Growth and Instability Analysis in Indian Agriculture

Agricultural growth and instability has remained subject of intense debate in the agricultural economics literature in India. Instability is a very essential characteristic of agriculture. Since agriculture is dependent on weather conditions, the area, production and yield of the crops are subject to significant variations over time. This study aims at studying the growth and instability in the major crops of India. Cuddy Della Valle Index and Coppock’s instability index has been calculated for all the crops. The entire study period is divided into three sub-periods: 1990-91 to 1999-2000, 2000-01 to 2009-10 and 2009-10 to 2016- 17. Several fluctuations in the growth pattern of area, production and productivity of the crops were observed in the study. Also, different pattern of instability were observed in the area, production and productivity of the crops over the period