Prospects of Crop Diversification through High Value Crops in Punjab

The present study was undertaken to analyze the trends in cropping pattern and possible diversification avenues in Punjab state. The results reveal that Punjab had a Herfindahl index (HI) score of 0.8 and Crop Diversification Index (CDI) score of 0.24 in 2020-21, both the scores indicating specialization. Analysis of percentage share of cropped area of different crops reveal that specialization has been acquired in the cultivation of wheat and paddy and the combined area under wheat and paddy has increased from 74.38 percent in 2001-2002 to 85.33 percent in 2020-21. The results of markov chain analysis for the period 2011-12 to 2020-21 reveals that foodgrains (96%), fruits (98%) and fiber crops (74%) had higher retention of their respective previous period cropped area. Fruit and vegetable crops offer an excellent opportunity for diversification, as they consume much less water for producing a kilogram of produce compared to paddy crop and are relatively more profitable than paddy and wheat crops. Location Quotient revealed that out of 25 districts, 15 districts had high specialization in Paddy cultivation, 17 had low specialization in fruit cultivation whereas 10 had low specialization in vegetable cultivation during 2020-21 period. More area under fruit and vegetable crops can brought under these districts by formulating district specific crop diversification programme, promoting adoption of fruit and vegetable cultivation over wheat-paddy cropping pattern, taking into consideration the climate and soil suitability, would be highly helpful in sustaining the state’s agriculture.