CHAPTER 6 DELIMITATION OF CROP DIVERSIFICATION REGIONS...

295

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, socio-

economic 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

296

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

297

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 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 1965-66 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.

x2

x)2 ∑X2

(∑X) 21 —

298

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 1965-66

(B) Patterns of crop diversification in 1985-86

(C) Patterns of crop diversification in 2005-06

(A) Patterns of Crop Diversification: 1965-66

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 (1965-66) (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 1965-66. 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 6.1.

299

Table 6.1

Index of Crop Diversification in Punjab Haryana Plains: 1965-66

DISTRICT Gibbs & Matrin Bhatia Singh

Gurdaspur 0.77 21.31 18.35 Amritsar 0.79 23.90 18.72 Tarn Taran 0.80 22.81 18.21 Kapurthala 0.79 21.17 17.43 Jalandhar 0.81 20.10 17.92 Nawanshahr 0.81 21.95 15.49 Hoshiarpur 0.80 20.69 17.77 Rupnagar 0.82 19.71 15.50 S.A.S. Nagar 0.82 20.01 15.38 Ludhiana 0.81 19.64 15.31 Firozpur 0.80 19.82 17.58 Faridkot 0.79 21.75 18.01 Muktsar 0.78 22.09 18.09 Moga 0.79 22.04 19.04 Bathinda 0.78 23.99 18.55 Mansa 0.80 23.93 17.90 Sangrur 0.80 23.91 15.01 Patiala 0.81 19.82 17.33 Fatehgarh Sahib 0.82 21.60 15.20 Ambala 0.83 17.81 17.81 Panchkula 0.82 17.75 17.75 Yamunanagar 0.81 20.60 17.90 Kurukshetra 0.81 20.70 17.57 Kaithal 0.82 19.96 17.19 Karnal 0.82 20.54 17.64 Panipat 0.81 18.44 18.44 Sonipat 0.82 18.29 18.29 Rohtak 0.80 22.01 18.98 Jhajjar 0.80 22.86 18.78 Faridabad 0.81 21.24 18.23 Gurgaon 0.79 22.18 19.21 Rewari 0.67 28.22 23.36 Mahendragarh 0.67 24.31 23.31 Bhiwani 0.70 27.05 20.24 Jind 0.79 21.92 18.75 Hisar 0.83 17.07 15.85 Fatehabad 0.82 19.13 15.72 Sirsa 0.82 19.46 15.82 REGION 0.79 21.35 17.78 Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab & Haryana – 1966.

0 40

Kms

Fig. 6.1

(Gibbs & Martin's Technique)Crop Diversification Regions: 1965-66

PUNJAB-HARYANA PLAINS

Magnitude

> .80

.75-.80

< .75

Region's Average = .79

Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab and Haryana - 1966

Index Value

High

Medium

Low

300

(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,

301

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.

302

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

21.35 during 1965-66. It varied from 17.07 in Hisar district to 28.22 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 65.78 per cent of the total occurrences.

Here the index value varied between 17.07 index value in Hisar district to

21.92 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

0 40

Kms

Statistical Abstracts of Punjab and Haryana - 1966Source:


Crop Diversification Regions: 1965-66(Bhatia's Technique)

Fig. 6.2

Low

Medium

High

Index Value

> 24

22-24

< 22

Magnitude

Region's Average = 21.35

303

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

304

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

(1965-66) (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 15.20 index value in

Fatehgarh Sahib to 23.36 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

52.63 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 15.50 in Rupnagar district to

17.92 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 1965-66.

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.

0 40

Kms

Low

Medium

High

Index Value

> 20

18-20

< 18

Magnitude




Crop Diversification Regions: 1965-66(Singh's Technique)

