CHAPTER 6 DELIMITATION OF CROP DIVERSIFICATION REGIONS AND CHANGES THEREIN. Concept of crop diversification means competition among various

Transcription

1 CHAPTER 6 DELIMITATION OF CROP DIVERSIFICATION REGIONS AND CHANGES THEREIN Concept of crop diversification means competition among various grown crops for space in a given region. It also means raising a variety of crops involving intensity of competition amongst field crops for arable land: the keener the competition, the higher the magnitude of crop diversification. It is a concept which is opposite to crop specialization. It is an indicator of multiplication of crops which obviously involves intensive competition among the growing crops. (Singh J, 1976). Crop diversification also provides relationship between the relative areal strength of the crops grown in a region. The magnitude of crop diversification shows the impact of physical, socioeconomic and technological influence on cropping pattern of an area (Hussain M, 1986). In the face of shrinking natural resources with increase large demand for food and agricultural production arising due to high population and income growth, crop diversification is the main course of future growth of agriculture. With changing rainfall pattern over years, ground water depletion, hike in labour wages, the present cropping pattern may be economically viable. It is a time to critically redesign alternative cropping pattern based on agro climatic zone. The earlier cropping pattern (pre green revolution) in the study region was greatly diverse comprising wheat, rice, fodder, cotton, maize, pulses, bajra, oilseeds, sugarcane etc. The dominance of the wheat paddy system has led to serious economic, social and ecological problems 295

2 such as deceleration in productivity of ground water resources and decline in soil fertility (Sidhu and Johl 2002). The crop diversification is largely depends on the socio-economic conditions and technological development of the region but stronger are the physical environment. It means the crop diversification is the product of action, reaction interaction among the physical and non-physical environment (Sohal, 2003). Crop diversification is intended to give a wider choice in the production of a variety of crops in a given area so to expand production related activities of various crops and also to lessen the risk. Crop diversification is generally viewed as a shift from traditionally grown less remunerative crops to more remunerative crops. e.g. growing of rice in high water table areas replacing oilseeds, pulses and cotton with the advent of modern agricultural technology especially during the period of green revolution because rice give maximum economic returns. Government policies, market, infrastructure, price, and transport facilities etc. are also responsible for crop diversification. Crop diversification also taken place in the areas facing distinct soil problems Crop diversification also gives more employment opportunities for the small farmers as well as for agricultural labourers throughout the year. There is a continuous surge for diversified agricultural in terms of crops primarily on economic consideration. The crop diversification however is the outcome of the interactive effect of many factors. Thus it is recognized that the study of spatial patterns of crop diversification is of vital importance and almost indispensable to understand the competition that goes among different crops. Several studies have been made in detail about the crop diversification. Many scholars from geography, economics and allied disciplines have 296

3 developed techniques for measurement of crop diversification. Among them Gibbs and Martin, Bhatia and Singh are prominent. In 1962 Gibbs & Martin gave the formula for calculation the index of diversification 1. Gibbs and Martin s Technique 1 x 2 X 2 x) ( X) 2 2 Here x is the percentage of total cropped area occupies by an individual crop. According to this method crop diversification varies between 0.1 to 0.9. This method is directly related to magnitude of diversification. Here higher the index higher the diversification and lower the index lower the magnitude of diversification. 2. Bhatia s technique In Bhatia developed a formula to calculate the degree of crop diversification. The formula is: Index of crop diversification =Sum Percent of Cropped Area under X Crops Number of X crops Where x crops are those crops that individually occupy 10 per cent or more than 10 per cent of the total cropped area in the study region. This formula is inversely related with the magnitude of diversification. Here higher the index lower is the diversification and vice versa. 3. Singh s technique Singh (1976) developed the formula for calculating the degree of crop diversification. According to this method, the index of crop diversification is obtained by summing up the harvested area of those crops which are having 5.0 per cent or more than 5.0 per cent area to the total harvested area. Thus, this formula is also inversely related with the magnitude of crop diversification. 297

4 Higher the index, lower the magnitude of crop diversification and lower the index higher the magnitude of crop diversification. The formula is: Index of crop diversification= Percent of total harvested area under N crops Number of N crops Where N crops are those crops which individually occupy 5 per cent or more than 5 per cent of the total harvested area in the study region. Thus for calculating the index of crop diversification in the study region above mentioned three methods have been applied with the following heads. (A) Patterns of crop diversification in (B) Patterns of crop diversification in (C) Patterns of crop diversification in (A) Patterns of Crop Diversification: To find out the degree of crop diversification in the study region, the methods of Gibbs & Martin, Bhatia and Singh are taken into account. The results obtained from these methods are mapped individually which are discussed in detail. These are as follow: I. Spatial Distribution of Crop Diversification after Gibbs and Martin s Technique ( ) (Fig. 6.1) According to Gibbs and Martin s formula, the overall index value of crop diversification of the study region was 0.79 in It varied from 0.67 in Rewari and Mahendragarh district to 0.83 in Ambala and Hisar districts of the study area. To show the spatial variations study region is divided into following three categories. These categories are discussed in figure 6.1 and table

