Determinants Of Crop Diversification Research Articles

Determinants of Crop Diversification: A Case Study of Farm Households in Himachal Pradesh

The current study on factors influencing crop diversification was carried out in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh to determine the causes of crop diversification among rural people using primary data gathered through multistage random sampling from 90 farm households. The censored Tobit model was used to analyze the determinants influencing crop diversification. The results revealed that five of the ten examined variables positively and significantly influenced crop diversification: Education, farming experience, farm size, standard animal units (SAU), age of household head, market information, credit access, family size, extension services, and irrigation availability. Of these ten variables, five variables viz; farming experience, farm size, market information, family size, and extension services positively and significantly affected crop diversification. The results of PCA showed that factors influencing the change in the cropping system were the availability of HYVs and chemical fertilizers, irrigation facilities, land holdings and government subsidies and policies. Therefore, the study's findings will aid government stakeholders in recognizing the challenges faced by farmers in crop diversification and formulating an effective policy framework.

Analysis of Irrigation Enhancement, Crop Diversification and Farm Profits: Evidence from Telangana State

In this study, the impact of access to irrigation on crop diversification and farm-level profits in the state of Telangana was examined. This study comprised two primary aspects. First, the determinants of crop diversification in Telangana were investigated using the logit model. Second, various farm production models were developed to evaluate the impact of irrigation enhancement sources on the farm profit function. The findings of this study indicate that the agricultural implements index and market access variables play a role in determining crop diversification in the studied villages, whereas surface irrigation has a negative effect on crop diversification. The Cobb–Douglas production function with different specifications was used in this study, which showed that the logarithms of the fertiliser variable and access to new irrigation facilities that improve groundwater table significantly enhance farm profits in the villages studied. The inclusion of a dummy variable representing agro-climatic conditions also revealed a significant effect on farm profits, indicating that farmers in north-zone districts achieve higher profits than those in central-zone districts, likely due to differences in soil fertility and crop diversification. Understanding the factors influencing farm profits is crucial for policymakers and extension agents in the state for informed decision-making and policy formulation.

Status and determinants of crop diversification: evidence from Indian States

Status and determinants of crop diversification: evidence from Indian States

Determinants of crop diversification among smallholder farmers within marshes around Bukavu, Eastern DR Congo

In the South Kivu province of the democratic republic of Congo, smallholder farmers have been draining marshlands for years to grow a variety of crops into a mixed cropping system. This study based on interviews with smallholder farmers examines the drivers of crop diversification and the challenges these farmers face in marshes where various crops are grown for food and income security. Results showed that in these marshy landscapes, crop diversification system is traditionally rooted in local farming practices (84%), and this is designed to meet farmers’ self-consumption and market objectives (72%), and also withstand risks associated with the changing climate and pest outbreaks (91%). Further, results from the logistic regression showed that farming experience, farm size, and livestock ownership influence significantly farmers ‘decisions to diversify crops. However, farmers claimed to face increasing prices of agricultural inputs (73%) and unusual crop theft (32%) during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic whereas floods and pest attack as well as plant diseases are raising more concerns among farmers. Although farmers acknowledged the significant roles of livestock in easily acquiring manure and mulch to improve croplands, they still requested specific interventions in terms of priorities (e.g drainage equipment, pest management information) to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of agriculture within marshes.JEL Classification Q01; Q10; R14

Extent and Determinants of Crop Diversification across Major States of India

Using NSS unit-level data from the 70th (2012-13) and 77th rounds (2018-19), the paper examined changes in the extent and determinants of crop diversification during 2012-13 and 2018-19. The study showed that the extent of crop diversification decreased across states and farm size categories during the period. The degree of diversification was high in Kerala and Uttarakhand and low in states like Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Odisha. The study further showed that factors like household size, an occupational profile of a household, the education of the head of the family, and the size of landholdings were important determinants of crop diversification. Government should implement policies to educate farmers about the advantages of crop diversification, conduct training programmes and increase research and development expenditure to promote crop diversification.

A double hurdle estimation of crop diversification decisions by smallholder wheat farmers in Sinana District, Bale Zone, Ethiopia

BackgroundEthiopia is heterogeneous in agro-ecological, social, and economic conditions. In such heterogeneous environment, crop production needs to be diversified to meet household consumption and market needs. This study analyzed determinants of crop diversification in wheat dominant producer rural households in Ethiopia’s Sinana District of the Oromia Regional State. The study utilized a structured survey of 384 households, and both inferential and descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the data. A Cragg’s double hurdle model was applied to identify factors influencing decision and the extent of crop diversification.ResultsWe found that decision to crop diversification was positively associated with household size, access to fertile farm plots, and access to extension services and negatively associated with age of household head, and participation in off/non-farm activities. The extent of crop diversification is positively associated with access to extension services, labor availability, membership to farmers cooperatives, and distance to market.ConclusionsThese findings support the need for resources to strengthen available extension packages, support existing farmers’ cooperatives, and develop rural infrastructures in order to improve the smallholder farmers’ extent of crop diversifications.