Fig. 6.3

305

(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,

306

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: 1985-86

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

307

Table 6.2



Gurdaspur 0.76 27.34 22.71 Amritsar 0.73 27.96 22.51 Tarn Taran 0.73 28.21 22.72 Kapurthala 0.73 27.49 22.65 Jalandhar 0.73 27.14 22.11 Nawanshahr 0.76 21.87 21.87 Hoshiarpur 0.76 25.08 18.31 Rupnagar 0.77 21.34 18.49 S.A.S. Nagar 0.77 24.93 17.94 Ludhiana 0.70 36.79 22.60 Firozpur 0.72 26.94 22.55 Faridkot 0.76 20.70 18.42 Muktsar 0.76 21.51 18.65 Moga 0.77 21.31 18.25 Bathinda 0.76 25.51 18.00 Mansa 0.76 25.13 18.13 Sangrur 0.73 27.47 22.26 Patiala 0.67 39.11 29.23 Fatehgarh Sahib 0.67 39.26 28.79 Ambala 0.78 23.98 17.60 Panchkula 0.79 23.33 16.99 Yamunanagar 0.80 23.50 17.19 Kurukshetra 0.68 29.60 29.60 Kaithal 0.68 29.86 29.86 Karnal 0.70 28.58 28.58 Panipat 0.73 26.56 22.09 Sonipat 0.73 25.47 18.24 Rohtak 0.76 21.45 18.36 Jhajjar 0.76 21.14 18.25 Faridabad 0.76 25.40 18.17 Gurgaon 0.79 20.10 19.13 Rewari 0.76 23.26 19.60 Mahendragarh 0.76 23.77 19.60 Bhiwani 0.75 25.94 19.50 Jind 0.82 16.92 15.78 Hisar 0.84 15.68 15.68 Fatehabad 0.83 18.23 15.39 Sirsa 0.82 19.54 15.80 REGION 0.75 25.17 20.65 Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab and Haryana - 1986

0 40

Kms

Low

Medium

High

Index Value



< .75

.75-.80

> .80

Magnitude


Crop Diversification Regions:1985-86(Gibbs & Martin's Technique)

Fig. 6.4

308

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.

309

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 1985-86 was 25.17. It ranged from 15.92 in Jind

district to 36.97 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

0 40

Kms

Low

Medium

High

Index Value

> 26

20-26

< 20

Magnitude





Fig. 6.5

310

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 1985-86, the overall index value for the study region after Singh's

method was recorded 20.65. Though there was a great variation in the index

value spatially. It was recorded lowest of 15.39 in Fatehabad district and

highest of 29.86 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.

Low

Medium

High

Index Value

> 22

16-22

< 16

Magnitude





Fig. 6.6

0 40

Kms

311

(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

15.39 Fatehabad district and 15.80 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,

312

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.

313

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: 2005-06

I. Pattern of crop diversification after Gibbs & Martin's Technique

(2005-06)

Overall index value of crop diversification after Gibbs & Martin

technique in Punjab-Haryana plains during 2005-06 is 0.71. 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

314

Table 6.3



Gurdaspur 0.64 41.87 30.37 Amritsar 0.63 42.72 32.01 Tarn Taran 0.61 44.00 31.91 Kapurthala 0.63 40.41 22.87 Jalandhar 0.64 42.60 22.80 Nawanshahr 0.74 25.00 22.48 Hoshiarpur 0.74 25.01 20.24 Rupnagar 0.73 25.61 21.61 S.A.S. Nagar 0.79 29.24 21.50 Ludhiana 0.64 42.15 31.22 Firozpur 0.74 30.10 23.72 Faridkot 0.64 30.04 24.58 Muktsar 0.69 31.00 24.19 Moga 0.61 44.01 31.51 Bathinda 0.70 30.11 23.63 Mansa 0.70 31.20 24.33 Sangrur 0.63 43.10 31.51 Patiala 0.62 43.57 32.04 Fatehgarh Sahib 0.63 43.09 31.79 Ambala 0.71 29.97 20.10 Panchkula 0.78 21.63 19.70 Yamunanagar 0.74 25.40 21.01 Kurukshetra 0.64 41.18 30.59 Kaithal 0.62 43.32 31.67 Karnal 0.62 43.41 30.82 Panipat 0.64 35.03 31.03 Sonipat 0.71 41.53 22.72 Rohtak 0.81 22.42 12.31 Jhajjar 0.80 21.83 18.65 Faridabad 0.74 29.19 24.19 Gurgaon 0.73 25.10 23.82 Rewari 0.70 30.21 23.76 Mahendragarh 0.69 30.39 24.15 Bhiwani 0.86 19.73 16.27 Jind 0.73 25.51 18.94 Hisar 0.81 17.88 17.88 Fatehabad 0.74 22.71 20.20 Sirsa 0.77 22.36 19.21 REGION 0.71 31.62 24.52 Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab and Haryana – 2006.

0 40

Kms

(Gibbs & Martin's Technique)Crop Diversification Regions: 2005-06


Low

Medium

High

Index Value



< .65

.65-.75

> .75

Magnitude

Fig. 6.7

315

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

316

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.

