A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF RICE CULTIVATION AND ANNUAL PARASITE INCIDENCE OF MALARIA IN INDIA

Twenty one year data (1963-1983) of 25 states/UTs of India on area und er rice cultivation and annual parasite incidence was analysed using c orrelation and regression analysis to evaluate the relationship of irr igated area under rice cultivation and the statewise annual parasite i ncidence of malaria. In 23 states either the correlation is negative o r non-significant whereas in Punjab and Nagaland significant positive correlation is observed. Study showed that in India at the macro level (i.e. data pooled at the state level both for rice cultivation and (A PI) rice cultivation by and large had poor relationship to API.