Long-term Agricultural Growth in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh from 1901/02 to 2001/02



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Long-term Agricultural Growth in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh from 1901/02 to 2001/02 PIDE Seminar, Nov 28, 2011 Takashi Kurosaki (Hitotsubashi University) kurosaki@ier.hit-u.acc.jp 1

Background of this research Kurosaki s main research area: Microeconomic modeling of household behavior under incomplete markets, and empirical application of the model to households in South Asia using microeconometric tools. Especially how households can smooth consumption and manage human capital investment under missing insurance markets. Kurosaki s home institution: Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University (IER-HU), Tokyo. Famous for the compilation of Japan s LTES (Long- Term Economic Statistics) => Asian Historical Statistics Project (1995-, IER-HU, covering major Asian countries, from the late 19 th century to the current. Kurosaki is in charge of agricultural statistics of South Asia in this project. On-going research: combining historical macro data with microdata and applying the microeconometric models. 2

Output from the Project 12 Volumes of Major Asian Countries, covering the period from the late 19 th century or the early 20 th century. Published by Toyo Keizai Publishers, Tokyo, in bilingual form, w/ CD-Rom containing more statistics. Each volume is assigned to each country. Statistics are arranged according to the national income accounting approach. Already published: Volume 1 Taiwan. In printing: Volume 4 Korea, Volume 2 Vietnam, Volume 3 China. Open access to dataset in progress (http://www.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/coe/index.html) 3

1. Introduction Re-emphasis on agriculture as key to poverty reduction (WDR 2008: Agriculture for Development) The largest number of the poor in rural South Asia: Key to achieve MDGs Thus, agriculture in South Asia is critically important (HCI higher in rural areas and highest among landless agricultural workers; Food budget share high for the poor) => Quantitative investigation of agricultural performance and the sources of growth in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh. 4

Literature on long-term agricultural performance in the Subcontinent Pre-1947 analysis for undivided India (e.g., Sivasubramonian, 1960; 2000), for British India (Blyn, 1966; Guha, 1992), areas currently in India (Roy, 1996) Comparison of Indian Punjab and Pakistan Punjab (e.g., Prabha, 1969; Dasgupta, 1981; Sims, 1988) Comparison of West Bengal and East Bengal (e.g., Islam, 1978; Boyce, 1987; Rogaly et al., 1999; Banerjee et al., 2002) 5

This paper s contribution The coverage of this study is new: (1) Comparison of areas currently in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, including the pre- 1947 period. (2) Very long-term: 1901/02-2001/02. Methodological innovation: (1) Time series model for growth, focusing on difference-in-difference in growth rates (Partition as a natural experiment). (2) New decomposition to quantify the contribution of crop shifts on aggregate land productivity, un-noticed source of growth in the literature. 6

2. Data Geographical difficulty: Areas currently in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh = British Provinces & Princely State) before Partition 1947. Punjab, Bengal, and Assam were partitioned. 7

(i) Data sources Pre-1947 Sivasubramonian (2000) Blyn (1966) Agricultural Statistics of India Estimates of Area and Production of India Report on the Season and Crops (RSC) Crop-cutting survey reports (Mahalanobis) Post-1947 Agricultural Statistics National Accounts Statistics 8

(ii) Individual crop statistics Individual crop statistics were compiled first. Then their sum is extrapolated to cover all of the crop sector. Individual crops cover: India 18 crops = rice, wheat, barley, jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet), maize, ragi (finger millet), gram (chickpea), linseed, sesamum, rape & mustard, groundnut, sugarcane, tea, coffee, tobacco, cotton, jute & mesta Pakistan 12 crops (major crops subsector in GDP stat) = rice, wheat, barley, jowar, bajra, maize, gram, rape & mustard, sesamum, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton Bangladesh 16 crops = aman rice, aus rice, boro rice, wheat, barley, maize, gram, linseed, sesamum, rape & mustard, groundnut, sugarcane, tea, tobacco, cotton, jute These crops covered more than 2/3 of gross crop output. 9

