The declining productivity of certain crops and enterprises is of major concern to not only farmers but also other stakesholders including the policy makers and development workers. Alternative farming systems form the prime mover of agricultural diversification. The changes in the cropping system should ensure a reasonable profit apart from providing food, nutrition and employment security. Understanding these systems is complex and more so altering the system unless practiced under a strong compulsion. In this connection, Periyaoblapuram village in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu was selected to study the pattern of diversification of crops and its implications for socio-economic betterment.
