Changes in Extent of Crop Diversification in Maharashtra

This paper has examined the extent of crop diversification in different regions of Maharashtra at different points of time during the period 1975–76 to 2012–13 using Herfindahl index. The study is based on the time series data related to area under major crops of cereals, pulses, oilseeds and commercial crops for the abovementioned period. The study has observed increasing trends in the magnitudes of diversification indices during post-WTO period over pre-WTO period. It implies that the cropping pattern as a whole has been diversified, but among the group of crops, the acreage under foodgrains and commercial crops has increased. The diversification of crops has found stagnant in Marathwada and Vidarbha regions and has declined in the Konkan region. This suggests that major emphasis be given on irrigation and infrastructure development in the Marathwada, Vidarbha and Konkan regions of Maharashtra.