317

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 31.62 which ranges from 17.88 in Hisar district to

44.00 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.

0 40

Kms

Low

Medium

High

Index Value

> 35

25-35

< 25

Magnitude





Fig. 6.8

318

(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

319

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.

320

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 24.52. But it is not uniform in its spatial perspective. It

ranges between 32.04 in Patiala district to 12.31 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

0 40

Kms

Low

Medium

High

Index Value

> 25

20-25

< 20

Magnitude





Fig. 6.9

321

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 1965-66. 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

322

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 1965-

66 was of highly diversified in nature. But, it had changed into low magnitude

323

of crop diversification in 1985-86 and further changes to more low magnitude

of crop diversification in 2005-06 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 1965-65 to 2005-06. 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 1965-66 which had declined to 0.75 in

1985-86 and it has further gone down to 0.71 in 2005-06. It shows that

324

Table 6.4 Index of Crop Diversification in Punjab Haryana Plains After Gibbs & Martin’s Technique: 1965-66 to 2005-06

DISTRICT 1965-66 1985-86 2005-06 Gurdaspur 0.77 0.76 0.64 Amritsar 0.79 0.73 0.63 Tarn Taran 0.80 0.73 0.61 Kapurthala 0.79 0.73 0.63 Jalandhar 0.81 0.73 0.64 Nawanshahr 0.81 0.76 0.74 Hoshiarpur 0.80 0.76 0.74 Rupnagar 0.82 0.77 0.73 S.A.S. Nagar 0.82 0.77 0.79 Ludhiana 0.81 0.70 0.64 Firozpur 0.80 0.72 0.74 Faridkot 0.79 0.76 0.64 Muktsar 0.78 0.76 0.69 Moga 0.79 0.77 0.61 Bathinda 0.78 0.76 0.70 Mansa 0.80 0.76 0.70 Sangrur 0.80 0.73 0.63 Patiala 0.81 0.67 0.62 Fatehgarh Sahib 0.82 0.67 0.63 Ambala 0.83 0.78 0.71 Panchkula 0.82 0.79 0.78 Yamunanagar 0.81 0.80 0.74 Kurukshetra 0.81 0.68 0.64 Kaithal 0.82 0.68 0.62 Karnal 0.82 0.70 0.62 Panipat 0.81 0.73 0.64 Sonipat 0.82 0.73 0.71 Rohtak 0.80 0.76 0.81 Jhajjar 0.80 0.76 0.80 Faridabad 0.81 0.76 0.74 Gurgaon 0.79 0.79 0.73 Rewari 0.67 0.76 0.70 Mahendragarh 0.67 0.76 0.69 Bhiwani 0.70 0.75 0.86 Jind 0.79 0.82 0.73 Hisar 0.83 0.84 0.81 Fatehabad 0.82 0.83 0.74 Sirsa 0.82 0.82 0.77 REGION 0.79 0.75 0.71 Source: Statistical Abstracts of Punjab and Haryana – 1966, 1986 and 2006.

325

during the study period the trend of crop diversification was from high to

low which shows that region's agriculture has transformed from highly

diversified in 1965-66 to highly specialized in 2005-06.

(ii) The index value of crop diversification was recorded lowest of 0.67 in case

of Rewari and Mahendragarh districts in 1965-66, while it was recorded

highest of 0.83 in Ambala district. Whereas in 1985-86 the minimum value

of 0.67 was found in Fatehgarh sahib and Patiala districts. While during

1965-66, these values were of 0.82 and 0.81 respectively it shows these

areas were having high crop diversification in 1965-66 had recorded low

crop diversification in 1985-86. But in case of Mahendragarh and Rewari

districts the index value of crop diversification had increased to 0.76 and

0.76 in 1985-86 respectively which shows the trends towards high crop

diversification. The major reasons for high crop diversification in case of

Mahendragarh and Rewari districts were the deterministic nature of

physical environment and poor development of agricultural infrastructure.

Thus farmers had grown more crops in 1985-86. But in case of Fatehgarh

Sahib and Patiala districts due to well-developed agricultural

infrastructure, the trends is toward low crop diversification. In the year

2005-06 the minimum index value of crop diversification of .61 is recorded

in Tarn Taran district which had .80 and .73 during 1965-66 and 1985-86

respectively. This trend of low crop diversification was also owing to

developed agricultural Infrastructure whereas the highest index of crop

diversification of 0.86 is noted in Bhiwani district during 2005-06 and in

Bhiwani district the trend is from low crop diversification to high crop

diversification which is largely the result of less developed agricultural

326

infrastructure and harsh physical environment. Thus when there was no

development in agricultural infrastructure, the physical environment had

allowed the cultivation of few Crops. But when some development has

taken place in infrastructure, farmers started growing more crops which

has led to high crop diversification in Bhiwani district.

