Impact of Diversification of Cropping Patterns on Sustainable Development of Farm Sector of Uttar Pradesh: Theoretical Underpinnings
Keywords:
Crop diversification, sustainable development, farm management, farmer’s responsivenessAbstract
Uttar Pradesh is one of the highly agrarian states of India where share of agriculture and allied sectors in the Gross State Domestic product (27% in 2014-15 at current prices) is much above national aggregate. Coupled with the challenge to provide food and nutritional security to such a massive population base and to ensure growth of other sectors as well, the sustainable growth of its farm sector is a prerequisite. It requires optimal utilization of resources with increased returns to the farmers. To combat the emerging challenges in agriculture, farming practices need to be revitalized. To achieve 4 % growth in the agriculture sector, the State Agriculture Policy of 2005 has identified seven thrust areas, called Sapt Kranti viz. extension, irrigation and water management, soil health and fertility, seed management, marketing, research and agricultural diversification. In the present State Agriculture Policy, 2013, in furtherance to aforesaid areas, promotion of agriculture based industries has been included as one of the strategies to achieve a growth rate of 5.1% in the agriculture sector. Within the given resource restraints, agricultural diversification is an effective strategy in this direction. Diversification of Cropping Patterns refers to bringing about a desirable change in the existing cropping patterns towards more balanced cropping system. This includes horizontal as well as vertical diversification of agriculture. For the purpose of the study only horizontal diversification has been considered which inclusion of more and varied crops in the cropping system, using multiple cropping techniques, rather than concentrating on repetition of few crops. Diversification can ensure judicious utilization of resources, synergy in the demand and supply of agricultural produce, remunerative returns to the farmers, strengthening agro-ecological system, providing hedge against adverse climatic conditions, providing economic hedge against price fluctuations, shifting additional burden from agriculture, development of allied sectors and sustainable development of farm sector. The present research paper explores the theoretical aspects of diversification of cropping patterns by reviewing the related literature. The determinants of diversification of cropping patterns and farmer’s responsiveness to them have been assessed.
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