A Recent Performance Analysis of the Crop Sector and its Determinants in North-Eastern Karnataka

Abstract

The performance of the crop sector among Karnataka's four divisions viz; Gulbarga, Belgaum, Mysore and Bangalore has been analyzed for a period of 30 years i.e. 1980/81–2009/2010. Compound annual growth rates of area, production and yield were estimated by fitting semi-log trend equation. To explore the factors determining the growth of the crop sector, a Multiple Regression Model has been fitted. The crop sector has been observed to have diversified out of staple food grains viz., coarse cereals, pulses and oilseeds towards high value crops; fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables registered significantly high growth in area, production and yield during the study period. The growth in area under cereals has drastically declined while cereals production is stagnate. The performance of pulses has shown no improvements across the study periods. The performance of oilseeds was only impressive during the pre economic reform period; but rapidly slumped in the subsequent periods. The factors identified to favour the growth of crop sector in the state include fertiliser consumption, area under the crop, net irrigated area, flow of credit and number of regulated markets. The study has suggested some policy implications also.