Dynamics of cropping pattern in the dry zones of northern Karnataka - an econometric analysis

A change or shift in cropping pattern implies a change in the proportion of area under different crops which depends, to a large extent, on the facilities available to raise crops in the given agroclimatic setting. The shifts in cropping pattern have been analyzed for the dry zones of Northern Karnataka using time series data for the period from 2001–02 to 2015–16. The area under pulses and fruits and nuts has registered a positive growth rates at both district and taluk levels. Whereas, oilseeds has registered high negative growth rate of 7.87% at district and 11.74% at taluk level. The area under redgram and bengalgram have registered higher positive growth rates. The Herfindahl and Simpson indices indicated a gradual shift in cropping pattern towards diversification in Raichur district and specialization in Sindhanur taluk. The transitional probability matrix indicated that over the reference period, cereals (paddy, jowar and bajra) and oilseeds (groundnut and sunflower) have retained a higher share in terms of area under crops.