Micro and Macro-level Analysis of Crop Diversification: Evidence from an Agrarian State West Bengal

The farming system in West Bengal is being shifted by integration between the set of cash crops and the main food harvest process. This change in diversified farming systems, where smallholders have a production base in rice can complement production; affect technical efficiency and farm performance. The goal of this study was to investigate the status of crop diversification on smallholders in West Bengal. First, crop diversification regions were developed in West Bengal based on the Herfindahl index, which were categorized into three regions. Three sample districts were studied separately at the block level, and 915 small farmers from 41 sample villages of 9 sample blocks were interviewed through a good structure questionnaire for field studies from the sample districts. West Bengal was gradually moving towards multiple crop production. Furthermore, increasing rice production reduced the marginal use of inputs for the production of other crops. Farming and other vital factors such as HYVs area to GCA, average holding size and per capita income in some districts of West Bengal can be identified as determinants of crop diversification.

Determinants of crop diversification in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu

Determinants of crop diversification in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu

Growth and Diversification of Mountain Agriculture: A Case Study of Himachal Pradesh

In the context of hill agriculture, diversification has occurred both across and within crop, livestock and forestry sectors. Agriculture, in its broader sense is the mainstay of mountain people. Diversification in agriculture has become necessary for developing countries since growing of basic staples such as cereals alone cannot support economic development, notwithstanding the need to ensure food security to the people. Diversification with commercial crops is now a key strategy that can increase agricultural incomes and minimize risks due to crop failures and further help in poverty alleviation, employment planning and environmental conservation. The present study was undertaken to probe into changes in cropping pattern, region wise levels of diversification and determinants of diversification both at macro and micro level. Diversification in different districts of Himachal Pradesh was assessed by using Herfindahl index. Regression analysis was carried out by using Herfindahl index at macro level for the selected period from 1972–73 to 2011–12 and Entropy Index at micro level to find out the determinants of crop diversification. Diversification towards high value cash crops in most of the districts (ten) did take place, but its intensity was quite pronounced in Lahaul & Spiti, Kinnaur, Shimla and Kullu where the increase in area under the non-foodgrains varied from 17.18 per cent to 57.47 per cent over the study period. The ongoing process of crop diversification in the state has become evident from rising proportion of gross cropped area under fruit and vegetable crops as per present study.

Determinants of crop diversification in rice-dominated Sri Lankan agricultural systems

Climate-driven changes in water availability in tropical agricultural systems will force many farmers to significantly alter their cultivation practices. In agricultural systems dominated by water-intensive rice cultivation, farmers may need to diversify away from rice to crops that perform better in the new climate. We combine data from interviews and household surveys with Sri Lankan farmers to identify the factors that influence farmers’ decisions to diversify away from rice monoculture. Results indicate that many farmers cannot diversify because of the characteristics of their fields, including elevation, soil quality, irrigation infrastructure, and relative position within an irrigation system. As a result, policies that assume all farmers are able to engage in diversification are unlikely to have the desired impact. Of the farmers whose fields can support diversification, poor market access, market instability, limited government support, and relatively high input costs reduce diversification rates. In addition to creating a supportive institutional environment for the cultivation of other field crops, leveraging existing water management institutions to identify and support farmers with fields suitable to diversification could decrease agricultural water demands and increase water access for farmers unable to engage in diversification.

Relationship between Crop Diversification and Farm Income in Odisha — An Empirical Analysis

This paper has examined the extent and pattern of crop diversification and its impact on farm income across all the districts of Odisha. The determinants of crop diversification have been identified. Using the NSSO data, the study has found three districts, namely Anugul, Jharsuguda, and Balangir, to be highly diversified districts and the average farm income in these districts is significantly higher than in both moderately and least diversified districts. The medium farmers are the most diversified category of farmers in two out of the three highly diversified districts. The marginal farmers are the most diversified category of farmers in one highly diversified district. On the basis of regression analysis, the study has found that SC households in Odisha are less diversified in comparison to other households and higher the extent of irrigated land, lower is the extent of crop diversification.

Relationship between Crop Diversification and Farm Income in Odisha — An Empirical Analysis

This paper has examined the extent and pattern of crop diversification and its impact on farm income across all the districts of Odisha. The determinants of crop diversification have been identified. Using the NSSO data, the study has found three districts, namely Anugul, Jharsuguda, and Balangir, to be highly diversified districts and the average farm income in these districts is significantly higher than in both moderately and least diversified districts. The medium farmers are the most diversified category of farmers in two out of the three highly diversified districts. The marginal farmers are the most diversified category of farmers in one highly diversified district. On the basis of regression analysis, the study has found that SC households in Odisha are less diversified in comparison to other households and higher the extent of irrigated land, lower is the extent of crop diversification.