5 Table 6.1 Index of Crop Diversification in Punjab Haryana Plains: DISTRICT Gibbs & Matrin Bhatia Singh Gurdaspur Amritsar Tarn Taran Kapurthala Jalandhar Nawanshahr Hoshiarpur Rupnagar S.A.S. Nagar Ludhiana Firozpur Faridkot Muktsar Moga Bathinda Mansa Sangrur Patiala Fatehgarh Sahib Ambala Panchkula Yamunanagar Kurukshetra Kaithal Karnal Panipat Sonipat Rohtak Jhajjar Faridabad Gurgaon Rewari Mahendragarh Bhiwani Jind Hisar Fatehabad Sirsa REGION Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab & Haryana

6 Fig. 6.1 PUNJAB-HARYANA PLAINS Crop Diversification Regions: (Gibbs & Martin's Technique) Magnitude High Medium Low Index Value > <.75 Region's Average = Kms Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab and Haryana

7 (a) Areas with high crop diversification (>0.80) This category covered the districts of Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, Fatehgarh, S.A.S. Nagar, Patiala, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat, Faridabad, Sirsa, Fatehabad and Hisar. The districts of Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, S.A.S. Nagar, Panchkula, Ambala and Yamunanagar lying in the foothill zone of Shiwaliks and faced the problems of hilly and dissected topography, soil erosion, low extent of irrigation, swift flowing seasonal torrents during rainy season etc. which resulted in high magnitude of crop diversification in these districts. While the districts of Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar and Faridabad have sandy soil, less developed agricultural infrastructure, low rainfall etc, were responsible for high crop diversification. But in case of Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Kaithal, Karnal, Panipat and Sonipat districts, less developed irrigational facilities and fertile soil which enthuse the farmers to grow more crops during rabi and kharif season. Due to the above mentioned physical obstacles and less developed infrastructure, farmers had grown number of crops from security point of view which resulted in high magnitude of crop diversification in above mentioned districts. (b). Areas with moderate magnitude of crop diversification (0.75 to 0.80 index value) Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Firozpur, Muktsar, Faridkot, Moga, Bathinda, Sangrur, Mansa, Hoshiarpur, Jind, Rohtak, Jhajjar and Gurgaon districts formed this category. In these districts the farmers preferred to grow only those crops which respond well in the prevailing physical conditions of these areas e.g. in Faridkot, Firozpur, Muktsar, Moga, 300

8 Bathinda, Sangrur and Mansa, wheat cotton and fodder were mainly cultivated during the study period owing to suitability of physical environment. While in case of Jind, Rohtak, Jhajjar and Gurgaon, the crops mainly grown were bajra, pulses, fodder and wheat. On the other hand, in Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur, the important crops were wheat, maize, rice and fodder. Due to the suitability of physical environment, the magnitude of crop diversification was moderate in the above mentioned districts. (c). Areas with low magnitude of crop diversification (< 0.75 index value) The category of low magnitude of crop diversification contained the districts namely Bhiwani, Mahendragarh and Rewari. Here the index value of crop diversification varied between 0.67 to 0.70 index value in Mahendragarh and Bhiwani districts respectively. It was observed that in these districts bajra and pulses were the leading crops which covered about 70 per cent of the total cropped area while the other crops had very small proportion under these cultivation. The main reasons for low crop diversification were the physical environment and less developed socio-economic environment. These areas were having low rainfall as compare to other parts of the study region, soil with low fertility, sandy and rocky surface in different parts of this category, low extent of irrigation, less developed agricultural infrastructure, far away from the major urban centers, less awakened farmers, etc. These were the main reasons for registering low crop diversification in this category because in this uncertainty for crop cultivation only bajra and pulses were the favourate crops of the farmers because farmers were sure about harvesting of these two crops in the existing uncertain environment. 301

9 II. Spatial distribution of Crop Diversification after Bhatia s Techniques (Fig. 6.2) The overall index value of crop diversification in the study region was during It varied from in Hisar district to index value in Rewari district. These variations were partly the result of physical and partly of socio-economic factors. These variations are shown in figure 6.2 and table 6.1 which depicts the following categories: (a). Areas of high magnitude of crop diversification (<22 index value) This category had contained per cent of the total occurrences. Here the index value varied between index value in Hisar district to index value in Jind district of the study region. It comprised the districts of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, S.A.S. Nagar, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana, Faridkot, Firozpur, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar, Jind, Panipat, Sonipat, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Ambala, Panchkula, Yamunanagar and Faridabad. In these districts the crop diversification had found high because owing to the favourable physical environment for growing of several crops throughout the year supplement by poor agricultural infrastructure. Thus, from security point of view, farmers had used to grow number of crops in an agricultural year. (b). Areas of Moderate magnitude of crop diversification (22-24 index value) Only ten districts formed the category of moderate index value of crop diversification which ranged between 22 to 24 index values. The districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Moga, Muktsar, Bathinda, Mansa, Sangrur, Rohtak, Jhajjar and Gurgaon were included in this category. In these areas, the magnitude of crop diversification was moderate due to the availability of canal 302

