This paper analyses the process of growth of the agrarian economy of West Bengal from 1980-81 to 2002-03. There is a significantly negative trend break in 1992-93, which was the beginning of the liberalisation era in the Indian economy. The entire time period is divided into two sub-periods, namely, 1980-81 to 1991-92 and 1992-93 to 2002-03. We use the method of computing simple exponential growth rates, kinked exponential growth rates and log quadratic estimates. The former two methods suggest growth and trend breaks, but the latter shows the extent of instability. All eight variables related to the agrarian economy of West Bengal, namely, area, production, yield, consumption of fertiliser, proportion of hyv, cropping intensity, institutional credit and land reform show a decline in growth from the first to the second sub-period. All variables except area and land reform register significant deceleration. The trend break was particularly sharp for production, yield and fertiliser use.
