Department of Economics and Rural Development

School of Social Sciences

The Department of Economics and Rural Development was started during the year 2011; formerly it was known as Centre for Rural Development which was started during the year 2005. The Department currently offers programmes such as M.A., in Economics; M.Phil., in Economics; Ph.D., in Economics as well as in Rural Development.

Within the short span of its establishment, the Department has made many landmark achievements in academic spheres. Some notable achievements are presented here.

Awarded NABARD Chair Professor:

This coveted position is one among the five Chairs awarded at the national level. For the first time in the entire history of Alagappa University, a Chair has been awarded to an individual faculty belonging to our Department.

This is almost equivalent to the National Level Professor. NABARD would provide funds for meeting the entire expenditures of this Chair for five years.

Best Agricultural Economist of the Country:

This is known as Professor Ramesh Chandra Agrawal Award of Excellence provided to an Indian scholar for the outstanding contribution in the field of Agricultural Economics by the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, Mumbai. This was awarded to a Professor of the Department.

Projects:

Getting projects in Social Sciences are very difficult, but over one crore rupees worth of projects sponsored by the national and international agencies (IWMI, ICRISAT, etc.,) have already been completed.

Members in Committees constituted by the Government of India:

Members from state University are rarely considered for Government Committees involving policy formulations, but faculty members from the Department have already worked as members in three different committees:

  • Member, Sub-group of the Committee on Statistics of Agriculture and Allied Sectors, constituted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India, New Delhi,
  • Member, Working Group on Terms of Trade between the Agriculture and Non-Agriculture Sectors, constituted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, New Delhi.
  • Member, sub-committee on ‘Irrigation - Minor Irrigation, Tank and Canal Irrigation’ which is part of the “Commission on Inclusive and Sustainable Agriculture Development of Andhra Pradesh” constituted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad.
Publication of Articles and Papers:

Over 100 research papers/articles have been published in well recognised national and international journals including the world’s top 20 Agricultural Economics journal rated by the Google Scholar.

Publication of Books:

Good number of books has been published through top class publishers including Routledge (UK) and Springer (Switzerland). Publication of book through Routledge and Springer is rare distinction in the University.

Articles in Top 20 Journals in the World:

Several papers have been published in the world’s top 20 Agricultural Economics related journals rated by the Google Scholar.

High Level ‘h’ index:

‘h’ index reflects the quality of the researchers. Some faculty members in the Department have very high level ‘h’ index of 25, which is seldom seen in Social Sciences and Economics in particular.

Contact Address:

Dr.A. Narayanamoorthy
Senior Professor and Head
Department of Economics and Rural Development
Alagappa University
Karaikudi – 630 003
Tamil Nadu, India.
E-mail : na_narayana@hotmail.com,narayana64@gmail.com
Tel : 91-4565-225842 (O)
Fax : 91-4565-225202 / 223 100

Faculty
S.No Photo Name Designation Profile
1 Dr. A. Narayanamoorthy Senior Professor and Head
2 Dr. R. Suresh Assistant Professor
3 Dr. K. Rameshkumar Assistant Professor
Programmes Offered

The Department currently offers the following programmes:

  • M. A., Economics
  • M. Phil., Economics
  • Ph. D., Rural Development
  • Ph. D., Economics

Besides this, rigorous special coaching is also provided on a regular basis to all our students to write the competitive examinations such as SLET, NET, etc.

Syllabus
    Sl. No. Name of the Programmes Action
    1 M.A., Economics
M.A., Economics
Programme Fees (Rs.)
Tuition Fee including Guest Lecture Fee 1000
Computer Lab Fee -
SPL Fee 2000
Other Fee 1000
Special Lecture & Industrial Visit /Camp -
First YearTotal Fee 4000
Second YearTotal Fee 3000
Third yearTotal Fee  
Facilities

The department has very good infrastructure facilities with smart class room; good numbers of journals have been subscribed; computer facilities are available for all the students studying M.A., M. Phil., and Ph.D., programmes. In order to increase the exposure of the students on various topical subjects/themes, seminars, conferences and workshops have been conducted on a regular basis.

