In Pakistan, the case for both land reform and, more broadly, agrarian reforms, is premised on the need to create sustainable livelihoods which is widely agreed to be the most effective method of alleviating poverty. In addition, land reform combats social injustice while achieving sustained…

This study explores the impact of changes in environmental conditions on intrahousehold labor allocation to the collection of environmental goods such as fuelwood and leaf fodder for a sample of rural Nepali households. Using household-level panel data collected in 1982 and 1997, the study finds…

A study of the enormous differences in agricultural productivity that exist across farms and regions in Pakistan, where, for example, recent farm-level data from Sindh, indicates that irrigated wheat output per hectare varies from 0.5 to 5.4 tons across farms. Looks at the central goal of…

These notes present the impressions gathered by a team of Indian and Pakistani economists on contemporary issues in irrigation management in these two countries. The authors suggest that the two countries can learn important lessons by comparing notes on several issues: [a] what would work best…

As a consequence of green revolution in 1960s, though irrigated areas and agriculture production has increased considerably, yields are still less as compared to various countries of the world. Furthermore, huge spatial variation in cropping pattern and productivity of land and water within…

This issue of Caravan chronicles ICARDA’s efforts in developing a research strategy and a need-based research program for the CAC region. In doing so, ICARDA played a major role in bringing together all partners, most importantly donors. The article on page 8 traces the history of this effort…

Local governance has become increasingly significant as devolution from central and provincial levels is being attempted in India as a result of the enactment of the 73rd and 74th Amendment of the Constitution in 1993. The essence of local self governance is to enable a small community to…

The Kol tribals of Chitrakoot district live a life of abject poverty, exploitation and almost complete subjugation to the feudal landowners, locally known as Dadus. A local civil society organisation, the Akhil Bhartiya Samaj Sewa Sansthan (ABSSS) has adopted a multi-pronged approach to…

Demonstrates the viability of farmers organizations for managing parts of the water resource system to achieve efficient and equitable use of water in a hierarchical society such as Pakistan. Suggests a successful conceptual and methodological framework for taking a bottom-up approach to the…

Describes the use of satellite remote sensing and GIs techniques to analyze the agricultural performance and sustainability of the Bhakra Irrigation System in India. Demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of these techniques as diagnostic tools for irrigation system improvement and the advantages…