IGMPI

Faculty of Food Safety & Quality

Diversification of Crops
By Associate Prof.- Kajal Verma

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

For feedback on this lecture, Please write to feedback@igmpi.ac.in

1
www.igmpi.ac.in
Topics Covered
1. About
2. Benefits of diversification of crops
3. Economic stability
4. Mitigation natural calamities
5. Balanced food demand
6. Conservation
7. Challenges
8. Types of diversification
9. Reason for crop diversification
10. Kinds of non-farm employment in rural areas
11. Impact of Diversification

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

2
•About:
Crop diversification refers to the addition of new crops or cropping systems to agricultural
production on a particular farm taking into account the different returns from value- added
crops with complementary marketing opportunities.

• Cropping System: It refers to the crops, crop sequences and management

techniques used on a particular agricultural field over a period of years.

• Types: Major cropping systems in India are sequential-cropping, monocropping, 

intercropping, relay Cropping, mixed-cropping and alley cropping.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

3
•Many farmers also use the mixed crop-livestock system to increase their standards of
living and income.

• Animal husbandry or Animal Agriculture is the branch of science dealing with

the practice of breeding, farming and care of farm animals (livestocks) such as
cattle, dogs, sheep and horses by humans for advantages.

• It refers to livestock raising and selective breeding. It is a branch of

agriculture.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

4
Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India
5
•Benefits:

Increase Income on Small Land Holding:

• At present, 70-80% farmers have land below 2 hectare. To overcome this,

existing cropping patterns must be diversified with high value crops such as
maize, pulses, etc.

• The Government of Haryana has also supported this by announcing that

farmers switching to other alternate crops instead of paddy will be paid Rs.
7000 per acre incentive (Mera Pani - Meri Virasat Scheme).

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

6
Benefits of Diversification

The benefits of employing Diversification are mentioned below.

•It helps in reducing risk factors as it ensures that the farmers do not lose all of their
resources if the weather does not favor the crop production.
•Since multiple crops can be harvested from a small field, the production increases
ten-fold, which ensures a substantial amount of income. 
•The agriculture sector is already crowded in India; therefore, it makes provision for
additional employment in rural areas. 
•The importance of crop diversification lies in the fact that it effectively increases soil
fertility and controls pest incidences. 
•The boost in rural employment impacts the overall economy of the nation, as
agriculture in India falls into the primary sector of the country. 

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

7
•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.

•Mitigating Natural Calamities:

• Sudden adverse weather conditions like erratic rainfall, drought, hail, incidence of insect
and pest disease. Under this situation, crop diversification through mixed cropping may
be useful.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

8
•Balance Food Demand:

• Most of the Indian population suffers from malnutrition. Most of the girl children have 
anemia. Including crops like pulses, oilseed, horticulture, and vegetable crops can improve
socio economic status by adding quality to the food basket and also improve soil health
with the aim of food safety and nutritional security.

• The Government of India has now targeted to increase the area under pulses and oilseeds
through National Food Security Mission (NFSM).

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

9
•Conservation:

• Adoption of crop diversification helps in conservation of natural resources like

introduction of legume in rice-wheat cropping system, which has the ability to fix
atmospheric Nitrogen to help sustain soil fertility.

• Soil Health Card (SHC) provides information to farmers on nutrient status of their

soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be
applied for improving soil health and its fertility.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

10
•Challenges:

Majority cropped area in the country is completely dependent on rainfall.

•Sub-optimal and over-use of resources like land and water resources, causing a
negative impact on the environment and sustainability of agriculture.

• Animal agriculture is the second largest contributor to human-made

 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions after fossil fuels and is a leading
cause of deforestation, water and air pollution and biodiversity loss.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

11
•Inadequate supply of seeds and plants of improved cultivars.

•Fragmentation of land holding less favoring modernization and mechanization of agriculture.

•Poor basic infrastructure like rural roads, power, transport, communications etc.

•Inadequate post-harvest technologies and inadequate infrastructure for post-harvest

handling of perishable horticultural produce.

•Very weak agro-based industry.

•Weak research - extension - farmer linkages.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

12
• Inadequately trained human resources together with persistent and large scale
illiteracy amongst farmers.

• Host of diseases and pests affecting most crop plants.

• Poor database for horticultural crops.

• Decreased investments in the agricultural sector over the years.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

13
•Other Related Initiatives:

• Refrigeration System Pusa-FSF

• Sub-Mission on Agroforestry Scheme

• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

• Mega Food Parks

• Seed-Hub Centres

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

14
Way Forward

•Although there are challenges which can not be ignored, crop diversification provides an
opportunity to double farmers income and create food security for the nation.

