Abstract
After reviewing the major socio-economic changes occurring during the last 40 years or so in the study area of this special issue, namely, the Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, this introduction contextualizes the five papers that follow. The major socio-economic changes include 1) the high economic growth and the preceded rapid increase in food (rice and coarse cereals) production in the state and the district, 2) the technological changes in agriculture (mainly the development of well irrigation and the diffusion of agricultural machineries such as power tillers/tractors and combine-harvesters), 3) the development of major government policies and programs in the state such as the Public Distribution System, the Self-Help Group program, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, and others.