(iii) An Intelligent look of fig. 6.1, 6.4, 6.7 yields that during 1965-66, the high

crop diversification areas were lying in eastern parts and some areas in

southwestern parts. But in 1965-66, areas of high crop diversification had

almost shifted to western parts comprising the districts of Sirsa Fatehabad

and Hisar. But in 2005-06, high crop diversification belt has expanded in

southwestern parts, and covers five districts of the study region. Two

districts of high category are also found in eastern parts covering S.A.S.

Nagar and Panchkula districts of the study region. It shows that category

of high crop diversification has shifted its area. Firstly this category was

predominant particularly in eastern parts of the study Region, but in 1985-

86 it had shrunk and confined to southwestern parts and again in 2005-

06, it has slightly expanded and covered the western and central eastern

and southwestern parts. Moreover, the numbers of districts in 1985-86

were four but in 2005-06 it goes down to seven districts. But at the same

time in 1965-66, the index value of high crop diversification was over 0.80

which had remained the same in 1985-86 also. In 2005-06 the index value

of high category of crop diversification has declined from over 0.80 to 0.75

which shows that trend is towards crop specialization.

327

B. Changes in crops diversification after Bhatia's Techniques

The analysis of figures 6.2, 6.5 and 6.8 and table 6.5 shows that the

overall index value of crop diversification has increased during the study

period. It was recorded 21.35, 25.17 and 31.62 in 1965-66, 1985-1986 and

2005-06 respectively. This indicates that the trend in crop diversification is

from high to low.

(i) The index value of crop diversification was recorded lowest of 17.07 in

Hisar District and highest of 28.22 in Rewari district which indicates that

Rewari district has the lowest magnitude of crop diversification and Hisar

district had the highest crop diversification in the study region during

1965-66.

(ii) It is also found that 25 out of 38 districts had experienced high magnitude

of crop diversification in 1965-66 (fig. 6.2) whereas in 1985-86, the

magnitude of high crop diversification became limited to only four districts

namely Hisar, Fatehabad, Sirsa and Jind (cf. fig. 6.5). In all these areas

the index value was recorded below 20. But in 2005-06, high magnitude

of crop diversification is found in the seven districts of the study region.

And out of seven, six districts namely Sirsa, Fatehabad Hisar, Bhiwani,

Rohtak and Jhajjar confined to southern parts of the study region and

one district namely Panchkula to the Shiwalik hills.

(iii) The moderate category of crop diversification in 1965-66 had contained the districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Muktsar, Moga, Bathinda, Mansa, Sangrur, Rohtak, Jhajjar and Gurgaon. But in 1985-86 this category had expanded and covered 20 districts. It had captured area from the category of high magnitude in 1965-66, especially along the Shiwaliks.

328

Table 6.5

Index of Crop Diversification in Punjab Haryana Plains After Bhatia’s Technique: 1965-66 to 2005-06


329

Whereas in 2005-06, it has covered sixteen districts namely Firozpur,

Faridkot, Muktsar, Bathinda, Mansa, Rewari, Jind, Faridabad, Gurgaon,

Mahendragarh, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, S.A.S. Nagar and

Yamunanagar. All this shows that the trend was from high crop

diversification to moderate crop diversification and low crop

diversification.

(iv) It is noted that there were only three districts namely Rewari,

Mahendragarh and Bhiwani which had low magnitude of crop

diversification in 1965-66. It was the result of harsh physical environment

which did not allow the farmers to grow more corps. But in 1985-86, with

the development of agricultural infrastructure and introduction of Green

Revolution Technology the category of low crop diversification had

expanded and covered 14 districts which were lying in central parts and

north-western parts of the study region. These were highly agriculturally

developed areas where wheat-rice crop rotation had emerged. There is

addition of two districts namely Sonipat and Moga which had shifted from

moderate category to low category, but Firozpur districts had shifted from

low category to Moderate category during 2005-06 (c.f. fig. 6.5 and 6.8).

It is highly agriculturally developed area of the study region which is

found in a compact belt and runs through the central parts right from

Amritsar district in the Northwest to Sonipat district in the Southeast.

