Nature and Extent of Crop Diversification in Rajasthan: District-wise Analysis

Abstract

"The present study was conducted to measure the nature and extent of crop diversification in different districts of Rajasthan and based on 39 years time series data and collected from various published sources, whole set of data were divided in two periods (pre WTO 1980-1995 and post WTO 1996-2014) and separate analysis was done to compare the extent of crop diversification in both the periods. Herfindhal index was used to measure diversification. Results found that both Jaisalmer and Barmer district moved from crop specialization to moderate diversification from first to second period. Jodhpur, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jalore and Churu districts have obtained the values between 0.35 and 0.47 for first period which indicated moderate diversification in cropping pattern during first period whereas Jodhpur, Sikar, Jalore has obtained value of herfindhal index been range “between” 0.28 to 0.31 which indicated complete diversification in second period and Rajsamand, Udaipur and Churu districts indicated moderate crop diversification in the first and second period of the study. Herfindhal index value for remaining districts of the state were found between 0.08 to 0.33 which indicated complete diversification in cropping pattern of the districts in the first and second period of the study except Dungarpur district and it has been shifted from complete diversification to moderate diversification from first period to second period. Results also indicated that newly added district Karauli showed complete diversification in second period. During the first and second period highest value of herfindhal index was found in Jaisalmer (0.89) and Barmer (0.54) respectively. While lowest value of index was observed in Bundi district during both periods."