Extent Of Crop Diversification Research Articles

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

"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."

Perceived Effects of Crop Diversification on Food Security of Farmers in Kwara State Nigeria

Summary This study was conducted to examine perceived effects of crop diversification on food security status of maize-based farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to obtain data from 183 maize-based farmers using an interview schedule. The data were analyzed using Herfindahl indexing, Food Consumption Score of the World Food Programme for determining household food security and Chi-square test. The results showed that the extent of crop diversification was moderate for slightly above half of the respondents (51.4%). The majority of the respondents (91.3%) had acceptable food consumption (>35), which corresponds to their food security situation. Crop diversification among the farmers indicated positive and significant influence of crop diversification on the food security status of the farmers at 1% level of significance using chi-square. More than half of the respondents perceived that crop diversification had strong effects on increased access to food preferences for an active and healthy life (56.3%), access to utilizable and digestible food (57.4%) and access to sufficient food (53.6%). The study concluded that crop diversification practices contributed to food security by increasing access to preferred sufficient, utilizable and digestible food for active and healthy life of maize-based farmers in Kwara State. Thus, extension agents should increase awareness of the importance of crop diversification for the farmers’ output in the study area.

An economic analysis of crop diversification and dynamics of cropping pattern in Karnataka, India

The extent and nature of crop diversification and dynamics of cropping pattern in Karnataka state has been analyzed using secondary data collected from different publish sources of Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES), Bangalore, Karnataka from a period of 1998–99 to 2020–21 (i.e., 23 years). Composite Entropy Index (CEI), double log model and Markov chain analysis were applied to assess the determinants of crop diversification and dynamics of cropping pattern in Karnataka. Results of C.E.I indicates that Kodagu, Dakshina kannada, Yadgir, Udupi and Shivamogga has low crop diversification. Although Karnataka’s crop diversification values show a positive trend but its coefficient value is almost zero. It shows that there is a threat for Karnataka’s crop diversification. The transition probability matrix diagram indicated that although cereals and millet groups occupied a larger share in terms of area under crops, it has a negative net gain in the probability of area retention. Double log model results revealed that the variable like MSP of coarse cereal, percentage of gross irrigated area to net irrigated area, credit inflow in to agricultural sector by the scheduled commercial bank and length of national highways are influencing the crop diversification positively. Therefore, the establishment of fundamental infrastructure, such as reliable irrigation water supply, access to credit, and well-developed transportation networks, is a crucial prerequisite for creating favorable conditions to promote agricultural development and crop diversification. These parameters have been identified as influential factors that shape the nature and extent of crop diversification. By addressing these infrastructure needs, it becomes possible to foster an environment conducive to agricultural growth and facilitate the process of diversification.

Food security through crop diversification in Manipur: Application of Heckman Sample Selection Model

The paper demonstrates the household food security of crop diversified farm in the state of Manipur. A study was conducted at College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences at Barapani, Meghalaya of Central Agricultural University, Imphal during 2015–16 to 2017–18 by taking two districts namely; Ukhrul and Thoubal selecting one from each region, viz. hill and valley of the state, respectively. A sample of 200 households was drawn by using probability proportional to size. Heckman Sample Selection model was used to analyze the data. The study found that most of the households diversified their crop enterprises which in turn enhanced their household food security by way of consuming own production or generated income helped to purchase food items. Among the factors, namely socio-economic, technological and institutional factors influenced household's decision to diversify crop in the state while determinants of dietary diversity were the age of the household head, family size, extent of crop diversification, non-farm source of income and agricultural income. Hence, the results were indicative of the importance of crop diversification as a viable option in the state for enhanced food security and income of rural smallholders. Hence, wider awareness on crop diversification for realizing its benefits and improving the nutritional status of households in the state of Manipur was the need of the hour.

Regional Pattern, Shift and Extent of Crop Diversification with Special Reference to Malwa Region of Madhya Pradesh

Regional Pattern, Shift and Extent of Crop Diversification with Special Reference to Malwa Region of Madhya Pradesh

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.