(v) Thus the above mentioned discussion revealed that spatially category of

high crop diversification was predominant in 1965-66, and very small

area was covered by the category of low magnitude of crop

diversification. Whereas the category of high magnitude of crop

330

diversification had reduced to four districts in 1985-86. While the

categories of medium and low magnitude of crop diversification was

predominant. But in 2005-06, the category of moderate magnitude of

crop diversification became predominant followed by category of low crop

diversification, while category of high crop diversification has shrunk from

1965-66 to 2005-06. Thus overall trend of the magnitude of crop

diversification according to Bhatia's Technique is from high to low

magnitude which shows region's agriculture has become highly

specialized.

C. Changes in crop diversification after Singh's Technique

A detailed investigation of fig 6.3, 6.6 and 6.9 and table 6.6 reveals the

following points:

(i) For evaluating the trends in crop diversification in the study regions after

Singh's technique, help is taken from figures 6.3, 6.6 and 6.9 and table

6.3. According to Singh's technique in 1965-66, the region's average

index of crop diversification of 17.78 was recorded which had increased

to 20.65 in 1985-86, and it has further increased to 24.52 which indicates

that the magnitude of crop diversification was high in 1965-66, which

continuously was having declining trend up to 2005-06 and as a result

region's magnitude of crop diversification has become low which shows

trend towards specialization. It is also found that Punjab's average index

value of crop diversification in 1965-66 was recorded 17.90 and of

Haryana was 18.46 which indicates that Punjab’s agriculture was more

diversified than Haryana. But in 1985-86, index value for Punjab was

21.30 and of Haryana 19.92 which shows Punjab's agriculture became

331

Table 6.6

Index of Crop Diversification in Punjab Haryana Plains After Bhatia’s Technique: 1965-66 to 2005-06


332

more specialized than Haryana. Whereas in 2005-06, the index value of

crop diversification in case of Punjab is 26.22 and for Haryana it is 22.83

which again shows high magnitude of crop diversification in Haryana as

compare to Punjab.

(ii) The lowest index value of crop diversification was 15.21 in Sangrur

district and 23.36 of Rewari district in 1965-66. But in 1985-86, the

minimum index value of crop diversification was noted of 15.39 in

Fatehabad district and 29.86 in Kaithal district. While in 2005-06, the

lowest index value of crop diversification is recorded of 12.31 in Rohtak

district and highest of 32.04 in Patiala district. It shows that the trend is

from high to low magnitude of crop diversification.

(iii) A Review of fig. 6.3, 6.6 and 6.9 shows that in 1965-66, the category of

high degree of crop diversification had covered about 50 percent of the

total occurrences and it was a compact belt. But in 1985-86, most of the

area under high category had shifted to moderate as well as low degree

of crop diversification and only four districts were noted under high

category namely Hisar, Fatehabad, Sirsa and Jind. But in 2005-06 this

category of high crop diversification has expanded and covers seven

districts. One among them along the Shiwaliks and six in the

southwestern parts of the study region, namely Sirsa, Hisar, Jind,

Rohtak, Jhajjar and Bhiwani. Area under both these belts have less

developed agricultural infrastructural as compare to rest of the study

region.

(iv) In case of moderate magnitude of crop diversification, this category had

contained 14 districts and found in three separate belts in 1965-66. But in

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1985-86, this category had 20 districts as compare to 14 in 1965-66,

whereas in 2005-06, the number of districts has declined to 19.

(v) The category of low magnitude of crop diversification had only three

districts namely Bhiwani, Rewari and Mahendragarh in 1965-66. But it

had expanded and contains 14 districts in 1985-86. Most of these

districts falling in low crop diversification were having either high or

moderate magnitude of crop diversification in 1965-66, but increase in

irrigation, facilities, development in infrastructure, agricultural innovation,

etc. were responsible for shifting districts from high as well as moderate

categories to low category. But in 2005-06, the category of low crop

diversification has 12 districts. Again all this shows that the cropping

pattern of the study Region has experienced a change from high

magnitude crop diversification to low magnitude crop diversification.

Conclusion

It is concluded that according to Gibbs & Martin's technique during

1965-66, the moderate and high magnitude of crop diversification was

predominant in the study region which covered 35 districts. Out of 35,

nineteen districts had experienced high magnitude of crop diversification.

