Paddy Yields in Pre-industrial South India

This paper assembles data on per hectare paddy yields in South India from the 10th to 19th century and notes the existence of very high paddy yields during this period. The methodology used to arrive at the estimates is specified step-by-step and in detail, and the difficulties in making these estimates are indicated as well. This allows other scholars to rework the data and arrive at alternate estimates using different assumptions to those used here. It may also serve to stimulate further interest and initiate more work on this subject.