CHANGING CONTOURS OF THE AGRARIAN QUESTION

Abstract

The Agrarian Question has been one of the cornerstones of the political economy of agriculture. In its broad formulation, the agrarian question attempts to formalise the relationship between agriculture (and those engaged in agriculture) and the rest of the economy, and the contribution of agriculture to industrialisation and nation building. The agrarian question emerged in the late 19th century when agriculture was the predominant sector in most economies, being the biggest contributor to the national income as well as the largest employer. The scenario today is entirely altered with the decline in importance of agriculture as a potential reserve of surplus as well as the growing importance of global finance and large agribusiness conglomerates. While some scholars such as Bernstein opine that the ‘classic’ agrarian question of capital is dead, others such as Patnaik, McMichael and Jha et al contest this view and call for a reformulation of the agrarian question.