10 Fig. 6.2 PUNJAB-HARYANA PLAINS Crop Diversification Regions: (Bhatia's Technique) Magnitude High Index Value < 22 Medium Low > 24 Region's Average = Kms Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab and Haryana

11 irrigation as well as tubewells and wells irrigation in Amritsar and Tarn Taran. And as a result farmers had selected few crops for the cultivation from which they can fetch higher economic returns. Whereas in case of Moga, Muktsar, Bathinda, Sangrur and Mansa districts, the number of crops were also few due to the hot dry climatic conditions as compare to northern and eastern parts of the study region, more canal irrigation was also the major contributor for moderate diversification. But in case of Rohtak, Jhajjar and Gurgaon, the major factor was physical environment which allow only few crops further the influence of Delhi metropolitan also affected the cropping pattern through the demand of fodder. Owing to all these reasons, this category had witnessed moderate magnitude of crop diversification. (c) Areas of low magnitude of crop diversification (Above 24 index value) This category was confined to southern tips of the study region and covered three districts namely Bhiwani, Mahendragarh and Rewari. Here the index value was found above 24. These were the most backward areas of study region from infrastructural point of view. Moreover, these areas had low annual rainfall, high summer temperature, poor sandy soils, low irrigational facilities etc. As a result, farmers had grown few crops like pulses, oilseeds, bajra, fodder wheat, etc. All this led to high index value which shows low magnitude of crop diversification. From the above discussion it is observed that major parts of the study region had highly diversified. But there were certain areas in the southern parts of the study region which were having low magnitude of crop diversification, because in this belt physical environment did not allow to grow more crops. But in areas where some irrigation facilities were available and 303

12 geo-climatic conditions were also favourable for growing of crops throughout the year, had also recorded moderate magnitude of crop diversification. III. Spatial distribution of crop diversification after Singh s Technique ( ) (Fig. 6.3) The index value of overall crop diversification after Singh s technique for the study region was of 17.78, but it ranged from index value in Fatehgarh Sahib to in Rewari districts of the study region. These variations are grouped into the following three categories which are shown in table 6.1 and figure 6.3. (a). Areas of high magnitude of crop diversification (<18 index value) This category had twenty districts out of thirty eight and contained per cent of the total occurrences. These districts were namely Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, Nawanshahr, S.A.S. Nagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Sangrur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Firozpur, Mansa, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar, Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Yamunanagar and Panchkula. Here, the index value varied from in Rupnagar district to in Jalandhar district. The physical environment in these areas was suitable for the cultivation of number of crops in an agricultural year, but at the same time socio-economic conditions were not developed during Thus the farmers had grown number of crops to lessen their risk by reaping at least some crops in event of bad weather. Owing to all these reasons, the magnitude of crop diversification was recorded high in the above mentioned districts. 304

13 Fig. 6.3 PUNJAB-HARYANA PLAINS Crop Diversification Regions: (Singh's Technique) Magnitude High Medium Low Index Value < > 20 Region's Average = Kms Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab and Haryana

14 (b). Areas of Moderate magnitude of crop diversification (18-20 index value) It was found in three different belts and one patch. The first belt comprised the districts of Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Tarn Taran. The magnitude of crop diversification was moderate owing to the cultivation of sugarcane in Gurdaspur district and cotton cultivation in Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts. Here farmers had preferred to cultivate only those crops which fetched the high economic returns to them because the physical environment of these districts was suitable for agriculture supplemented by canal and tube well irrigation. Second belt was formed by the districts of Moga, Faridkot, Muktsar and Bathinda. In this belt the magnitude of crop diversification was moderate and index value ranging between 18 index value to 20 index value. Firstly owing to frequent occurrences of sand dunes, low rainfall, etc. farmers had grown crops like such as wheat, cotton, pulses etc. Secondly, some canal irrigation was also available in these districts. Thus, these factors resulted into moderate magnitude of crop diversification. The third belt was lying in southern and. eastern parts and covered seven districts namely Jind, Panipat, Sonipat, Gurgaon Jhajjar, Faridabad and Rohtak. Here both physical and the socio-economic environment were not favourable. Owing to these factors this belt had also experienced moderate magnitude of crop diversification. (c). Areas of low magnitude of crop diversification (>20 index value) This category was found in the southern parts of the study region and included Bhiwani, Mahendragarh and Rewari districts. These were agriculturally backward areas with low annual rainfall, high summer temperature, sandy soils, low irrigational facilities, etc. In these conditions, 305

