Agricultural technology and the issue of unequal distribution of rewards: an Indian case study

Abstract

A sample of 228 Indian farmers were interviewed at two points in time in order to determine the effects of differential acceptance of improved agricultural technology on changes in equality of reward distribution over time. Analysis shows that inequality increases over time with respect to gross agricultural production, but differences in adoption of improved technology are not clearly implicated in that shift. Conversely, inequalities in both level and standard of living are reduced over time. Early failure to adopt agricultural technology does not seem to lead to enduring and self-reinforcing disadvantage in the context studied. Whether such a pattern is typical in the agriculture of developing countries, or whether Indian development policy is responsible for achieving a degree of distributive equity in conjunction with technological change, are among the topics for further research.