Research

The Department is well known among the south Indian Universities for its contribution to research. Research papers have been published not only in well reputed Indian journals like Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Economic and Political Weekly, Indian Journal of Labour Economics, and Agricultural Economics Research Review but also in top class international journals such as Water Policy, Irrigation and Drainage, International Journal of Water Resources Development, etc. Papers/articles have also been published on a regular basis in India's leading business and economic dailies on topical issues.

Several research projects on various themes sponsored by the national and international agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture (Government of India), Planning Commission (Government of India), the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD, India), Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR, New Delhi), International Water Management Institute (Colombo, Sri Lanka) and International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) have been completed by the faculty members of the Department. Some unique contributions of the Department are:

  • Publication of Articles/Papers: A large number of research papers/articles have been published in well recognised national and international journals including the world's top 20 Agricultural Economics related journals rated by the Google.
  • Books Published through World's Top Class Publishers:Books have been published through top class publishers including Routledge (London) and Springer (Switzerland). Publication of book through Routledge and Springer is a rare distinction in the University.
  • Papers/Articles in Top 20 Journals in the World: Good numbers of papers have been published in the world's top 20 Agricultural Economics related journals rated by the Google. This is a rare distinction.
  • High Level 'h' index: 'h' index reflects the quality of the researchers. Some faculty members in the Department presently have very high level 'h' index of 21, which is a rare distinction in Social Sciences and Management.

Core Areas of Research:The Department has proven record in empirical works in the areas of Agricultural Economics, Benefit-Cost Analysis of Agricultural Projects, Economics of Irrigation Water including Micro-Irrigation, Economics of GM Crops, Evaluation Studies in Agriculture and Rural Economics, Policy Issues in Agriculture, Profitability in Agriculture, Rural Indebtedness and Watershed Development.

Major Area of Research
  • Development Economics
  • Agricultural Economics
  • Irrigation Water Resources
  • Watershed Management
  • Women Studies
  • Farm Profitability
  • Economics of GM Crops
  • Discounted cash flow technique/analysis
  • Rural Poverty
  • Labour Economics
  • Rural Development
  • Evaluation studies
Projects from National and International Agencies:
  • A total of 07 projects worth of Rs. 128.23 completed.
  • 01 from UGC.
  • 01 from ICSSR.
  • 01 from AURF.
  • NABARD Chair Professor Scheme for 05 years
  • 01 from IWMI, Colombo, Sri Lanka
  • 02 from ICRISAT, Hyderabad (CGIAR, Washington, USA)
Projects Completed:
S.no Principal Investigator Title of Project Sponsored by Amount
(Rs. in Lakhs)
1 A. Narayanamoorthy Financial Performance of India’s Irrigation Sector: A Macro Level Analysis IWMI, Colombo,
Sri Lanka.		 4.50
2 A. Narayanamoorthy NABARD Chair Professor Scheme NABARD, Mumbai. 100.60
3 Narayanamoorthy Economic and Resource Impact of System of Rice Intensification: An Empirical Study of South India ICSSR, New Delhi. 8.09
4 Narayanamoorthy Impacts of MGNREGA on Rural Wage Rate Structures across 500 Districts and 18 states of India ICRISAT, Hyderabad. 5.72
5 A. Narayanamoorthy Micro-irrigation and Social Safety Net Nexus in Semi-Arid Tropics of India ICRISAT, Hyderabad. 3.52
6 B. Dharmalingam Women  Exclusion and Empowerment in Local Self Government of Rural Tamil Nadu UGC, New Delhi 5.20
7 B. Dharmalingam Impact of Self Help Groups in Rural Development Alagappa University 0.60
  Total 07   128.23
Ongoing Projects:
S.No Principal Investigator Title of Project Sponsored by Amount
(Rs. in Lakhs)
1 Narayanamoorthy
and
M. Selvam		 Farm Income in India: A Study of Conventional and Contract Farming Methods (This is an inter-departmental project, sponsored through AURF; carried out jointly with the Department of International Business). AURF, Alagappa University 3.00
2 A. Narayanamoorthy Drip Irrigation, Energy Use, Methane Emission and CO2 Reduction Nexus: An Empirical Analysis from Tamil Nadu, India Jain Irrigation Systems Limited (JISL), Jalgaon, Maharashtra 6.93
Consultancy projects:
  • Three projects have been completed, which are in consultancy nature.
  • One from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  • Two from the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
  • Ongoing: Jain Irrigation System, Maharashtra.
National Recognition and Award:
  • Best Agricultural Economist of the country (2010): given by the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics Mumbai.
  • NABARD Chair Professor (2011-16): This is one among the five Chairs awarded at the national level. For the first time in the entire history of Alagappa University, a Chair Professor has been awarded to an individual faculty.
  • Alagappa Excellence Award for Research (2015-16):  Alagappa University, Karaikudi.
  • Elected as Vice-President (2016): Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, Mumbai .
  • i>Honorary International Researcher:  At the Centre for Comparative Water Policies and Laws, School of Commerce, University of South Australia, Adelaide.
MOU

