Crop Diversification and Agricultural Productivity in India: Challenges & Way Forward

Crop Diversification and Agricultural Productivity in India are essential for improving farmers’ incomes, ensuring food security, conserving natural resources, and making agriculture more sustainable. Punjab’s dependence on the rice-wheat cropping pattern highlights the need to diversify towards high-value and resource-efficient crops.

Despite having high productivity in rice and wheat, Punjab ranks low in agricultural value creation among Indian states.

About Agricultural Productivity

• Agricultural Productivity refers to the ratio of agricultural outputs to inputs.
• There are two ways to estimate agricultural productivity:
• • Dividing State Agri-GDP by Net Sown Area (NSA): In this, Andhra Pradesh (AP) has the highest productivity (Rs 6.43 lakh/ha), followed by West Bengal (Rs 5.19 lakh/ha).  Punjab ranks 13th with productivity of (Rs 3.71 lakh/ha).
  • Dividing Agri-GDP by Gross Cropped Area (GCA): In this too, Andhra Pradesh (5.30 lakh/ha) has the highest productivity followed by Tamil Nadu (3.97 lakh/ha). Punjab has productivity of Rs 1.92 lakh/ha.

Reasons Behind Low Agri Value Creation in Punjab

• Lack of Diversification: The agriculture of Punjab and Haryana are predominantly focused on rice and wheat, 84% of the Gross Cropped Area is dedicated to these two crops. Johl Committee recommended diversification in 1986 and 2002, but they largely remain unheeded.
• Subsidy and Minimum Support Prices (MSP) Driven Agriculture: Reliance on free power and subsidized fertilizers disincentivizes diversification and shifts to high-value agricultural practices.
• Lack of Sustainable Agricultural practices: 76% of Punjab’s blocks face over-exploitation of groundwater resources which results in increased salinity of soil, high usage of chemicals and increased climate stress on agriculture.

Need for Crop Diversification

• Increase Income on Small Land Holding: Mera Pani – Meri Virasat Scheme of Government of Haryana is incentivizing farmers to switch to other alternate crops instead of paddy by paying Rs. 7000 per acre.
• Increase Resource-use Efficiency: In the Garhwal Himalayan region of India, Barahnaja is a crop diversification system for cultivating 12 crops in a year and is the traditional heritage of the area.
• Prevent Soil Health Degradation: The repetitive rice-wheat cropping pattern depletes specific soil nutrients and diminishes the microfaunal population.
• Economic Stability: Crop diversification can better tolerate the ups and downs in price of various farm products and it may ensure economic stability of farming products.
• Food and Nutritional Security: The Government of India is promoting increase in area under pulses and oilseeds through National Food Security Mission.

Steps Taken to Promote Crop Diversification

• Crop Diversification Programme (CDP): Sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) in Haryana, Punjab & Western Uttar Pradesh.
• Support to State government: Under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): To promote research, provide financial support, and improve market access for diversified crops.
• Crop Insurance Schemes: Implementation of National Agriculture Insurance Scheme, which covers food crops, oilseeds and yearly commercial and horticulture crops.

Challenges to Crop Diversification

• Economic Challenges: Small-scale farmers lack the capital needed to invest in new crops, there is a challenge in accessing markets for non-traditional crops, and new crops may be subject to high price volatility.
• Social and Cultural Challenges: Farming communities have a deep-rooted tradition in cultivating specific crops, making them resistant to changing long standing agricultural practices.
• Ecological Challenges: Water scarcity and impact of climate change limits the ability to diversify crops, especially those that are water-intensive.
• Infrastructure Deficiencies: Poor rural infrastructure, including roads and storage facilities, can hamper the distribution and sale of diversified crops.

Way Forward to Increase Agricultural Productivity in India

• Embracing Agroforestry: Agroforestry combines trees, crops, and/or livestock, optimizing ecological and economic benefits through resource-efficient utilization.
• Government Support: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) provide aid and financial surety to the farmer, seed crop insurance covers the risk factors associated with the production of seeds.
• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: In 2014-15, the NMSA was launched to improve the efficiency of farming, the use of water, and soil health management.
• Building Market Linkages: The Shanta Kumar Committee recommended that Private players procure and store food grains to strengthen market linkages.
• Investment in Infrastructure: Strengthening cold storage, transportation facilities, and processing plants is crucial to ensure efficient and cost-effective management of diverse crops.

Conclusion

The path towards revitalizing Indian agriculture and boosting farmers’ incomes requires moving beyond traditional staples. Punjab and Haryana need to embrace a demand-driven high-value agricultural system and need to shed the mindset of an MSP-based cropping system.