The State and Agricultural Productivity: Continuity versus Change in the Indian and Pakistani Punjabs

Abstract

Rarely do social scientists have an opportunity to assess the impact of divergent policies upon two areas that provide comparable laboratory-like conditions. The Indian and Pakistani Punjabs, which are divided by an international border drawn in 1947, allow for fascinating studies of the changes that have occurred since then. The Punjabs share virtually identical agro-ecological conditions, a common language and cultural traditions, and a legacy of institutions developed under colonial rule. The focus here is on changes that have taken place in the sphere of agricultural and rural development. Although the division of Punjab left Pakistan Punjab with 80% of the province's irrigation facilities and most of its rural electricity and roads, the Indian Punjab has overcome these handicaps. Although during the 40 years preceding independence, agricultural growth rates and yields for many important crops were higher in west Punjab, which became part of Pakistan, than in east Punjab,' the farmers on the Indian side now reap higher yields than their Pakistani neighbors. The performance of the two Punjabs suggests it may be fruitful to investigate the role of states in economic development,2 treating them as an independent variable. The colonial state left a clear imprint on the Indian subcontinent, and it was clearly identified as a major source of change.