Development of Agriculture and Rural Settlements in the Drought Prone Areas, India

这项研究的目的是更好地了解印度农业和农村系统，特别是在干旱易发地区方案和印度中部运河灌溉项目下发展中农业地区的自然环境。该研究项目于1989年至1991年在中央邦和马哈拉施特拉邦进行。研究方法的重点是集约化的乡村调查。从发展阶段和社会文化多样性的角度选择了6个样本村。地理研究工作的结果以“印度干旱易发地区农业和农村住区的近期变化”为题发表。结论如下：(1)由于发展政策措施往往会随着中央政府的政治气候而发生变化，当局无法了解其社会政治意义和后果。(2)政府贷款和财政计划在村民自我创新努力的基础上得到批准，但村庄经济的基础设施还不够成熟，不足以推动反复性发展进程。大多数村民对经济形势变得非常敏感，比以往任何时候都更加以市场为导向。另一方面，他们往往陷入令人担忧的债务水平。(4)近年来，随着大多数农民社会经济地位的提高，历史悠久的传统社会组织正逐渐瓦解。(5)由于欠发达地区的村民共享恶劣的环境条件，相互竞争利用土地和水资源，破坏和过度开发正在迅速进行。

The objectives of the research is to make a better understanding on the Indian agricultural and rural system, particularly in connection with natural environments in the developing agricultural regions under the Drought Prone Area Program and canal irrigation project in the central India.The research project was conducted from 1989 to 1991 in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra state. Main emphasis of research method was laid on intensive village survey. 6 sample villages were selected from the viewpoint of the development stage and socio-cultural diversity.The result of geographical research works was published under the title of "Recent changes of agriculture and rural settlements in drought prone areas in India". The conclusion is as follows ;(1) As developmental policy measures have frequently tended to be changed by political climate of central government, authorities could not follow its socio-political significance and consequences.(2) Government loans and financial schemes have been sanctioned on a basis of self-innovative efforts of villagers, however infrastructure of village economy have not still been fully fledged enough to put spurt on repercussive development processes.(3) Most villagers have been becoming very sensitive to economic situations and much more marketoriented than ever before. On the other hand, they have tended to get into debt on a alarming level.(4) As most farmers are now improving their socio-economic status, time-honored traditional social organization are becoming gradually disintegrated in recent years.(5) As villagers in less-developed areas, sharing severe environmental conditions compete with each others to utilize land and water resources, devastation and overexploitation is now rapidly under way.