AN APPRAISAL OF CROP DIVERSIFICATION IN SOLAN DISTRICT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2019-08
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present study entitled “An appraisal of crop diversification in Solan district of Himachal
Pradesh” was carried out in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. The sampling procedure used was Multi-stage
random sampling technique. A total of 60 respondents (farmers) were selected at village level. The results of
socio-economic analysis showed that the average family size was 6 members per family and dominated by joint
family (61.67%) structure. The majority of the members of farm households were engaged in agriculture
(47.25%). The cropping intensity was 147.79 per cent at overall level. The growth rates in area, production and
productivity were calculated using Compound Annual Growth Rate. Results showed that area under food-grains,
pulses, sugarcane and oilseeds showed significant decline in growth rate whereas the area under vegetables,
fruits, spices, other food crops and non-food crops increased significantly. The production under food-grains,
pulses, fruits, vegetables, spices showed significant increase whereas production under sugarcane showed a
significant decline. The productivity of pulses and spices showed significant positive growth. The analysis of
temporal changes in cropping pattern showed that area under total vegetables and fruits had the highest positive
change while the area under pulses registered the highest negative change. The nature of crop diversification
was found to be moving away from food-grains and pulses and towards fruits and vegetables. The extent of
diversification was measured through Herfindahl-Hirchman index and the results showed that among the five
blocks of Solan district, Solan (0.18) and Kandaghat (0.21) blocks were the most diversified with significant
growth rates of -1.10 per cent and -1.50 per cent in H.H.I respectively; while Nalagarh block was becoming
more specialized, although its growth rate was not significant. Overall, Solan district was diversified in terms of
both area and production however, the growth rates in both cases were not significant. The analysis of
descriptive statistics showed that maximum variation was explained for dependency ratio (99.36%). Regression
analysis of entropy index with socio-economic characteristics of farm using censored tobit model showed that it
had significant positive relation with farm size defined on area and gross income proportion and significant
negative relation with distance of the farm from the market and gross farm income per ha defined on area
proportion. However, there was a significant positive relation between entropy index and dependency ratio, crop
yield index and gross farm income per ha on gross income proportion. The major problems faced by farmers in
the study area were man-animal conflict, lack of irrigation facilities, erratic rainfall, etc.
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