There are 3 MoUs Signed

  • Three MoUs have been signed.
  • With NABARD, for NABARD Chair Professor Scheme.
  • With ICRISAT, for carrying research projects.
Alumni

The Department of Economics and Rural Development is one of the young Departments in the University. It was established during the year 2011; formerly it was known as Centre for Rural Development that was established during the year 2005. Since 2011, the Department has been offering academic programmes such as M.A., M. Phil., and Ph.D., (all in Economics). Good number of students have completed their courses from the Department; a few of them are working in reputed institutions / places.

The students who completed their courses have also established an Alumni Association in the name of Alumni Association of DERD and have made significant contribution to the Alumni Association of the University which is named as Alagu Alumni Association.

Association

The faculty members of the Department are actively involving with the followings academic associations in India:

  • The Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, Mumbai – 400 063.
  • Agricultural Economics Research Association (India), New Delhi - 110 012.
  • The Indian Society of Labour Economics, New Delhi – 110 002.
  • The Indian Academy of Social Sciences, Allahabad – 211 004.
  • Indian Society of Agricultural Marketing, Nagpur – 440 013.
  • Association of Economists of Tamil Nadu, Tiruchirapalli – 620 019, Tamil Nadu.
  • Indian Society of Ecological Economics, Delhi – 100 007.

Collaborative works (papers, etc) have also been carried out by the faculty members with the following leading institutions:

  • International Centre of Water for Food Security, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
  • Centre for Comparative Water Policies and Laws, School of Commerce, University of South Australia, Adelaide.
  • International Water Management Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  • Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune.
  • Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore.
  • Institute for Resource Analysis and Policy, Hyderabad.
  • Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai.
  • National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mumbai.
  • Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderabad.
Placement

The Department of Economics and Rural Development is one of the young Departments in the University. It was established during the year 2011; formerly it was known as Centre for Rural Development that was established during the year 2005. Since 2011, the Department has been offering academic programmes such as M.A., M. Phil., and Ph.D., (all in Economics). Good number of students have successfully completed their courses from the Department. The Department provides intensive training to the students to improve their employability skills. As a result of continuous training and effort, quite a few students have already placed at respectful places/institutions. The placement details of our students are provided here,

