Crop Diversification in Himachal Pradesh: Patterns and Determinants

Himachal Pradesh has made considerable progress in crop diversification and horticulture production. Since the traditional crops and allied activities in the Himalayas possess little growth potential, suggestions have been made to diversify agriculture through high-value cash crops, mainly fruits and off-season vegetables. A large number of factors are attributed for the success of crop diversification and development of horticulture. The analysis of factors that facilitated agricultural development and crop diversification has indicated that the explicit consideration of mountain specificities in formulating development strategies that resulted in the creation of basic infrastructural facilities (roads, schools, hospitals and R&D institutions), availability of huge market in the neighbouring states, high level of market consciousness among the farmers and the emergence of self-help group institutions were some of the important factors. It has been found that crop diversification is the driver of growth in the hill state.