Accidental Gamblers: Risk and Vulnerability in Vidarbha Cotton

In Vidarbha, a major cotton-growing region in central India, a protracted agrarian crisis has been ongoing due to chronic indebtedness and farmers' suicides. This book goes beyond the contemporary discourse and explores how nineteenth-century accidents, such as colonial policies and the American Civil War, shaped the region's cotton economy. By conducting a longitudinal study in villages over 12 years, the authors highlight the gambles that farmers are part of and emphasize the importance of investigating the roots of agrarian crisis and adjusting farm households during India's economic transformation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 260 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Vidarbha, a significant cotton-growing region in central India, has been the epicenter of a protracted agrarian crisis. Chronic indebtedness and farmers' suicides have persisted unabated despite decades of state intervention. This captivating book goes beyond the contemporary discourse that criticizes neoliberal policies and integration with global markets. It explores how nineteenth-century accidents, particularly in the form of colonial policies and the American Civil War, brought about institutional transformations that shaped the region's cotton economy. By conducting a longitudinal study in villages across Vidarbha for 12 years, Gaurav and Ranganathan present the gambles that farmers are part of. The book's unique combination of a long view of history and evidence-based research results in a powerful message emphasizing the importance of investigating the roots of agrarian crises and paying close attention to the adjustments made by farm households. This is particularly crucial at a pivotal moment in India's economic transformation.

Weight: 786g
Dimension: 163 x 239 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108832298