Tenancy in Palanpur

This chapter examines, in detail, the nature and trends in tenancy in Palanpur. It explores the ways in which the evolution of tenancy is associated with land ownership patterns, landlord–tenant relations, castes, absent or missing markets, and employment in non-farm activities. The chapter starts with an examination of trends in tenancy and different types of contracts in Palanpur. It asks how broader developments within and around the village have affected the institution of tenancy. Patterns of tenancy and of tenancy contracts are also examined in relation to the caste and land ownership of the landlord and tenant. The importance of ‘communities of trust’ amongst villagers—often linked to caste—is highlighted. Such social mechanisms reduce the need for constant and direct monitoring of the tenant’s efforts by the landlord, and can help to explain why sharecropping remains a relatively popular tenancy contract.