Tractors, tubewells and cropping intensity in the Indian Punjab

This paper quantifies the cropping intensity effects of tractors and tubewells in the Indian Punjab. In addition to the conventional measure of cropping intensity, a new index, which takes account of the time duration of crops grown, is specified. The advantage of tractor ownership vs. hiring the machine is also assessed as are the effects of farm size and agro‐climatic zones. Relative to bullocks and canal irrigation, tractors and tubewells are respectively found to be associated with higher cropping intensities, as measured by both indices. Owned tractors have an advantage over hired ones and the effect of tubewells is substantially greater than of tractors.