Sowing diversity, reaping stability: Unveiling the catalysts of agricultural diversification in Uttarakhand, India

Despite being a land of vast biodiversity and favourable agro-climatic conditions, Uttarakhand faces challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition. With limited possibilities for horizontal land expansion, vertical diversification through a wider range of crops and activities is crucial. The present study analyzed data from a sample of farmers (n=90), revealing that slightly over half of the farmers practicing moderate level of diversification. Variables such as age, education, and family size had non-significant relationships with diversification. However, landholding size, annual income, economic motivation, information seeking behaviour, and media ownership positively impacted diversification, with economic motivation (r=0.537) and information seeking behaviour(r=0.298) showing significant correlations. Notably, education had a negative, albeit non-significant, relationship with diversification. These findings suggest that economic incentives, access to information, and proactive information seeking play key roles in driving diversification. This highlights the need for policies and interventions that enhance economic viability, improve information accessibility, and encourage information seeking among farmers to promote sustainable and diversified agricultural practices in Uttarakhand.