1Research Scholar, Department of Agricultural Economics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641003 (Tamil Nadu)
2Professor and Head, Department of Trade and Intellectual Property, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641003 (Tamil Nadu)
*Corresponding author's email: rani.maha194@gmail.com
JELCodes C65, Q19, R11, R12, R15.
The present study examined the crop diversification in Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu. The area under pulses, vegetables, fiber crops and flower crops showed higher growth rate (10–20%) and cereals, spices, oilseeds and sugar crops showed negative growth (1–17%) during 2007–08 to 2016–17. The sample farmers were post-stratified based on farm size. The results of Herfindahl, Simpson and Entropy indices of crop diversification showed that medium farms were more diversified followed by semi-medium, small and marginal farms. Net income per hectare increased with increase in crop diversification. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that crop diversification was significantly influenced by farm size, gross irrigated area, education and experience of farmers, and machine hours used. The major constraints in crop diversification were scarcity of water and labour.
Constraints, crop diversification, growth rate, Herfindahl Index, income, Simpson Index