•Therefore, the government must promote crop diversification by purchasing crops

produced other than wheat and rice at Minimum Support Price. This could also help
conserve the dwindling supply of underground water.

•Agricultural emissions can also be limited through smarter livestock handling, technology-

enabled monitoring of fertilizer application, simple changes in field layout and other, more
efficient agricultural techniques.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

15
Types of Diversification

There are mainly two types of agricultural diversification prominent in India. They are:
 
1.Horizontal Diversification - This relates to multiple cropping or mix of crops instead
of cultivating a single crop. Horizontal Diversification is especially useful for small
farmers who hold a small piece of land. This allows them to earn more by escalating
cropping intensity. 
2.Vertical Diversification - It refers to the incorporation of industrialization along with
multiple cropping. In this kind of Diversification, farmers take a further step and invest
in activities like horticulture, agroforestry, livestock rearing, culture of aromatic plants,
etc. 

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

16
Major Features of Diversification

•Introduction of multiple or mixed cropping systems. 

•Shift from sole agricultural activities to other allied enterprises like fishery, forest
products, poultry and other non-agriculture sectors.

By every means, Diversification in agricultural activities proves to be extremely

beneficial for small farmers to increase their incomes.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

17
Reasons for Crop Diversification

The demand for high-value crops is increasing in India, and this paves the way for
farmers to experiment with several cropping combinations. Apart from that, some
other reasons make diversification an excellent choice for small and marginal farmers
of India.
These include:
•Climate Change - Diversification reasonably controls the damage that can occur from
the unfavorable weather condition. This process safeguards the farmers from the loss
of crops in such a situation. 
•Facilitate Several Employment Alternatives - Almost half of the employment of
India revolves around the agriculture sector. Diversification creates new job
opportunities for rural people other than traditional farming. 

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

18
•Increases of Income - Opting for Diversification will undoubtedly increase the income
and will let the farmers live a comfortable life. 

•Exportation - Diversification, especially of non-farming products, makes a sizable export

provision for its unique characteristics. India is now on the front line in exporting several
agricultural products to multiple countries. This contributes to the overall growth of the
economy. 

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

19
Kinds of Non-farm Employment in Rural Areas

The scope for employment in non-farm sectors in India is immense. Some of these are
listed below. 

1.Livestock - It includes breeding, raising and nurturing the pastoral animals for food or
raw material (like meat, milk, wool, skin, etc.) that can be used for commercial purposes.
It provides livelihood to over 70 million rural farmers. Livestock is also used by farmers
as an instrument in a farm for transport and carrying agricultural inputs, and animals like
cows are used in the field for conventional plowing methods. 
2.Horticulture - Horticulture refers to the cultivation of garden crops like fruits, flowers,
vegetables, etc. India is a significant exporter of different fruits like bananas, mangoes,
sugarcane, etc. across the globe. This sector employs almost 19% of the country's
workforce. 

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

20
3. Fisheries - It involves catching, sorting, selling and distributing fishes, prawns,
oysters, crabs and other marine and fresh-water fishes. The coastal states like Orissa,
Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala are the key regions to supply
fishes across the country and export to other countries. This sector contributes to 1.9%
of Indian GDP. Since mostly women are employed in this sector, the scope for women
empowerment in the field is prominent. 
4. Dairy - In this industry, cattle like cows, goats, buffaloes, and sheep are reared for
milk. The process comprises collecting, preserving and distributing the milk and its by-
products like butter, raw-milk powder, ghee, etc. 

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

21
Impact of Diversification

•Increase in production of high-value crops.

•Better livelihood for farmers and instrumental for lowering the poverty level.
•Scopes for varied employment.
•Empowerment of women.
•Sustainable water usage.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

22
Do your research on the high-value crops (HVC) cultivated in India and how it
contributes to the economical growth of the country.  