15 only few crops such as wheat, bajra, pulses and oilseeds had grown by the farmers, because of assured economic returns from these crops. All this had led to lower magnitude of crop diversification in this category. (B) Pattern of Crop Diversification in: I. Spatial distribution of magnitude of crop diversification after Gibbs & Martin s Technique (Fig. 6.4) The index value for overall crop diversification according to Gibbs and Martin s formula was 0.75 in the study region. It ranged from 0.67 index value in district of Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib to 0.84 index value in Hisar district. The variations in magnitude of crop diversification are shown in table 6.2 and figure 6.4 which contain the following categories. (a). Areas of high magnitude of crop diversification (> 0.80 index value) High magnitude of crop diversification was found in the districts of Sirsa, Fatehabad, Jind, and Hisar. In all these districts, high magnitude of crop diversification was the outcome of physical and socio-economic factors. Here, the less developed agricultural infrastructure, lacks of adequate irrigation facilities, etc. were responsible for high magnitude of crop diversification. In such conditions, farmers had cultivated number of crops from security point of view which resulted in high magnitude of crop diversification. (b). Areas of Moderate magnitude of crop diversification (0.75 to 0.80 index value) This category was found in three different belts. One belt was running along the Shiwaliks and covered the districts of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, S.A.S., Nagar, Panchkula, Ambala and Yamunanagar 306

16 Table 6.2 Index of Crop Diversification in Punjab Haryana Plains: DISTRICT Gibbs & Matrin Bhatia Singh Gurdaspur Amritsar Tarn Taran Kapurthala Jalandhar Nawanshahr Hoshiarpur Rupnagar S.A.S. Nagar Ludhiana Firozpur Faridkot Muktsar Moga Bathinda Mansa Sangrur Patiala Fatehgarh Sahib Ambala Panchkula Yamunanagar Kurukshetra Kaithal Karnal Panipat Sonipat Rohtak Jhajjar Faridabad Gurgaon Rewari Mahendragarh Bhiwani Jind Hisar Fatehabad Sirsa REGION Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab and Haryana

17 Fig. 6.4 PUNJAB-HARYANA PLAINS Crop Diversification Regions: (Gibbs & Martin's Technique) Magnitude High Medium Low Index Value > <.75 Region's Average = Kms Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab and Haryana

18 districts. With the ushering of Green Revolution Technology, development of agricultural infrastructure, increase in irrigational facilities made these districts to do cultivation of vegetables, sugarcane, wheat, rice, cotton, fodder and pulses crops. All these reasons were responsible for moderate magnitude of crop diversification. Second belt covered the district of Moga, Faridkot, Muktsar, Bathinda and Mansa. In these district farmers had preferred to grow wheat, cotton, pulses and fodder crops owing to the suitability of Physical climate which resulted in moderate magnitude of crop diversification. The third belt contained the districts of Bhiwani, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Mahendragarh, Rewari, Gurgaon and Faridabad. In these districts, the harsh physical environment and less developed socio-economic conditions had allowed the farmers to cultivate only few crops. Thus, farmers were preferred to grow only those crops which respond well in such geo-climatic conditions. Owing to all these reasons, the magnitude of crop diversification was recorded moderate in these districts. (c). Areas of low magnitude of crop diversification (< 0.75 index value) Fourteen out of thirty eight districts were covered by this category. These were the districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Firozpur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Karnal, Panipat and Sonipat. Firstly the favourable physical environment for crop farming, secondly with the advent of Green Revolution Technology, and the development of agricultural infrastructure had encouraged the farmers to grow only those crops which give maximum economic-returns to them. Owing to these reasons, farmers had preferred to grow wheat, rice and fodder crop which resulted into low magnitude of crop diversification. 308

19 II. Spatial distribution of magnitude of crop diversification after Bhatia s method (Fig. 6.5) According to Bhatia s method the index value of crop diversification in the study region during was It ranged from in Jind district to in Ludhiana district. To know the factors responsible for variations in the magnitude of crop diversification, an in-depth study is made with the help of fig. 6.5 and table 6.2 which shows the following categories. (a) Areas with high crop diversification (<20 index value) Only four districts namely Sirsa, Fatehabad, Jind and Hisar formed this category. In all these areas, the presence of sandy soil, saline and alkaline sub-soil water, comparatively low rainfall, low extent of irrigation, large size of land holdings, less developed agricultural infrastructure, etc. were the factors responsible for high magnitude of crop diversification, because under such circumstances farmers grow large number of crops from security point of view. (b) Area with moderate crop diversification (20-26 index value) This category was found in northeastern western and southern parts of the study region. It included Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, S.A.S. Nagar, Panchkula, Ambala and Yamunanagar districts in northeast; Moga, Faridkot, Muktsar, Bathinda and Mansa districts in the west and the districts of Bhiwani, Rohtak, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Mahendragarh, Rewari, Gurgaon and Faridabad in the south. In the northeastern parts the magnitude was moderate due to the cultivation of sugarcane and vegetables because of the existence of sugar mills and demand of vegetables in urban and rural areas. Due to these reasons farmers had grown wheat, rice, fodder, vegetables maize and 309

