Extent and Determinants of Crop Diversification across Major States of India

Abstract

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.