Srivastava, S.K.Goswami, Swati2018-10-252018-10-252013-08http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810082061Crop diversification is an important strategy for overall agriculture development in the country. The present study was conducted in Uttarakhand, with the objectives to estimate growth rates of different crops, to examine the socio-economic status, to analyze the nature and extent and to identify the factors affecting crop diversification. The present study utilizes both secondary and primary data, secondary data was collected for the period of 11 years (2000-01 to 2010-11). For primary data, multistage stratified random sampling technique was followed to select 45 farmers from hill region and 30 farmers from plain region. Exponential growth function was used to estimate the growth rate of different crops, to examine socio economic, simple statistical tools were used, Simpson diversification index had been used to analyze the nature and extent of crop diversification. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the factor affecting crop diversification. Growth rate estimated to know the change in area, production and productivity showed that, paddy recorded a significant decline in area and production except Uttarkashi which rise at the rate of 1.16 (area) and 3.01 (production) per cent per annum, wheat show a significant decline in area, while in production recorded a significant increase. Pulses also shows a significant rise in their area, production and productivity as whole, except in U S Nagar where all the above three, declined very sharply at the rate of 27.59, 27.73 and 3.22 per cent per annum. Oilseeds crops and other crops also show the significant change in their area, production and productivity over the study period. The average operational holding of plain region was more than five times high as compared to hilly region, number of male members has been found slightly higher than the female members, and the family size is comparatively large. More than 40 per cent area to total cropped area was devoted to subsistence foodgrains. Share of cows was highest in total livestock population in both areas. Crop enterprise was the main source of income in plains while service sectors dominates in the hill region. The diversification indices constructed for all the crops groups at districts, divisions and state level showed that the diversification has been found more in hill districts as compared to plain districts. State as a whole registered a significant rise in all the crop groups. Pulses also show the significant high level of diversification, while oilseed show the moderate level of diversification. At farm household level, about 62 per cent farmers comes in the category of very high level of diversification in hill region while in plains same per cent belongs to high level of diversification. Hill region show the higher level of diversification in all the crop groups and also in the varieties, as compared to plain region.The major factors responsible for the change in crop diversification were fertilizer consumption, gross irrigated area, road length, mechanization and certified seeds, at districts, divisions and state level. In case of farm households age of household head, size of farm households, distance to market,off- farm/non- farm income and fertilizer which effects the crop diversification. The creation of basic infrastructural facilities is an essential prerequisite for crop diversification and fostering the process of agricultural development.ennullThesis