20 Fig. 6.5 PUNJAB-HARYANA PLAINS Crop Diversification Regions: (Bhatia's Technique) Magnitude High Medium Low Index Value < > 26 Region's Average = Kms Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab and Haryana

21 sugarcane which resulted into moderate index value of crop diversification. The districts of western and southern parts have sandy, low rainfall, high temperature, adequate development of canal irrigation etc. All these factors made viable the growing of crops like wheat, cotton, rice, fodder, pulses. Thus a moderate magnitude of crop diversification was noted in these districts. (c) Areas with low crop diversification (>26 index value) This category covered the central parts of Study region and comprised the districts of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Firozpur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Karnal, and Panipat, In these areas, flat land, well developed agricultural infrastructure, high extent of irrigation, fertile soil, etc. had encouraged the farmers to grow only those crops which fetched higher & assured economic returns to them. Owing to all these factors, the magnitude of crop diversification was noted low in this category. iii. Spatial distribution of magnitude of crop diversification after Singh's method. (Fig. 6.6) In , the overall index value for the study region after Singh's method was recorded Though there was a great variation in the index value spatially. It was recorded lowest of in Fatehabad district and highest of in Kaithal district. It shows that the magnitude of crop diversification was not uniform but it was highly varied in different districts of the study region which was the result of partly the physical environment and partly the socio economic environment. Thus for making detailed study in variation of crop diversification and factors responsible for them, help is taken from fig. 6.6 and table 6.2 which highlight the following 3 categories. 310

22 Fig. 6.6 PUNJAB-HARYANA PLAINS Crop Diversification Regions: (Singh's Technique) Magnitude High Medium Low Index Value < > 22 Region's Average = Kms Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab and Haryana

23 (a) Areas of high magnitude of crop diversification (<16 index value) This category was confined to four districts of the study region namely Sirsa, Fatehabad, Jind and Hisar. Here the index value was ranging between Fatehabad district and in Sirsa district. The main reasons for high crop diversification were frequent occurrence of sand dunes, sandy soils, hot and dry climate, saline and alkaline sub-soil water, development of canal irrigation etc. In such atmosphere, farmers had grown large number of crops like wheat, bajra, cotton, oilseeds, pulses, fodder, etc. Even in case of Sirsa rice had also emerged as significant crop. Thus all this had led to high magnitude of crop diversification in this category. (b) Areas of Moderate magnitude of crop diversification (16-22 index value) It had found in three belts one was lying along the Shiwaliks foothills and runs from northeast to southeast direction and covered the districts of Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, S.A.S. Nagar, Panchkula, Ambala and Yamunanagar. The main factors for moderate crop diversification were presence of hills, steep gradient, undulating and dissected topography, poor water resources, comparatively high rainfall, infertile soil, frequent occurrences of soil erosion during summer reason, etc. Thus in such condition farmers grow a number of crop like wheat, rice, maize, fodder, sugarcane etc. which were responsible for moderate magnitude of crop diversification. While the second belt contained the districts of Moga, Faridkot, Muktsar, Bathinda, and Mansa. In all these areas, soils were mostly sandy and alkaline sub-soil water, low rainfall, high temperature, adequate development of canal irrigation etc. All these factors made feasible the growing of crops like wheat cotton, 311

24 rice, fodder and pulses. Thus, moderate magnitude of crop diversification was noted in this belt. The third belt was found in the southern districts of the study region which had contained Sonipat, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Mahendragarh, Rewari, Gurgaon and Faridabad districts. These were problematic areas from agricultural point of view because of the rugged relief poor irrigational facilities, sand dunes, low rainfall, less developed agricultural infrastructure, nearness to Delhi in case of Sonipat, Gurgaon and Faridabad districts. Owing to all these reasons, the farmers of these districts had grown crop like Wheat, Bajra, oilseeds, pulses and fodder. This had resulted in moderate magnitude of crop diversification. (c) Area of low magnitude of crop diversification (>22 index value) Central Parts of study region formed this category. It was a continuous compact belt and comprised the districts of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Firozpur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Karnal, and Panipat. These areas were blessed with flat land, fertile soils, fresh sub-soil water, which encouraged tubewells irrigation, high extent of irrigation, high diffusion of Green Revolution Technology, progressive farmers, well developed network of roads and railways, existence of major urban centers of the study region, etc. These factors became instrumental in the development of agriculture. In such favourable physical environment and developed, socio-economic environment, farmers had become choosy for cultivation of crops. They had grown few crops namely wheat, rice and fodder and had left crops like oilseeds, pulses, spices, maize, etc. Owing to all these reasons this category has recorded low magnitude of crop diversification. 312