Determinants of crop diversification amongst agricultural co-operators in Dundwa agricultural camp, Choma district, Zambia

A sound understanding of the socio-economic characteristics of smallholder farmers and how they influence their crop diversification decisions would help policy makers in crafting appropriate measures for promoting crop diversification. The objectives of this study is to assess the degree of crop diversification and the factors influencing crop diversification among the farm households at Dundwa Agricultural Camp of Zambia. The study uses primary data collected from 60 farm households using structured questionnaire during the period October to November 2014. The degree of crop diversification among farm households was measured using the Entropy index. Further, the censored Tobit model was used to examine how the farmers? socioeconomic characteristics influences crop diversification. The mean entropy index is 0.88 and this showsa very high degree of crop diversification among the farmers. The Tobit regression model showed that crop diversification is positively influenced by the gender of head of household, the production of cash crops by the household and household investment in basic farming equipment. On contrary, the age of head of household, total farm size, access to agricultural markets and total area cultivated negatively influenced crop diversification. The study recommends for increased capacity building of female headed households in farm decision-making and promoting household investment in basic farming implements as measures to promoting crop diversification.

Crop Diversification in Gadag District of Karnataka§

The nature, extent and determinants of crop diversification have been analysed in the Gadag district of Karnataka over space and time. The area under vegetables, fruits and pulse crops has registered a higher (7–11%) growth compared to cereals, oilseeds, fibre and other crop groups (<1%). Over the years, the share of cereal crop groups has decreased significantly from 32.53 per cent to 28.81 per cent and that of fruits and vegetables has increased considerably from 0.10 per cent to 0.25 per cent for fruits and from 4.66 per cent to 7.80 per cent for vegetable crops. The transition probability matrix has indicated that over the years, horticultural crop groups have retained a higher share (92%) in terms of area under crops. The Northern Dry Zone (Gadag taluk) has been found to be more diversified with Entropy index of 0.99 and household crop richness of 3.20 compared to 0.55 and 1.90 in the Northern Transitional Zone (Shirahatti taluk), respectively. The major factors influencing crop diversification have been identified as size of landholding, gross irrigated area, and net return realised per farm.

Crop Diversification in Jammu and Kashmir: Pace, Pattern and Determinants

In this paper an attempt has been made to understand the patterns and determinants of crop diversification in Jammu and Kashmir agriculture. Entropy index has been applied to explore the extent of diversification or specialization across crops and districts. Entropy indices of diversification and Gross Cropped Area (GCA) under non-foodgrains were regressed on different explanatory variables. The study revealed that the crop sector of Jammu and Kashmir agriculture at an aggregate level is gradually diversifying in favour of high-value crops. However, while analyzing the extent of diversification at regional level, the Jammu division is witnessing a specialization in foodgrain crops, whileas Kashmir division depicting a trend towards diversification.Further, an analysis of determinants that facilitated the process of crop diversification revealed all the factors considered under study have significantly affected crop diversification in the state, except fertilizer consumption.

An analysis of the extent and determinants of crop diversification by cocoa (Theobroma cacao) farmers in Ghana

Agricultural diversification into non-traditional export crops has long been recognized as an important strategy by the Government to increase and stabilize export earnings for sustainable economic development and farmers’ incomes. The main purpose of this study, therefore, was to analyze the extent and determinants of crop diversification by cocoa farmers to inform policy makers for policy adjustment. A socio-economic survey was conducted in six (6) cocoa growing districts (Nkawie, Goaso, Enchi, Oda, Twifo Praso/Assin Fosu and Hohoe) from March to May, 2006. A random sample of 300 cocoa farmers in the study areas was selected, using the multi-stage sampling approach and personally interviewed with a standard structured questionnaire because of low educational status of the farmers. The study demonstrated that cocoa farmers have diversified cocoa cultivation to some extent into growing other crops such as oil palm, citrus, cassava, cocoyam, etc. to expand their sources of income. This was confirmed by Simpson Index of diversification estimated to be 0.9. The proportions of farmers diversifying into other crops alongside cocoa were: 36.3% diversified into one crop, 26.7% cultivated two additional crops, 16.0%, three or more crops and 21.0% focused only on cocoa cultivation. The multinomial regression analysis suggested that age of cocoa farm, access to credit and cocoa growing region (Western, Brong-Ahafo and Central) were statistically significant (P < 0.05) determinants of cocoa farming diversification. It is recommended that Government should sustain cocoa production by convincing farmers to replant old cocoa farms and modernize traditional cocoa farming practices; improve access to credit facilities for farmers; and develop alternative livelihood improvement strategies of other crops in addition to cocoa for farmers.     Key words: Agriculture, diversification, survey, cocoa, farmers, Ghana.

Income and crop diversification among farming households in a rural area of north central Nigeria

Income and crop diversification have been identified as essential strategies for raising income and reducing rural poverty. Both strategies were analyzed based on empirical data collected from rural households. The analysis was done using the Simpson Index of Diversity (SID) and Ordinary least square (OLS) regression analysis. The results revealed that diversification into a number of income sources and crops grown were very high. The determinants of income diversification were number of children less than 12 years old, number of adults above 60 years old, availability of electricity in the household and distance from local market. The determinants of crop diversification were, age and level of education of the household head, number of extension visits, availability of tractor hiring services and returns from crop production. Most households occupations in the study area were no longer agriculture based, however there willingness to diversify was significantly influenced by their socioeconomic characteristics. Key words: Income, Crop, Diversification, Rural area, Households