everything they new, remunerative types of farm pro­ particularly enthusiastic about build­ duction. The new commercial poultry introduced. Citrus orchards were not ing pucca or semi-pucca houses and successful, because the climate and production is entirely in the hands of installing electricity and handpumps educated men. They do not have the soils of the Central Punjab districts in houses. They also took active are different from those of the West prejudice against keeping poultry which interest in village sanitation program­ the average cultivator still has. They Punjab canal colonies. We saw an mes. The spread of the tea-drinking instance of failure of citrus plantation also have the added advantage of habit after World War II was also understanding and following the rigor­ in the garden colony, located in this attributed to them. Several ex-service­ block, at a distance of about ten miles ous routine which commercial poultry men were also active in popular insti­ from Jitpur. The colonists had all production requires. tutions like the co-operatives and the planted citrus orchards in the early panchayats and rose to positions of 1950s; but they had to give up later leadership in them. The extension when they found that the trees did staff thought that they were good al not survive after two or three years, working the co-operatives because THE ENVIRONMENT OF PROGRESS partly because of the presence of a they understood the 'co-operative But the most significant influence of "hard pan" in the sub-soil. The Ameri­ principle' and were more honest; but the post-Independence years has been can cotton was also not without its they were not particularly successful the environment of progress. A num­ defects. It was more susceptible to in the panchayats. Several ex-service- ber of factors, ranging from steady diseases like jessids and boll-worm.
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