ABSTRACT
This chapter sets the physiographic and ecological ‘stage’ for understanding malaria transmission in the northwest plains of the Indian subcontinent and the region’s varying agricultural economies. It presents theoretical discussion of the rain-wheat price model of epidemic malaria mortality, and the limitations of the data series for the three variables employed in the regression analysis (Oct.–Dec. death rate, July–Sept. rainfall, and annual wheat price) as measures of annual malaria mortality, malaria transmission levels, and incidence of acute hunger.
