Articles by T Haque

There is an ongoing debate on whether minimum support prices for various agricultural commodities can be replaced by a system of price deficiency payments to farmers. The main objective of the intended policy shift is the improvement in farmers’ incomes as well as a reduction in farm subsidies. An analysis of this system suggests that price deficiency payments might be a better option for both farmers and the government. However, it should be properly designed so that it can improve farm incomes, national food security, fiscal prudence and sustainability of agriculture. Unlike the Price Loss Coverage programme in the United States, covering almost all crops, and the MSP in India covering as many as 23 crops, it should be limited to a few specific commodities. 

Land reform policies aimed to promote agricultural growth and alleviate rural poverty have had limited success. As a recent workshop on land reform suggested, the potential of new reform approaches such as contract farming, legalising procedures for land leasing, sanctioning homestead-cum-garden plots for the poor and landless need to be suitably examined and exploited.

in Indo-Gangetic Region Ramesh Chand T Haque There has been some apprehension that the high growth rates in the productivity and output of rice and wheat may not be sustainable. This paper looks at the growth trends and discusses the problems and issues related to this crop system especially in the Gangetic and trans-Gangetic plains, where rice-wheat farming is widely practised.