A Probe into Shifts in Cropping Pattern in Telangana State, India: A Markov Chain Approach

Abstract

Assessing variations in cropping patterns across various locations is crucial for a better understanding of the agricultural development plan. The goal of the current study was to look at Telangana state's changing cropping patterns. Data spanning the years 2000-01 to 2020-21 were gathered from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Telangana and they were then evaluated using the Markov chain method. The research's key findings showed that none of the crops in Telangana kept their acreage; instead, the area devoted to each crop changed continually during the course of the study, from one crop to another. The area under crops other than cereals, major oil seeds, pulses has more retention while it lost area to rice, cotton, black gram, chillies, cow gram, ground nut, jowar and mesta. This indicated that there was greater shift in cropping pattern in Telangana State. The selection of crops holds immense potential to elevate agriculture to the forefront of property growth, and it should be a focal point in research and extension programmes.