Whereas after Bhatia’s technique, the high magnitude of crop diversification

was more predominant which had covered twenty five districts. While in

respect of Singh's technique the high crop diversification was again noted

predominant. But the low category of crop diversification had remained the

same which comprised only three southern districts namely Bhiwani, Rewari

and Mahendragarh. From figs. 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3, it is deduced that region's

agriculture was highly diversified because of poor agricultural infrastructure,

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where farmers used to grow several these crops which physical environment

permitted them. But in those areas, where physical environment was very

harsh for crop farming and agricultural infrastructure was also under

developed had experienced low degree of crop diversification. It is also

observed that in 1985-86, with the introduction of Green revolution technology

and development of agricultural infrastructure, the category of high crop

diversification had shrunk. And as a result, it was confined to only four districts

namely Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar and Jind. It is also deduced that the

introduction of HYV of wheat and rice and mechanized agriculture had

affected the cropping pattern and magnitude of crop diversification very

significantly in Central parts and as a result in the Central parts the category

of low crop diversification had fourteen districts. Whereas the category of

moderate crop diversification had covered districts along the Shiwaliks where

wheat, maize, rice and fodder were predominant crops here rainfall was

comparatively highly. But in southern districts of the and study region, and

western districts of the study region where frequent occurrences of sand

dunes or remnants of Aravallis rock exist and rainfall is comparatively low had

experienced moderate magnitude of crop diversification.

It is found that the picture of crop diversification becomes more clear in

2005-06. The fourteen districts according to both Bhatia's and Gibbs &

Martian's technique and fifteen districts according to Singh's technique which

cover central parts of the study region have low magnitude of crop

diversification. The main reasons for low crop diversification are emergence of

wheat-rice crop rotation, increase in extent of irrigation, mechanized farming,

developed agricultural infrastructure, etc. The category of moderate crop

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diversification according to Gibbs & Martian's and Bhatia's technique has

covered seventeen districts and eighteen districts respectively, whereas in

case of Singh's technique moderate category covers sixteen districts. But it is

also recorded that the high crop diversification has also confined to seven

districts by Gibbs & Martin as well as Singh's Technique, but Six districts

according to Bhatia's technique. These districts of high crop diversification are

largely confined to south western parts with exception of Panchkula and

S.A.S. Nagar.

It is also found that the magnitude of crop diversification had declined

throughout the study region. It is further observed that out of three techniques,

Gibbs & Martin's technique has proved more authentic and scientific for

demarcation of Crop diversification regions because it has taken into account

all the crops for calculating the results.

In respect of changes in crop diversification, it is concluded that the

index value of crop diversification according to Gibbs & martin's technique had

declined from 0.79 to 0.75 and 0.71 in 1965-66, 1985-86 and 2005-06

respectively. From Table 6.1 it is also concluded that the degree of crop

diversification in 1965-66 was high in Punjab as compare to Haryana but in

1985-86, and 2005-06 the overall index value of crop diversification was

recorded low of 0.73 and 0.68 respectively in case of Punjab and high of 0.76

and 0.73 in Haryana respectively. Similarly, according to Bhatia's and Singh's

technique which is shown in table 6.2 and 6.3. It is also observed that the

ushering of green revolution, development of agricultural infrastructure,

mechanized farming, etc, have affected the magnitude of crop diversification

very significantly in all districts of the study Region. As a result, in 1965-66,

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the category of high magnitude of crop diversification had more areas as

compare to 1985-86 and 2005-06. In case of low magnitude of crop

diversification which was confined to three districts namely Bhiwani,

Mahendragarh and Rewari has expanded in its size in 1985-86 and 2005-06

and shifted its place from southern districts to central districts of the study

region and covers about 40 percent of the total occurrences. The moderate

category of crop diversification has remained significant throughout the study

region by snatching area from the category of high crop diversification of

1965-66.

Overall it is deduced that the study region's cropping pattern was highly

diversified in 1965-66, but later on in 1985-86 the magnitude of crop

diversification became low and it has further become low in 2005-06 which

shows that region's agriculture has become highly specialized from highly

diversified. It is also found that even the magnitude of crop diversification of

each district has also become low with some exceptions. It was all owing to

the development of agricultural infrastructure, favorable, government policies

awakening among the farmers, Introduction of HYV of seeds especially of

wheat and rice crop, etc. which has brought significant changes in the

magnitude of crop diversification in the study region during the period under

present investigation.

CHAPTER 6 DELIMITATION OF CROP DIVERSIFICATION REGIONS...

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