Progress of Solar Energy

Given this position, it is not surprising that Rudra should view with considerable concern the growth of quantifica' ion in agricultural economics. He points ou, many common instances of wrong application and interpretation to suggest the need for better training of researchers in the quantitative tools, particularly in the basics of statistical es imation and testing. In situations where quantification is crucial, the techniques could fail to provide decisive results. An interesting case cited by Rudra is that of estima'ion of growth rate of Indian agriculture leading to trend functions with different profiles of growth rates but having equally good fit to the time-ssries data on production. He also describes the limitations of quantitative techaniques in the exploratory stage of theory-building. Quantification poses a paradox to the profession. There is a case for a less lavish and more discriminating use of quantitative analysis but, at the level of training, far more needs to be covered besides multiple-regression to give the researchers an array of alternatives to choose from. Many entertain the notion that only simple and elementary techniques would be viable with the data characterised by many deficiencies. This is not quite true. It would be closer to reality to say that handling deficient data colls for more sophisticated training in quantitative tools than would be needed in a situ- ation where one can always get the exact kind of data one is looking for.