Almost 43.21% of people are associated with Agriculture in India, making it one
of the most vital service sectors of the nation. Also, the possibilities and scopes
are unlimited in Agricultural Diversification in India using advanced farming
apparatus.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

23
INDIAN AGRICULTURE SCENARIO

Net Cultivated Area : 141 m ha

Irrigated Area : 56 m ha (40%)
Rainfed/Dryland Area : 85 m ha (60%)

TOTAL FOOD GRAIN

PRODUCTION
(219 m tonnes)

KHARIF( Area:74 m ha) RABI (Area: 50 m ha)

116 million tonnes 103 million tonnes
Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India
24
 RAINFED FARMING AREA IN INDIA – (85 m ha)
(68.5 m ha fully rainfed & 18.0 m ha partial rainfed)

Regions States % Rainfed area

(range)
Cold arid Northern Jammu & Kashmir, 60-81
States Uttaranchal and Himachal
Pradesh,
States Arid Rajasthan, Gujarat 66-68
Western
Semi arid to arid Madhya Pradesh, 76-82
Central & Southern Maharashtra, Andhra
States Pradesh, Karnataka,
Tamil Nadu

Sub humid to Eastern Uttar Pradesh, 33-73

humid Eastern Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa,
States West Bengal

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

25
CONCEPT OF CROP DIVERSIFICATION

A shift of a crop or cropping system to another crop or

cropping system.
Use of resources in best possible way by changing and
modifying the degree, trend and time options of
crop/cropping activities.
A shift from less profitable and sustainable crop or
cropping system to more profitable and sustainable
crop/cropping system.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

26
NEED OF CROP DIVERSIFICATION

Crop diversification has become an important

option to attain several objectives Viz.
 Natural resources sustainability
 Ecological balance,
 Output growth,
 Buffer stocks,
 Employment generation,
 Risk coverage : Mono cropping high risk, etc.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

27
Thus, the necessity for crop diversification
arises on account of the need for-

Reducing risks associated with yield, market

and prices,
Arresting the degradation of natural resources
and environment and
Attaining the national goals like self-reliance in
critical crop products, earning foreign exchange
and employment generation.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

28
DETERMINANTS OF CROP DIVERSIFICATION

Number of factors governs nature and speed of crop

diversification.
 Resource endowments:
● Agro climatic conditions
● Soil
● Labor
● Facility of irrigation
 Technological factors
 House hold factors
 Institutional and infrastructural factors
 Price factors

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

29
 The important facts highlighting the
need of crop diversification in India:

For raising farm income.

Sustainable production and income.
Food and nutrient security.
Promotion of export.
Employment generation.
Poverty alleviation.
Judicious use of land and water resources.
Reduction in environmental pollution.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

30
 Priorities for crop diversification in India

1) Changing of resource use efficiency parameters.

2) Crop rotation effect.
3) Incorporation of crops and technologies.
4) Research on actual farm environment through farmer
participatory mode.
5) Assurance against the risk to farmers under changing weather
and sharp fluctuation in prices.
6) National issues like nutritional and food security.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

31
The important crop diversification
approaches in rainfed areas of India

Crop diversification under assured irrigation

situations.

Crop diversification under water scarce conditions.

Crop diversification for nutrient management.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

32
 REQUIRED STEPS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

Crop Diversification

Delineate area : Scientific data base priorities and target the area.
Choice of alternative crops and technology.
Priority Input / credit supply for alternative crops.
Share the risk of new system.
Market support - Rural uplinking.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

33
Table : Issues and functions provided by diversification
in dryland regions.
Issues Functions provided by diversification

Productivity and Increased yield, reduce intra seasonal variation and

stability improved stability through diverse components viz.,
crop, tree, plant and animal.
High risk and Risk and cost minimization through yield and income
high cost from annual and perennial mixtures.

Unabated land Minimization of kinds, effect and extent of land

degradation degradation by appropriate land care through alternate
land use system.
Inadequate Staggered employment round the year.
employment

Low profitability High components income generation from various area.

Poor energy Energy efficient implements.

management
Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India
34
 Key determining factors:
Farmers Angle
 Profit margin of new system

 Availability of market for produce

 Ease of operation / cultivation / storage

 Risk factor / technology available

 Other compelling reasons to shift for a new

system

 Incentive, if any.
Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India
35
Over all strategies for crop diversification

Diversion of high water requiring crops to less water intensive

crops.
Diversion of cotton to pulses, oilseeds and maize in light
textured and shallow soils.
Replacement of low yielding low value coarse cereals to high
yielding high value crops like pulses.
Inter cropping or mixed cropping be promoted in dry areas.
Shift high risk crops with short duration pulses and drought
resistant oilseeds crops.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