(iii) Pre-1947 Estimation Step 1 = Sivasubramonian (2000)*Si, i=india, Pakistan, Bangladesh, where Si = Govt. of India (1948) for 1936/37 to 1945/46 Si = Avg.[Govt. of India (1948) for 1936/37 to 1945/46]*Ai, for other years, where Ai = Blyn (1966) s index for greater Bengal or greater Punjab re-converted into Avg.[1936/37 to 1945/46]=1. Step 2 = Independent estimates based on RSC for districts currently in Pakistan and Bangladesh Adopt several assumptions by Sivasubramonian (2000), such as using the reported area and yield without adjustment, and extrapolating British Province figures to the neighboring Princely States if no statistics are available for these States. 10

(iii) Pre-1947 Estimation (cont d) Step 3 = Comparison of Step 1 and Step 2 series For Pakistan, they show similar trends but the Step 2 Series is more precise => Adopt Step 2 series as the estimates for Pakistan. For Bangladesh, Assam data are missing so that comparability was not high As far as East Bengal is concerned, Step 1 series is comparable to Step 2 for major crops => Adopt Step 1 (India+Pakistan) Step 2 (Pakistan) as the estimates for India Step 4 = Adjustment for Bangladesh pre-1947 Following Islam s (1978) revision factors, Step 1 series for the pre-1947 Bengal statistics were adjusted. Extrapolate them to corresponding to Bangladesh areas. 11

(iv) Aggregation Q = aggregated output value from major crops at fixed prices (1938/39, 1960, 1980/81) S 1 = The share of Q in the total crop sector (the difference is output value from minor crops) S 2 = The value-added ratio in the crop sector Y = Value-added in the crop sector = Q/S 1 S 2 <Measures of partial productivity> Y/L (labor productivity), where L is agricultural labor force and estimated as L=L S 3 S 4, where L is the total population, S 3 = crude activity rate, and S 4 is the share of agriculture in working population. Y/A (land productivity), where A is the total area cultivated 12

1901/02 1906/07 1911/12 1916/17 1921/22 1926/27 1931/32 1936/37 1941/42 1946/47 1951/52 1956/57 1961/62 1966/67 1971/72 1976/77 1981/82 1986/87 1991/92 1996/97 2001/02 Index [1959/60=1], MA3 450 Figure 1: Agricultural output (Y) in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, 1901/02-2001/02 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 India Pakistan Bangladesh 13

1901/02 1906/07 1911/12 1916/17 1921/22 1926/27 1931/32 1936/37 1941/42 1946/47 1951/52 1956/57 1961/62 1966/67 1971/72 1976/77 1981/82 1986/87 1991/92 1996/97 2001/02 Index [1959/60=1], MA3 250 Figure 2: Agricultural labor productivity (Y/L) in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, 1901/02-2001/02 200 150 100 50 0 India Pakistan Bangladesh 14

1901/02 1906/07 1911/12 1916/17 1921/22 1926/27 1931/32 1936/37 1941/42 1946/47 1951/52 1956/57 1961/62 1966/67 1971/72 1976/77 1981/82 1986/87 1991/92 1996/97 2001/02 Index [1959/60=1], MA3 350 Figure 3: Aggregate land productivity (Y/A) in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, 1901/02-2001/02 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 India Pakistan Bangladesh 15

3. Gross Output and Land Productivity in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh <Analytical framework> Time-series regression lny t = a + bt + u t, where Y is replaced by Y/L or Y/A as well. Growth rate=b, Variability=std.error of regression. Difference-in-Difference extension lny t k = (a k 0 + a k 1D t ) + (b k 0 + b k 1D t ) t + u k t, where D t is time dummy for post-1947 or post- 1971. Comparison of b k 1 (k=india, Pakistan, Bangladesh) gives DID in growth rates. When is the breakdate? Structural change of unknown timing methodology by Hansen (2001) applied to time series of lny t k. 16

Table 1: Agricultural growth rates in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh during the 20th century Y (total valueadded) Y/L (labor productivity) Y/A (land productivity) Ann.gr.rate CV Ann.gr.rate CV Ann.gr.rate CV India 1901/02-1946/47 0.37% *** 7.3% 0.11% 7.8% 0.14% * 7.3% 1947/48-2000/01 2.28% *** 5.7% 0.81% *** 6.4% 2.15% *** 5.8% Pakistan 1901/02-1946/47 1.24% *** 12.8% 0.76% *** 12.5% 0.47% *** 11.2% 1947/48-2000/01 3.46% *** 7.0% 1.84% *** 7.3% 2.70% *** 7.9% Bangladesh 1901/02-1946/47-0.30%*** 9.4% -0.62%*** 10.3% -0.29%*** 9.4% 1947/48-2000/01 1.73% *** 6.5% 0.50% *** 6.4% 1.85% *** 7.1% Results of estimating the structural change of unknown timing for Q/A 1st break 2nd break India 1950/51 *** none Pakistan 1951/52 *** 1934/35 ** Bangladesh 1949/50 *** none Notes: "Ann.gr.rate" is the annual growth rate, estimated by a time-series regression of ln(y) on 17 time trend. "CV" is the coefficient of variation, calculated from residuals in the same time-series regression.

