Economic Analysis of Crop Diversification Essay

There is a dramatic switch in the earning, spending and saving pattern of the people of India in the contribute reform (economic) period that is post 1991. During this period, income generating mechanism in this country underwent enormous changes. With a sustained economic growth, rising per capita income along with an eer increase population, the dietary pattern in India is as well as changing very fast. The Indian nutrient basket is diversifying in favour of high repute food commodities desire fruits, vegetables, dairy products, poultry products and fish products from staple food much(prenominal) as rice, wheat and coarse cereals. This raises a challenge to Indian agriculture. On the other hand the modern agriculture dominated by chemic and irrigation intensive country system has not only raised productiveness but simultaneously has also resulted in soil erosion, water contamination, pesticides poisoning, primer coat degradation through and through water logging and soi l salinity, depletion of bio-diversity, etc., forcing heighteners to apply ever-increasing doses of fertilisers and to consecrate water supply available on a continuous basis, in order to maintain the productiveness levels.This again raises another challenge to Indian agriculture. It may not be wondering if we assume that natural res publica system may generate much(prenominal) situation to address two the challenges menti geniusd above. This paper is concerned with an analysis of run variegation under organic and inorganic farming in West Bengal. Crop diversification is varied from the concept of multiple cropping or succession planting over the exploitation seasons. Moreover, it implies the use of environmental and human resources to grow a mix of crops with complementary color grocerying opportunities. Thus, it implies a shifting of resources from low value crops to high value crops such as fruits, vegetables, etc. The concept of crop diversification in globalized mar ket of agricultural produce refers to increase the total crop productivity in terms of quality, quantity and monetary value under distinct specific agro-climatic situations across the world.There ar two nuzzlees to crop diversification in agriculture. First is horizontal diversification, which is the primary approach to crop diversification in production agriculture. The approach takes place through crop intensification by adding hot high-value crops to existing cropping systems. Thus, the approach facilitates the improvement of overall productivity of a farm or farming economy of a region. The second approach is the vertical diversification.Under this approach, farmers and others add value to products through processing, regional branding, packaging, merchandising or other efforts to enhance the farm-product. The opportunities for crop diversification may modify depending on take chancess, opportunities and the feasibility of proposed changes within a socio-economic and agro- economic context. However, crop diversification through substitution of one crop or mixed cropping / inter-cropping may be a useful tool to subside problems associated with aberrant hold out to nearly extent, especially in the arid and semi-arid drought-prone / dry land areas.Impact of crop diversificationCrop diversification is intended to practice of growing more(prenominal) than one crop (or enterprise) in any year to increase fiscal and biological stability of the farm. In the agricultural context, diversification can be regarded as the re-allocation of some of a farms productive resources, such as land, capital, farm equipment and paid labour, into new activities. These can be new crops or livestock products, value-adding activities, provision of services to other farmers, etc. On the other hand, diversification of agriculture refers to the shift from the regional dominance of one crop to regional production of a number of crops, to meet ever increasing demand for cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables, etc. It aims to improve soil health and a dynamic equilibrium of the agro-ecosystem. Crop diversification takes into account the economic returns from diametrical value-added crops. Crop diversification can better tolerate the ups and downs in the market value of farm products and may ensure economic stability for farming families of the state.The adverse effects of aberrant weather, such as erratic and panty rainfall and drought are very common in a vast area in agricultural production of the state. Incidents of flood in one set forth and drought in the other part are a very frequent phenomenon in the state. Under these aberrant weather situations, dependence on one or two major cereals (rice, wheat, etc.) is incessantly risky. Diversification in agriculture has tremendous impact on the agro-socio-economic precedent and uplifting resource-poor farming communities. It generates income and employment for rural youth year lot for the ultim ate benefits of the farmers in the state. It implies the use of local resources in a large mix of diverse cropping systems and livestock, aquaculture and other non-farm sectors in the rural areas.Problem directionThe yield as well as farm income is the essential part for crop diversification for the farmer of an agricultural based economy like West Bengal. Normally, the farmers diversify farm enterprises to meet the cash requirements of the family and to mitigate risk associated with mono-cropping, depending on conventional wisdom over the years. The crop diversification in the state is also considered with greater emphasis from the view point to harm response, market infrastructure, availability of resources and public interventions (price and credit policies of farming business, research and phylogenesis in farming activities, etc.) in agriculture.The judicious crop mix has facilitated change magnitude farm incomes. It has also contribution towards the utilization of under em ployed resources to mitigate seasonal and under unemployment of rural labour force. The crop diversification has also helped to reduce risks and uncertainties in crops yields due to climatic and biological vagaries. Thus the content was conducted to analyze the extent of crop diversification at different levels of farm size as well as crop growing seasons in West Bengal for both inorganic and organic farming systems, commonly followed by the farmers in the state.