Pattern of Crop Diversification and Land Use in Uttar Pradesh

The paper has studied the land-use pattern, crop diversification, production pattern and growth rates of crops across the different economic regions of Uttar Pradesh. The study is based on the secondary data collected from Sankhakiya Patrika, published by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, for the period 1995 to 2009. The study has revealed that there exist wide variations in natural resources, agricultural infrastructure and thus agricultural performance across different regions of the state. The surplus water resources in the eastern region of the state coexist with the dry regions of Bundelkhand requiring differential technological interventions and policy measures for maintaining the food security. The western region has been found to be most developed region, while Bundelkhand is least developed in terms of agricultural performance in the state. On the other hand, scarcity of water resources is the major challenge in the Bundelkhand region which requires interventions of water saving technologies backed by policy support for adoption of such technologies. Adoption of crop diversification has been found to be a coping mechanism by the farmers of Bundelkhand region. The findings of the study have provided a strong basis for development of location-specific technological and policy interventions for sustainable agricultural growth in Uttar Pradesh.