Table 2: Decomposition of aggregate agricultural growth into extensive and intensive expansion Annual growth rate in Y (%) Relative contribution (%) Growth rate in A (extensive expansion) Growth rate in Y/A (intensive expansion) Land use intensity (gross cropped area/cultivated area) Output per gross cropped area Total Growth rate in A (extensive expansion) Growth rate in Y/A (intensive expansion) Land use intensity (gross cropped area/cultivated area) Output per gross cropped area India 1901/02-1947/48 0.24 0.24-0.10 0.38 64.4 62.1-26.5 1947/48-2001/02 0.10 0.39 1.69 2.18 4.4 17.8 77.7 Pakistan 1901/02-1947/48 1.07 0.10 0.61 1.78 60.3 5.4 34.3 1947/48-2001/02 0.71 0.35 1.89 2.96 24.1 12.0 63.9 Bangladesh 1901/02-1947/48 0.03-0.05-0.20-0.21-15.3 23.3 92.0 1947/48-2001/02-0.13 0.63 1.18 1.68-7.6 37.5 70.1 Notes: Annual growth rate is calculated from the comparison of the initial and last years. 18

Table 3: Triple difference -- Regional disparity in the acceleration in growth rates and the state Y Y/L Y/A 1. Impact of the Partition 1947 (a) Acceleration in growth rates since 1947 (parameter b 1 ) India 1.91% *** 0.69% *** 2.01% *** Pakistan 2.21% *** 1.08% *** 2.23% *** Bangladesh 2.03% *** 1.12% *** 2.14% *** (b) Statistical test (chi2 statistics) for the difference in acceleration India=Pakistan (b I 1 = b 1P ) 3.69 * 5.16 ** 2.23 Pakistan=Bangladesh (b P 1 = b 1B ) 1.35 0.05 0.32 Bangladesh=India (b B 1 = b 1I ) 1.04 9.51 *** 1.34 India=Pakistan=Bangladesh 3.8 10.15 *** 2.73 2. Impact of the Bangladesh's Independence 1971 (a) Acceleration in growth rates since 1971 (parameter b 1 ) Pakistan -0.13% -0.88%*** 0.79% *** Bangladesh 0.35% * 0.07% 0.84% *** (b) Statistical test (chi2 statistics) for the difference in acceleration Pakistan=Bangladesh (b P 1 = b 1B ) 4.08 ** 13.02 *** 0.05 Notes: Acceleration in growth rates were estimated by SUR (system of equations corresponding to each country). 19 For part (a), the number of observations is 100 (1901/02 to 2000/01). For Part (b), the number of observations is 54 (1947/48 to 2000/01).

1901/02 1906/07 1911/12 1916/17 1921/22 1926/27 1931/32 1936/37 1941/42 1946/47 1951/52 1956/57 1961/62 1966/67 1971/72 1976/77 1981/82 1986/87 1991/92 1996/97 2001/02 kg/ha, MA3 3000 Figure 4: Green Revoution -- Per-acre yield of rice and wheat in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, 1901/02-2001/02 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 India, rice Pakistan, wheat Bangladesh, rice India, wheat 20

4. Changes in Crop Mix and Their Contribution to Land Productivity <Important findings from Section 3> The rapid improvement in aggregate land productivity (Y/A) occurred before the Green Revolution The movement of Y/A often differs from that of per-acre rice or wheat yields => Role of changes in crop mix? Herfindahl index (concentration index) H = Sum i {S i2 }, where S i is acreage share of crop i. Share of rice and wheat areas in foodgrains areas Share of non-foodgrain crops in the major crops 21