25 From the preceding discussion, the present researcher has found that areas having favorable physical environment with highly developed agricultural infrastructure had experienced low magnitude of crop diversification. Whereas farmers struggling with either harsh physical environment or less developed agricultural infrastructure or both had experienced moderate to high magnitude of crop diversification. (C) Patterns of Crop Diversification: I. Pattern of crop diversification after Gibbs & Martin's Technique ( ) Overall index value of crop diversification after Gibbs & Martin technique in Punjab-Haryana plains during is But it ranges from 0.61 in Tarn Taran districts to 0.86 in Bhiwani district. These index value shows that there is a great variation in the magnitude of crops diversification in the study region. These variations in the magnitude of crop diversification are the result of organizational factors, government policies, etc. and variations in physical environment. To know the factors responsible for variations in the magnitude of crop diversification, an in-depth study is made with the help of fig.6.6 and table 6.3 which portrays the following three categories. (a). Areas of high crop diversification (>0.75) This category is mainly confined to western parts of the study region which covers the districts of Sirsa, Hisar, Bhiwani, Rohtak, and Jhajjar. These are the sandy areas with low annual rainfall and poor agricultural infrastructure. Thus farmers grow more crops which have resulted into high magnitude of crop diversification. Leaving aside this major belt, a small patch 313

26 Table 6.3 Index of Crop Diversification in Punjab Haryana Plains: DISTRICT Gibbs & Matrin Bhatia Singh Gurdaspur Amritsar Tarn Taran Kapurthala Jalandhar Nawanshahr Hoshiarpur Rupnagar S.A.S. Nagar Ludhiana Firozpur Faridkot Muktsar Moga Bathinda Mansa Sangrur Patiala Fatehgarh Sahib Ambala Panchkula Yamunanagar Kurukshetra Kaithal Karnal Panipat Sonipat Rohtak Jhajjar Faridabad Gurgaon Rewari Mahendragarh Bhiwani Jind Hisar Fatehabad Sirsa REGION Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab and Haryana

27 Fig. 6.7 PUNJAB-HARYANA PLAINS Crop Diversification Regions: (Gibbs & Martin's Technique) Magnitude High Medium Low Index Value > <.65 Region's Average = Kms Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab and Haryana

28 of the category of high crop diversification is also found in the northeast covering the districts of S.A.S. Nagar and Panchkula. These two districts are the neighboring districts of the Chandigarh union Territory. Owing to nearness of tricity of S.A.S. Nagar, Panchkula, and Chandigarh, these districts have to fulfill the requirements of vegetables and fodder. Thus, farmers of these two districts grow wheat, maize, vegetables, fodder, rice etc. which lead to high magnitude of crop diversification in these districts. (b). Areas of moderate crop diversification (0.65 to 0.75 index value) Sixteen districts form the category of moderate crop diversification, namely Hoshiarpur Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, Firozpur, Muktsar, Bathinda, Mansa, Fatehabad, Jind, Sonipat, Mahendragarh, Rewari, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ambala and Yamunanagar. Fig 6.7 shows that this category is found in three different belts. The first belt is lying along the shiwaliks which runs from northwest to southeast direction along the Shiwalik foothills. But it is interrupted by the districts of Panchkula and S.A.S. Nagar which belongs to high category. The main reasons for moderate crop diversification are presence of Shiwalik hills, Steep gradient, undulating and dissected topography, comparatively high rainfall, poor soils, low extent of irrigation, small size of landholding etc. All these factors have led to moderate crop diversification in this belt except the district of Yamunanagar which is also having bet areas along the river Yamuna where the soils are fertile which are suitable for the growing of sugarcane, developed agricultural infrastructure, etc. These factors are responsible for moderate crop diversification in Yamunanagar. The second belt runs from Firozpur district in northwest to Sonipat in southeast. This belt is lying between the category of low crop 315

29 diversification and high crop diversification. Mostly these districts are having frequent occurrences of remnant of sand dunes because these are mostly high levelled, low rainfall, developed canal irrigation, which allow the farmers to grow wheat, rice, cotton, folder, pulses etc. which ultimately turn these areas into moderate crop diversification. Third belt of this category is confined to the southern parts of the study region covering the districts of Faridabad, Gurgaon, Rewari and Mahendragarh. These are problematic areas from physical environment point of view. Here either sandy soils or rocky surface exist with high temperature and low rainfall, poor irrigational facilities, economically and socially backwardness particularly in Mahendragarh and Rewari districts. In case of Gurgaon and Faridabad districts nearness to the National Capital Delhi which requires fodder for milch stock and vegetables for human consumption on large scale. Thus the farmers of these southern parts of this category grow mainly wheat, bajra, oilseeds, pulses, vegetables and fodder crops which lead to moderate magnitude of crop diversification. (c). Areas of low crop diversification (<0.65 index value) It constitutes the central parts of the study region. And includes the districts of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Moga, Faridkot, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala Kurukshetra, Kaithal Karnal and Panipat. In these districts, well developed network of transport, high extent of irrigation, high degree of mechanization, diffusion of agricultural innovations, fertile soils, availability of sub-soil water, high degree of crop commercialization etc compel the farmers to grow wheat during rabi and rice during kharif season which resulted in low magnitude of crop diversification. 316