S.
No		 Name of the Student Year of Passing Sex Company/Organization Employed Designation Email-id Photo
1 R. Suresh 2015 M Department of Economics and Rural Development
Alagappa University,
Karaikudi.		 Assistant Professor saga42.suresh@gmail.com
2 Susantho Kumar Beero 2016 M Junior Consultant
Institute of Economic Growth, New Delhi.		 Junior Consultant susanto.beero85@gmail.com
3 S. Gandhi 2011 M NGO, Devakottai Field Officer -- --
4 P. Jothi 2012 F ICSSR project,  Dept. of Economics and RD, Alagappa University
Karaikudi.		 Research Assistant jothi5050@gmail.com
5 M. Rathika 2012 F EB office, Chennai Data Entry Operator -- --
6 N. Gayathri Devi 2016 F ICRISAT- MGNREGAS Project,  Dept. of Economics and RD, Alagappa University
Karaikudi.		 Research Assistant gayaeco@gmail.com
7 M. Nagendran 2013 M Tamil Nadu. Govt. Police Service, Madurai  Police Constable nagupc1989@gmail.com  
8 R. Sathish Kumar 2013 M Alagappa University, Dept. of Womens Studies, Karaikudi. Typist sathishramviji09@gmail.com
9 S. Amutha 2013 F Maharisividyamandir School, Karaikudi. Teacher -- --
10 M. Suganya 2013 F Dept. of Economics and RD, Alagappa University
Karaikudi.		 Teaching Assistant suganmuthu1991@gmail.com
11 T. Saranya 2013 F HDFC Bank, Chennai. Loan Supervisor saranya30pk@gmail.com --
12 K. Saranya 2013 F HDFC Bank, Chennai. Loan Supervisor saranyamalar91@gmail.com --
13 N. Devika 2014 F ICRISAT-MI Project,  Dept. of Economics and RD, Alagappa University
Karaikudi.		 Research Assistant devimegala31@gmail.com
Photos / Videos

  • Prof. C. Ramasamy, Former Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore was delivering Inaugural Address in the National Seminar on "Irrigation Water Constraints and its Possible Impact on Rural Poverty", March 29-30, 2010.

  • Prof. S. Neelakantan, Former Director, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai was delivering Special address in the Inauguration of the National Seminar on "Irrigation Water Constraints and its Possible Impact on Rural Poverty", March 29-30, 2010.

  • Prof. R.S. Deshpande, Director, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore was delivering Inaugural Address in the National Seminar on "Foodgrains Production in India: Problems and Prospects", October 14, 2011.

  • Prof. S. Rajendran, Head, Department of Economics, Periyar University, Salem was delivering Keynote Address in the National Seminar on "Foodgrains Production in India: Problems and Prospects", October 14, 2011.

  • Prof. S. Neelakantan, Former Director, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai was delivering Keynote Address in the Inauguration of the Seminar on "Nobel Prize in Economics: 2014", March 27, 2015.

  • Prof. S. Iyyampillai, Senior Professor, Department of Economics and Chairperson,School of Economics and Commerce, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli was delivering Keynote Address in the Seminar on "Nobel Prize in Economics: 2015", March 29, 2016.

  • Prof. K.V. Raju, Former Advisor, Government of Karnataka, Professor and Head, CEENR, Institute of Social and Economic Change, Bangalore was delivering Inaugural Address in the ICSSR sponsored National Seminar on "Small Water Bodies in India: Status and Impact", September 11-12, 2013.

  • Prof. R.S. Deshpande, Former Director, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore was delivering Keynote Address in the ICSSR sponsored National seminar on "Small Water Bodies in India: Status and Impact", September 11-12, 2013.

  • Prof. M.G. Chandrakanth, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore was delivering Speech as Session Chair along with Dr. M. Dinesh Kumar, Director, Institute for Resource Analysis and Policy, Hyderabad and Dr. Mini Govindan, Fellow, TATA Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi in the ICSSR sponsored National Seminar on "Small Water Bodies in India: Status and Impact", September 11-12, 2013.

  • Prof. N. Chandrasekhara Rao, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi was delivering speech as the Session Chair in the ICSSR sponsored National Seminar on "Small Water Bodies in India: Status and Impact", September 11-12, 2013.