1901/02 1906/07 1911/12 1916/17 1921/22 1926/27 1931/32 1936/37 1941/42 1946/47 1951/52 1956/57 1961/62 1966/67 1971/72 1976/77 1981/82 1986/87 1991/92 1996/97 2001/02 Herfindahl index based on area shares (MA3) 0.50 Figure 5: Change in crop mix, I -- Crop concentration in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, 1901/02-2001/02 0.45 0.40 0.35 0.30 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 India Pakistan Bangladesh Bangladesh (excluding Aman rice) 22

1901/02 1905/06 1909/10 1913/14 1917/18 1921/22 1925/26 1929/30 1933/34 1937/38 1941/42 1945/46 1949/50 1953/54 1957/58 1961/62 1965/66 1969/70 1973/74 1977/78 1981/82 1985/86 1989/90 1993/94 1997/98 2001/02 Share (MA3) 1.00 Fig 6: Changes in crop mix, II -- Acreage share of rice & wheat in areas under total foodgrains in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, 1901/02 to 2001/02 0.90 0.80 0.70 0.60 0.50 0.40 India Pakistan Bangladesh 23

1901/02 1905/06 1909/10 1913/14 1917/18 1921/22 1925/26 1929/30 1933/34 1937/38 1941/42 1945/46 1949/50 1953/54 1957/58 1961/62 1965/66 1969/70 1973/74 1977/78 1981/82 1985/86 1989/90 1993/94 1997/98 2001/02 Share (MA3) 0.30 Fig 7: Changes in crop mix, III -- Acreage share of non-foodgrains in total area under crops in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, 1901/02 to 2001/02 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.05 0.00 India Pakistan Bangladesh 24

New decomposition to quantify the impact of crop shifts on aggregate land productivity (Kurosaki, 2003 AJAE) (Y t -Y 0 )/Y 0 = [Sum i {S i0 (Y it - Y i0 )} +Sum i {(S it - S i0 )Y i0 } +Sum i {(S it - S i0 )(Y it - Y i0 ) }]/Y 0, where the 1st= crop yield effects, the 2 nd = static crop shift effects, and the 3 rd = dynamic crop shift effects Crop yield effects: If no change in crop mix, an improvement in per-acre yield of individual crops improves the aggregate land productivity. Static crop shift effects: If no change in individual crops per-acre yield, crop shifts into more lucrative crops improves the aggregate land productivity. Dynamic crop shift effects (cross-term of the two): Shifts into crops whose per-acre yield is improving improves the aggregate land productivity. 25

Table 4: Contribution to crop shifts to the aggregate land productivity Annual growth rates (%) of land productivity (Q/A') Relative contribution (%) Individual crop yield effect Static crop shift effect Dynamic crop shift effect Total Individual crop yield effect Static crop shift effect Dynamic crop shift effect India 1901/02-1947/48-0.15 0.01 0.15 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a. 1947/48-2001/02 2.38 0.26 0.66 3.30 72.1 8.0 20.0 Pakistan 1901/02-1947/48 0.55-0.03 0.22 0.74 74.5-4.0 29.6 1947/48-2001/02 2.46 0.48 0.63 3.57 68.9 13.4 17.7 Bangladesh, treating 3 different rice as different "crops" 1901/02-1947/48-0.16-0.02 0.01-0.17 96.4 10.4-6.8 1947/48-2001/02 1.39 0.29 0.37 2.04 67.9 14.1 18.0 Bangladesh, treating 3 different rice as 1 crop 1901/02-1947/48-0.18 0.01 0.00-0.17 107.6-6.8-0.8 1947/48-2001/02 2.02-0.04 0.06 2.04 98.8-2.0 26 3.2

5. Summary and Conclusion Turnaround of growth rates at around 1950 in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The turnaround occurred in all of Y, Y/L, and Y/A. Level leader = Pakistan, DID leader = Bangladesh A substantial part (about 1/3) of the improvement in aggregate land productivity was attributed to crop shifts in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. In India and Pakistan, the crop shift effects were especially important in 1950s and 1990s. Contribution of crop shifts to agricultural growth in Bangladesh would be underestimated if three varieties of rice are treated as a single crop. => Institutional and policy changes have significant effects on agricultural growth, through farmers response to newer opportunities. Technological factors (esp. irrigation) are important in facilitating their response. 27