30 II. Spatial distribution of Crop diversification after Bhatia's Method (Fig. 6.8) After Bhatia's method the overall index value of crop diversification in the study region has noted which ranges from in Hisar district to in Tarn Taran districts. The magnitude of crop diversification is not uniform in spatial perspective. This great range of the index of crop diversification is largely due to the variations in geo-climatic conditions. These variations in the index value of moderate magnitude of crop diversification are mapped in fig.6.8 and table 6.3 which yields the following categories. (a) Areas of high crop diversification (<25 index value) This category comprises the district of Panchkula in northeastern part of the study region whereas Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar, Bhiwani, Rohtak and Jhajjar districts found in southwestern parts of the study region. High magnitude of crop diversification in Panchkula district of the study region is due to the nearness to Chandigarh and the unfriendly terrain for cultivation, high rainfall, etc. and as a result farmers grow wheat, maize, vegetables, fodder, etc. which lead to high magnitude of crop diversification. While in the southwestern parts, the physical environment is harsh to agriculture because of low rainfall, high temperature, sandy soils, low extent of irrigation, etc. followed by less developed agricultural infrastructure as compare to central parts of the study region. Thus, all this resulted into growing of several crops by farmers from security point of view which ultimately lead to high magnitude of crop diversification. 317

31 Fig. 6.8 PUNJAB-HARYANA PLAINS Crop Diversification Regions: (Bhatia's Technique) Magnitude High Medium Index Value < Low > 35 Region's Average = Kms Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab and Haryana

32 (b) Areas of moderate crop diversification (25-35 index value) About 50 percent of the total occurrences fall in the category of moderate magnitude of crop diversification. It is found in three different belts: first belt covers the districts of Mahendragarh, Rewari, Gurgaon and Faridabad in the southern parts of the study region. Here, existence of sandy soil, remnants of rocks of the Aravali hills, deep sub soil water, low rainfall, high temperature, poor agricultural infrastructure, etc. create such an atmosphere in which farmers have to grow bajra, wheat, pulses, oilseed crops, etc. and resulted into moderate magnitude of crop diversification. The second belt of this category is lying between the category of low crop diversification in the northeast and category of high diversification in the western parts. It includes the districts of Firozpur, Faridkot, Muktsar, Bathinda, Mansa and Jind. The reasons responsible for moderate crop diversification in this belt are the presence of sandy soils, developed canal irrigation, saline and alkaline aquifers of sub-soil water, comparatively low rainfall and moderately developed agricultural infrastructure, traditionally cotton growing areas, followed by the adoption of Green Revolution Technology, farmers have left the cultivation of grams and bajra largely and presently are growing wheat, cotton, rice and folder crops at large scale which resulted into moderate magnitude of crop diversification. Third belt of this category is covering the district of Panchkula along the Shiwalik foothills. The district was traditionally maize growing areas. Here, owing to the presence of Shiwalik and unfriendly terrain, deep sub-soil water, nearly absence of canal irrigation, comparatively high rainfall and recently diffusion of agricultural innovations 318

33 have led to the farmers to grow wheat, maize, rice, fodder, sugarcane crops which ultimately yield the moderate magnitude of crop diversification. iii. Areas of low crop diversification (>35 index value) 36.8 percent of the total occurrences are covered by this category which is found in a compact linear belt and runs from northwest to southeast and is surrounded by moderate category of crop diversification on its both sides. It covers the districts of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Moga, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal Karnal, Sonipat and Panipat. These areas are having flat land, fertile soils, developed irrigation, developed transport network, major urban and industrial centers, awakened farmers, etc. All these factors have enabled teh farmers to select those crops which fetch assured and higher economic returns to them. Thus, their choice has fallen on wheat-rice crop rotation which consequently leads to low crop diversification. From the interpretation of fig. 6.8 it is registered that areas with suitable environment for agriculture have high crop diversification, whereas areas with favourable physical environment and developed socio-economic factors have noted low crop diversification. While some areas which have experienced harsh physical environment but developed agricultural infrastructure blessed with moderate crop diversification or areas with poor socio-economic environment and harsh physical environment have also noted moderate crop diversification. 319

34 III. Spatial Distribution of Magnitude of Crop Diversification after Singh's Technique (Fig. 6.9) For calculating the index value of crop diversification in the study region, Singh's method is also used. The average index value of crop diversification is found But it is not uniform in its spatial perspective. It ranges between in Patiala district to in Rohtak district. These variations in index value of crop diversification is owing to variations in physiography, rainfall, agricultural infrastructure, etc. To know the factors responsible for these variations, a detailed study is made in the proceeding paragraphs. The fig.6.9 and Table 6.3 are prepared from the derived index values which portray the following three categories. These are: (a) Areas with high diversification (<20 index value) This category contains seven districts of the study region. Out of these seven districts, six are lying in southwestern parts of the study region namely Sirsa, Bhiwani, Hisar, Rohtak, Jhajjar and Jind districts. These are the sandy area with low rainfall poor agricultural infrastructure thus in such conditions there is always a great risk in cultivation of few crops. Therefore, farmers of these areas grow several crops to overcome the risk of crop failure, so that they can take at least some assured economic returns from others crops if one crop failed. Thus, farmers grow more crops which have resulted into high magnitude of crop diversification. Apart from these six districts, one is lying in the eastern part of the study region namely Panchkula. In this district, the presence of hills, undulating and dissected topography. poor soils, inadequate sub - soil water, comparatively high rainfall, low extent of irrigation, small size of land holdings, less developed infrastructure, nearness to Chandigarh and 320