Extent of Crop Diversification across Different Farm Size Groups in the North Bank Plains Zone of Assam

Crop Diversification is a strategy to optimize the use of land, water and other farm resources particularly for risk reduction, stabilization of farm income, augmenting farm employment and overall agricultural development in general. The study was undertaken to find out the extent of crop diversification across different farm size groups in the North Bank Plains Zone (NBPZ) of Assam. To find the extent of crop diversification of farmers across different farm size groups two districts viz. Lakhimpur and Sonitpur were selected randomly with a sample size of 160 farmers (80 belonging from Lakhimpur district and 80 belonging from Sonitpur district) administered with the Simpson Index of Diversity [1]. The statistical techniques employed were frequency (f), mean (X), percentage (%). The findings suggested that in the pooled sample of farmers, majority of the respondents (64.37%) were in medium crop diversification category followed by 20.00 per cent in high and 15.63 per cent in low crop diversification category. Similarly, majority of the respondents were in medium crop diversification category in all the individual categories of farmer i.e., marginal, small and medium farmers respectively. This study will be useful to the extension functionaries, agriculture and allied departments to modify and quantify their ways and means to educate the farmers for adoption of diversification.

Hope for Change: Is Diversifying Production Portfolios an Ideal Strategy to Boost Farming Efficiency in Afghanistan?

In this article, I present empirical evidence on the extent of crop diversification and assess its merits as a strategy for improving production efficiency in Afghanistan. The transformed Herfindahl–Harshman index is used to measure the scale and magnitude of crop diversification. I find a compelling evidence that diversifying production portfolios significantly improves production efficiencies. This finding is critical, given that the data show that nearly a third of the farm households do not diversify, achieving, on average, about 52% of potential revenues. The estimated efficiency scores reveal that, on average, the farm households in our analytical sample of over 7,000 households achieve 74% of potential revenue, with nearly 15% of households realizing less than 50% and about 23% between 50% and 70% of potential revenue. These results infer that there exist substantial inefficacies in agricultural production that can be eliminated by employing improved management practices without having to use additional inputs and production resources and rising cost of production. Our results are robust to potential endogeneity bias in crop diversification; I account for the endogeneity problem in the stochastic frontier analysis, by employing a recent estimation approach, using instrumental variable techniques. Mapping the spatial distribution of crop diversification index and estimated efficiency scores across the country revealed that districts with higher diversification levels correspond to higher efficiency indices. Aside from crop diversification, other socio-economic factors also have critical implications for efficiency; households with access to farm assets (such as land, cattle, oxen and tractor) and extension services appear to realize substantially higher production efficiencies. A direct policy recommendation that can be generated from the findings of this study is that crop diversification should be given more recognition by policymakers to enhance productivity and resilience in agriculture.

Determinants and extent of crop diversification among small holder farmers in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal

Determinants and extent of crop diversification among small holder farmers in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal

Rental Market of Pump-sets in the Central and Western Parts of Nepal Plains

Using data collected from the central and western parts of Nepal plains, we examine the extent of rental market of pump-sets therein, and identify the factors affecting the decision of farm households to purchase the service of pump-sets. Further, the article investigates whether cropping intensity and extent of crop diversification for non-users, owner users and rental users of pump-sets are significantly different. Our analysis suggests that there exist rental markets of considerable sizes in the field study locations. Access to extension service, proportion of high yielding varieties in total cropped land, availability of pump-sets, caste and locational characteristics have been identified as the determinants of the decision to purchase the service of pump-sets. Cropping intensity and extent of crop diversification for the rental users have been found to be higher than those of the non-users and the owner users, and this finding establishes the positive impact of the rental market.

Extent of Crop Diversification in Haryana

The study was conducted in different agro-climatic zones of the Haryana state. The results revealed that area under paddy, wheat, rapeseed and mustard, and cotton increased by 398, 147, 419 and 203 percent respectively during the period 1970to 2014, whereas, area under gram, maize, jowar, barley and bajra declined drastically by 92, 90, 70, 66 and 48 percent during the same period, respectively. As far as wheat and paddy specialization was concerned, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat districts remained specialized throughout the entire study period. The districts of Rewari, Mahendergarh and Gurgaon remained specialized in mustard throughout the entire period. The cotton crop remained specialized in districts of Hisar, Jind and Sirsa. Sugarcane not only specialized in Yamunanagar but also remained at the top with quotient values was of 6.35, 8.83 and 7.59 during Period-I, II and III respectively. The shift in area towards a particular crop in various districts was observed due to availability of irrigation water, profitability of crops and favorable public policies.

An assessment of nature and extent of crop diversification in Bihar

Diversification has emerged as one of the important source of growth of agriculture sector in India. In the post-reform period, diversification towards high value crops was seen as a remedy in accelerating the income and addressing the food security concerns by enhancing the purchasing capacity of the poor. Diversification towards high-value crops not only increase income in agriculture, minimize risks due to crop failures but also earn foreign exchange for the country. It is considered as the best strategy to generate employment, alleviate poverty, achieve food security and conserve environment of the country.

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.