  • Dr.Madhusudan Bhattarai, Principal Scientist, Markets, Institutions and Policies Division, International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) delivered a Special Lecture (under the Foreign Professor Visting Programme) on "Impact of MGNREGS on Wages and Agriculture in India" and "Methodological Issues of Evaluation Studies", April 10, 2014.

  • Prof. L.Venkatachalam, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai was delivering Keynote Address in the Seminar on "Climate is Changing. Food and Agriculture Must Too", October 21, 2016.

  • Prof. A. Narayanamoorthy, was receiving NABARD Chair Professor Award, given by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mumbai.

  • Prof. A. Narayanamoorthy, was receiving the award for the Best Agricultural Economist of the country, (known as Prof. Ramesh Chandra Agrawal Award of Excellence given by the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, Mumbai.) from prof. S. K. Throat, Chairman UGC, at the University of Jammu, November 29, 2010.

  • The Students of M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D., Scholars of the Department of Economics and Rural Development are celebrating Pongal Festival in the Department.

  • Prof. D. Sureshkumar, CARDS, TNAU, Tamil Nadu, Prof. Elumalai Kannan and Prof. R.S. Deshpande, Former Director, ISEC, Bangalore and Dr. Mini Govindan, Fellow, TATA TERI, New Delhi, where participating at the ICSSR sponsored National Seminar on "Small Water Bodies in India: Status and Impact", September 11-12, 2013.

  • Prof. S. Iyyampillai, Senior Professor, Department of Economics and Chairperson, School of Economics and Commerce, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli was presenting Keynote paper in the ICSSR sponsored National Seminar on "Small Water Bodies in India: Status and Impact", September 11-12, 2013.

  • Dr. M. DineshKumar, Director, Institute for Resource Analysis and Policy, Hyderabad was delivering Keynote paper in the ICSSR sponsored National Seminar on "Small Water Bodies in India: Status and Impact", September 11-12, 2013.

  • Prof. V.Balachandran, Head i/c, Department of Corporate Secretaryship, Alagappa University, Karaikudi was distributing prize to the Winners' of Best Presentations in the Seminar on "Nobel Prize in Economics: 2015", March 29, 2016.

  • Prof. S. Subbiah, Vice-Chancellor, Alagappa University, Karaikudi was delivering Presidential Address in the Seminar on "Nobel Prize in Economics: 2015", March 29, 2016.

  • Prof. S. Kaliyamoorthy, Convener, Vice-Chancellor Officiating Committee, Alagappa University, Karaikudi was delivering Presidential Address in the World Seminar on " Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition", October 18, 2013.

  • Prof. S. Subbiah, Vice-Chancellor, Alagappa University, Karaikudi was delivering Presidential Address in the Seminar on "Social Protection and Agriculture: Breaking the Cycle of Rural Poverty", October 21, 2015.

  • Prof. S. Subbiah, Vice-Chancellor, Alagappa University, Karaikudi was delivering Presidential Address in the Workshop on "Dissemination of Census Data 2011", December 21, 2015.

  • Mr. M.R.V. Krishna Rao, Joint Director, Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu was delivering Inaugural Address in the Workshop on "Dissemination of Census Data 2011", December 21, 2015.

  • Prof. V. Balachandran, Registrar i/c, Alagappa University, Karaikudi was delivering Valedictory Address in the Workshop on "Dissemination of Census Data 2011", December 21, 2015.

  • Prof. A. Narayanamoorthy, Head, DERD, Alagappa University, Karaikudi and Assistant Professors at the Alumni and Parents-Teachers Meet – 2016, February 26, 2016.

  • The Staff and students gathered at the Alumni and Parents-Teachers Meet – 2016, February 26, 2016.

  • Ph.D., Research Scholars of the Department of Economics and Rural Development with Prof. R.S. Deshpande at the Platinum Jubilee Conference of the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics held at Ludhiana, Punjab, November 19-21, 2015

  • Ph.D., Research Scholars of DERD with Eminent Researchers at the Platinum Jubilee Conference of the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics at Ludhiana, Punjab, November 19-21, 2015.