Agricultural Diversification of West Bengal: Nature and Policy Implications

Sumana Mukherjee

Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 2021, vol. Volume 76, issue Number 4

Abstract: The study relates to the changes that have taken place in the overall agrarian scenario of West Bengal over the period (1980-81 to 2014-15). Agricultural diversification seems to have gained huge significance since early 1990s. West Bengal having distinct physio-geographic zones, constitute a suitable region for the growth of diversified crops including fruits, vegetables, horticulture and minor forest produce. Given the preliminary observation that there is enormous inter-district variation in crop-diversification and that districts endowed with more irrigation and infrastructural facilities in West Bengal specialise in traditional crops, this paper analyses the nature of crop diversification in terms of the changes in cropping pattern and attempts to examine the real factors determining food availability with special emphasis on the impact of crop diversification on food availability of the masses. Agriculture, food security and economic growth supplement each other in the process of economic development. The indices of diversification indicate an increasing degree of crop diversification over time. The results indicate that West Bengal is a moderate diversified region, mostly inclined towards cash crops with cropping pattern showing a gradual rise in crop diversification in all the districts during the period of study. The results also highlight that Simpson Diversity Index for cash crops have a positive impact on food production.

Keywords: Crop Production/Industries; Food Security and Poverty; Sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:inijae:345177

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.345177

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