Towards Doubling Farm Income: Myths or Reality for the North East Hilly Region

Farming systems in north-eastern states are complex and characterized with high degree of risk and uncertainty. At household level, particularly in upland conditions, the farming systems are highly diverse with multiple crops (mixed cropping), but at aggregate level the cropping pattern is skewed to paddy only. At the aggregate level, the extent of crop diversification appeared quite low in the north-eastern states. But, at the micro-level, the studies indicate the possibility of a very high level of crop diversification, particularly at highland regions. This dichotomy is prevailing in the north-east agriculture. Improvement of farming system through selection and promotion of suitable crop-mix in compliance with the existing socioeconomic as well as topographical situations would certainly enhance farm income. However, those crops were mostly cultivated at a very small scale and the economies of scales were restricted as those farm lands were primarily managed by the family labour and the scope of farm mechanization was limited. There is a growing need for prioritization of sub-sectors with potential of short-term as well as long-term growth and framing strategies to sustain these growths through appropriate institutional support and public- private partnership (PPP). The process will help reduce economic inequality and provide social stability where the voice of local community will be the major guiding force.

Identifying the Determinants and Extent of Crop Diversification at Household Level: An Evidence from Ukhrul District, Manipur

Crop diversification is a risk management strategy for the farming community and an important step for poverty alleviation and transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture. The paper aims to recognize those factors which influence household decision to crop diversification and further attempts to identify what factors influence the degree to which this diversification takes place. The study adopts, Heckman's Two Stage Model to estimate separately the determinants of household diversification decision and intensity of diversification by the households’. The results of the study found that education of the household head is found to have positive association with the level of crop diversification. The farming experience of the farmer is found to have positive influence only while taking decision to diversify crops. Access to plough has positively affected both the household's decision to diversify crop as well as level of crop diversification. Access to fertilizer and availability of irrigation has effect on propensity to diversify crops. Exposure to farming information by the households significantly affected level of diversification. Farmers who attend farming training regularly are more likely to diversify crop. The distance to the nearest market from homestead also positively affected crop diversification level.

An Economic Analysis of Crop Diversification and Its Determinants in Bihar Agriculture

The nature and extent of crop diversification in the state of Bihar has been analyzed using secondary data obtained from different publish sources of Govt. of Bihar from 2000-01 to 2014-15 i.e. a period of 15 years. Composite Entropy Index (CEI) and double log step-wise linear regression model was applied to assess the determinants of crop diversification in the state. The results have revealed that in almost all crops group very low diversification indices were observed. The study has suggested that despite plenty of natural resources available in the state, the economic improvement of farmers is in infancy. Pre-requisite infrastructural facilities like cheap sources of irrigation water (assured irrigation as the monsoon in the present decade had been erratic and scanty rainfall) and extension of technological know-how (quality seeds and fertilizers), may acts as catalyst in diversification of agriculture towards high-valued crops. These developmental efforts may be helpful in fetching good incomes by the cultivators.

Extent of crop diversification in Maharashtra

Extent of crop diversification in Maharashtra

Geographic Neighbourhood and Cluster Formation: Evidence from Indian Agriculture

We study an empirical occurrence largely overlooked in studies on income clusters: (i) most clusters include geographic neighbours and non-neighbours; and (ii) not all geographic neighbours are cluster-co-members. Using agricultural income across Indian states, we find a similar pattern in income-clusters over the last 45 years. Logistic regressions that consider state-pairs as the unit of analysis show that cluster membership is not driven by geographic variables but rather by non-geographic factors like weather shock, resource constraints, technology/input usage, extent of crop diversification, infrastructure, policy and institutions

Crop diversification by poor peasants and role of infrastructure: Evidence from West Bengal

The question of sustainable income and employment in the rural areas seems to be very much dependent on the degree of diversification of land use towards cultivating various crops. In view of this, crop diversification has been an important issue of agricultural development not only in India, but also in other parts of the world. In India, the growth of area under cultivation in different states remained stagnant in the current decades and the growth of yield of various crops has reached the saturation level. Efforts are now being made in different regions of India to cultivate those crops, which are remunerative and environment friendly. To examine this, an attempt has been made in this paper to study intensively, the nature and extent of crop diversification in West Bengal, a rice-growing state of India, for the period of 1970 to 2005. A number of explanatory factors have been considered to explain this phenomenon. Our findings, primarily based on official data, suggest that marginal and small farmers play a positive role in crop diversification and that has been supported by the growth of various infrastructure networks during the period under consideration.   Key words: Crop diversification, farm size, agro-infrastructure, robust regression, median least squares, West Bengal.