On May 25, 2026, the Foundation for Agrarian Studies (FAS) organised a one-day workshop in Bengaluru to discuss methodology for a multi-component research project in West Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh. The new study will be part of the Project on Agrarian Relations in India (PARI). The first component of the research project is a sample survey of households in a selected village in Undi Mandal in West Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh. The present round will expand the scope of study and will aim at a more comprehensive understanding of the economy of the region (or agricultural-economic regime) as a whole.
The workshop was attended by the FAS team, subject matter experts, and representatives from farmers’ organisations.
During the workshop, there was an extensive discussion in the first session on the scope and desired outcomes of the research project. One of the key suggestions was that the project should adopt a two-level approach. At the first level, to understand changes in agrarian relations, PARI should undertake a detailed household survey covering different strata of the population in the selected villages. At the second level, the study should include detailed case studies on specific aspects or themes that have become critical to the regional economy, such as the aquaculture value chain, migrant workers, and related issues.
Finally, a separate presentation was made on a new digital data collection tool for household surveys that has been developed for PARI. Despite some cautions and concerns, the digital tool received positive feedback. PARI will use the new digital tool for the Andhra Pradesh survey round, which will begin in June this year.
Here are a few glimpses from the workshop…