36
DIVERSIFIED AGRICULTURE

Mix
farming
Animal
Sericulture
Husbandry

Low Yielding
Food grain
Horticulture crops
Forestry

Floriculture
Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India
37
Table : Change in production of different oilseeds in
India (Million tonnes)
Oilseed 1981 2005 Change in Percent
crops production change
Groundnut 5.97 6.81 0.84 7.44
Rapeseed 2.04 5.20 3.17 28.02
and
mustard
Sunflower 0.098 0.79 0.69 6.16
Soybean 0.30 6.45 6.19 54.78
Other 1.57 1.97 0.40 3.54
Total 10.0 21.31 11.31 100.0
Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India
38
Table : Area under other non-food grain crops
(million hectares)

Crops/ Crop groups 1985- 2004-

86 05
Spices 1.47 2.90
Plantation crops 0.88 1.30
Other vegetables 3.38 4.61
Fruits 2.83 3.37
Guar seed 2.27 2.12
Other including fodder 2.84 8.01
crops
Total 13.67 22.67

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

39
 Table : Food grain production: Targets and achievement
(Million Tonnes)
2001-2002 2007-2008
Item Target Achieve- % of Target Achieve- % of
ment achieve- ment achieve
ment ment

Rice 92 92 100 93 94 101

Wheat 78 71 91 78 74.81 95.9
Coarse 33 35 106 33 36.07 109.3
cereal
Pulses 15 14 93.3 16 14.44 90.95
Total 218 211 96.7 220 219.3 99
Food
grains
Pooled 96.8
Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India 99
40
 Table : Certain applications of biotechnology for crop
diversification

Species Characters need Strategies to improve

modification traits
Zizyphus Anti digestion factors, Metabolic pathway, wide
dwarf, seedless, ploidy hybridization, embryo
level, fruit borer rescue, mutation and
micro propagation.
Pomegranate Soft seeded, dwarf, fruit Mutation, micro
cracking, virus free propagation shoot tip
material culture.
Amblica Dwarf, Vit. C, fruit drop, Regeneration, mutation,
officinalis frost resistance. gene transformation

Cucumis Alkaloid, more pulp and ACC gene

keeping quality
Citrullus Seedless Polyploid
Prickly pear Toxins, spines Mutation
Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India
41
 CASTOR IN CROP DIVERSIFICATION
SCENARIO
It is an important non edible oil seed crop, earns
valuable foreign exchange.
High yield potential under irrigated conditions (30-
35q/ha).
Also higher yield potentials under dry lands.
Economically remunerative crop as compare to existing
crop sequences.
Suitable for crop rotation and maintenance of fertility
as castor posses long tap root system.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

42
 RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
It is always desirable to change the crops and cropping system in certain
years.
The choice of crops or cropping system depending upon price, soil
fertility and pest build up will be desirable.
Synthesize or decide the most suitable system on considering
productivity.
Choice of suitable variety is very important to fit in the system with high
productivity.
Under the diversified intensive system of cropping, contingent planning
is also important. Therefore, suitable adjustments should to be made as
per emerging needs and prospects.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

43
 CONSTRAINTS IN CROP DIVERSIFICATION

1) Over 117 m.ha (63 percent) of the cropped area in the country is completely
dependent on rainfall.
2) Sub-optimal and over-use of resources.
3) Inadequate supply of seeds and plants of improved cultivars.
4) Fragmentation of land holding less favoring modernization and mechanization
of agriculture.
5) Poor basic infrastructure like rural roads, power, transport, communication etc.
6) Inadequate post-harvest technologies .
7) Very weak agro-based industry.
8) Weak research - extension - farmer linkages.
9) Decreased investments in the agricultural sector over the years.
Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India
44
 GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND STRATEGIES FOR
CROP DIVERSIFICATION

Implementing National Agriculture Insurance Scheme.

 Operationalzing Technology Mission on Cotton.
 Provision of Capital Subsidy of 25 percent for
Construction / Modernization / Expansion of Cold
Storages and Storages for Horticultural Produce.
 Creation of Watershed Development Fund.
 Strengthening Agricultural Marketing.
 Seed Crop Insurance.
 Seed Bank Scheme.
 Cooperative Sector Reforms.
Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India
45
 CONCLUSION

Crop diversification or crop shift is a new paradigm of sustainable agriculture.

Crop diversification is not only a shift from traditional and less remunerative crop (s)
to more remunerative crop (s) but it is a demand driven, need based situation
specific and national goal seeking continuous and dynamic concept and involves
spatial, temporal, value addition and resource complementary approaches. However,
crop substitution and addition of more crops in existing cropping system has been
the major approach of diversification in India. The nature of crop diversification is has
been mainly from low value coarse cereals to high value oilseeds and other food
grains.

Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India

46
Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India
47
Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India
48