35 Fig. 6.9 PUNJAB-HARYANA PLAINS Crop Diversification Regions: (Singh's Technique) Magnitude High Medium Index Value < Low > 25 Region's Average = Kms Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab and Haryana

36 existence of Panchkula town, etc have compelled the farmers to grow wheat, maize, fodder, vegetables, etc. which resulted into high crop diversification. (b) Areas of moderate crop diversification (20-25index value) The category of moderate crop diversification comprises 42 percent of the total occurrence. This category is found in three different belts and one patch. The first belt comprises five districts namely Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Faridkot, Muktsar, Faridkot, Bathinda, Mansa and Fatehabad. All these districts were traditionally cotton growing areas during But with the diffusion of agricultural innovations, rice has also emerged as additional crop which is having third ranking position in the overall cropping pattern of this belt. Being a sand dunes predominant area, with low rainfall, saline and alkaline sub-soil water, this region grows only wheat, cotton, rice, and fodder as major crops and consequently has moderate crop diversification. Whereas the second belt covers the southern districts namely Mahendragarh, Rewari, Gurgaon and Faridabad. In this second belt, owing to difficult terrain which is sandy or rocky with poor irrigational facilities, low rainfall and near to Delhi is having moderate crop diversification and major crops are bajra, oilseeds, pulses, wheat, and fodder. In case of small patches which cover Sonipat district the moderate crop diversification is due to nearness to Delhi and cultivation of wheat, rice, fodder and vegetables. While the third belt covers the districts along the Shiwalik foothills. These are Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, S.A.S. Nagar, Yamunanagar and Ambala districts. In all these areas physical environment does not allow the cultivation of more crops because of steep gradient, undulating and dissected topography, soil erosion, deep sub-soil water, poor irrigational facilities, high rainfall, etc. And as a 321

37 result major crops grown in this belt are wheat, maize, rice, fodder. But in case of Yamunanagar district major crops are wheat, rice, sugarcane, fodder, etc. All these factors are responsible for moderate crop diversification. (c) Areas of low crop diversification (>25 index value) This category is found in the districts of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Moga, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh sahib, Sangrur, Patiala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Karnal and Panipat. In all these areas, flat land, well developed network of transport, high extent of irrigation, high degree of mechanization, moderate size of land holdings, diffusion of agricultural innovations, fertile soils, fresh aquifers of sub-soil waters, high degree of commercialization etc. are the factors responsible for low magnitude of crop diversification. Changes in Crop Diversification Drastic changes in technological, infrastructural, organisational, social institutions, etc. have taken place during the period under present investigation. For instance extension in irrigational facilities, extent in net sown area, increase in area sown more than once, increase in intensity of cropping, increase in area under HYV of seeds particularly wheat and rice crops, increase in use of chemical fertilizers and plant protection measure, increase in density of tube wells and density of tractors, increase in wheat threshers and harvest combines, rural link roads, rural electrification, market networks, remunerative prices, liberal credit facilities, government policies, agriculture search and extension services, farmers training programmes, etc. This remarkable increase in the proceeding of factors have led to dramatic changes in the land use and cropping pattern. The cropping pattern of was of highly diversified in nature. But, it had changed into low magnitude 322

38 of crop diversification in and further changes to more low magnitude of crop diversification in which lead to the cultivation of few crops by the farmers, for instance wheat- rice crop rotation in central parts of the study region, wheat, maize, rice, fodder crops along the Shiwaliks, wheat-cotton and wheat-cotton-rice along the western parts and Bajra, wheat, oil seeds, fodder in the southern parts. Thus, adoption of these crops by the farmers depends upon higher and assured economic returns from the crops and thus farmers have become choosy while selecting the cultivation of crops. And as a result those crops which were not remunerative were left by the farmers and consequently those crops have disappeared from the agricultural land scape. For instance grams have disappeared in central parts and maize along the Shiwaliks. Thus in lieu of the above mentioned paragraph, the present researcher is going to discuss and explain the changes in crop diversification in the study region during to Here the change in crop diversification which has taken place in the study region is to be discussed technique-wise, because the researcher has taken three techniques for calculating the index of crop diversification. These are Gibbs & Martin Technique, Bhatia's Technique and Singh's Techniques. A. Changes in crops diversification after Gibbs & Martin Techniques The study of fig 6.1, 6.4 and 6.7 and table 6.4 highlights the following trends: (i) After Gibbs & Martin Technique, the overall index value of crop diversification was noted 0.79 in which had declined to 0.75 in and it has further gone down to 0.71 in It shows that 323