Paper Details

Abstract The cropping pattern and crop diversification in India have witnessed significant shifts over the past four decades, driven by economic, climatic, technological, and policy-related factors. This paper examines the trends, determinants, and implications of these changes from 1980-81 to 2023-24. It highlights the transition from traditional cereal-dominated agriculture to a more diversified system incorporating horticulture, pulses, oilseeds, and commercial crops. The study also explores the role of government policies, technological advancements, and climate change in shaping these transformations. In India have experienced an increasing trend in crop diversification over the years, To understand the key drivers influencing crop diversification in India, several explanatory variables have been examined. These include infrastructural factors such as the percentage of irrigated area (PIA), road density (RD), and agricultural credit (AC), along with technological factors such as fertilizer use per hectare . Each of these factors has played a significant role in shaping the cropping patterns in the country.

Keywords: Cropping Pattern, crop diversification, agricultural credit, road density