Ecology and Agricultural Development in Four Villages of Central Karnataka

Abstract

Raagaard, Svend: Ecology and Agricultural Development in Four Villages of Central Karnataka. Geografisk Tidsskrift 93:63–68. Copenhagen 1993.

In Central Karnataka the farmers have for a long time adjusted their farming methods and strategy to; ecological conditions, seasonal distribution and variability of precipitation and soils. This study concerns four villages. The crop composition around 1970 and the changes are described to show the types of innovation. New fast maturing varieties of food grains have been accepted everywhere, and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has increased dramatically. A shift to cash crop, especially cotton, has occurred in many places. Also described is how the traditional agricultural systems have been adjusted to the innovations. So far they have not prevented the changes, but around 1990 it seems that the development reached a certain limit. If agricultural production has to keep up with the population growth, new practices, strategies and crops have to be identified.

Keywords:

• tropical farming systems
• agricultural development
• Central Karnataka
• India