Issues with the Shift in Cropping Pattern
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Agriculture, Cropping Pattern, Geography
Source: BS
Context: Shift in paddy sowing may not aid despite normal monsoon, as groundwater depletion persists.
India anticipates a normal monsoon, enhancing agricultural output, yet groundwater depletion poses challenges. Punjab and Haryana’s wheat-paddy cycle exacerbates this issue, with paddy consuming significant water. Groundwater extraction rates in these states surpass national averages, aggravating the situation.
What is a Cropping Pattern?
Cropping pattern can be defined as the proportion of area under various crops at a point in time. In other words, it is a yearly sequence and spatial arrangement of sowing and fallowing in a given area. In India, the cropping pattern is determined by rainfall, climate, temperature, soil type and technology.
Change of cropping pattern in India
• Cash crops: The crop pattern has changed with a very satisfactory trend, i.e. growing more cash crops like fruit and vegetables instead of food grains.
• Shifted to horticulture: Since good inputs (seeds and know-how) are available, farmers are growing horticultural crops along with or as an alternative to food grains. India produces 10% of the world’s production of fruits and holds the first place in the case of fruits like papaya, mango, and banana, among others.
• India produces 10% of the world’s production of fruits and holds the first place in the case of fruits like papaya, mango, and banana, among others.
• Water intensive to water efficiency patterns: Some water intensive Food grains (paddy) and cash crops (such as sugarcane) losing interest in favour of water-efficient crops or pulses and oil seeds. These are not only water-efficient but also climate-resilient.
• These are not only water-efficient but also climate-resilient.
• Organic farming: Many regions of the country have also seen an increase in cropping area under organic farming. States like Sikkim have become fully organic states.
• ZBNF: Many states like Maharastra, and Telangana are promoting Zero Budget Natural farming, under it use of chemicals for growing crops is discouraged.
The reason behind the change in the cropping pattern
Reason | Details
Nutrient deficiency in soil | Continuous mono-cropping depletes soil nutrients, as exemplified by the rice-wheat system in Northwestern India.
State laws | Punjab and Haryana enacted the Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act (PPSWA) and the Haryana Preservation of Subsoil Water Act (HPSWA): They had an unintended consequence of increasing stubble burning and air pollution in northern India.
Resource use efficiency | Mono-cropping reduces resource efficiency; diversification revitalizes soil health.
Urbanisation | Population growth and urbanisation stress agricultural land, leading to intensified and commercial crop cultivation.
Infrastructure facilities | Improved irrigation, transport, and post-harvest handling allow farmers to diversify crops.
Government incentives | Programs like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana incentivize crop pattern changes.
Erratic rainfall | Unpredictable weather patterns force farmers to alter cropping strategies.
Changing consumption patterns and market conditions | Increasing demand for protein-rich foods has led to a rise in soybean cultivation, while the growing preference for meat and dairy has shifted focus to commercial fodder crops
Market conditions, including a push for exports and the rise of food processing products, have influenced farmers’ choices towards high-value crops.
Significance of crop diversification
• For farmers; It increases crop portfolio so that farmers are not dependent on a single crop to generate their income. Farmers who plant different kinds of crops are able to tap into their regional markets and contribute to strengthening their local economies. This helps farms thrive and provides them with greater financial security.
• It increases crop portfolio so that farmers are not dependent on a single crop to generate their income.
• Farmers who plant different kinds of crops are able to tap into their regional markets and contribute to strengthening their local economies. This helps farms thrive and provides them with greater financial security.
• Government: Most of the Indian population suffers from malnutrition. Most of the girl children have anaemia. Including crops like pulses, oilseed, horticulture, and vegetable crops can improve socio-economic status by adding quality to the food basket ensuring food safety and nutritional security.
• Environment; – It makes farms more environmentally friendly. This is because planting a variety of crops makes the soil healthier, along with reducing chemical use.
• Disease resistance: The traditional way to grow crops is to plant a single cultivar in a given area. However, this results in entire fields that are susceptible to the same hazard, be it a pest or disease.
• Availability of water;-it promotes efficient use of water thereby reducing the demand for water for irrigation purposes.
• Trade; – India is one of the largest importers of pulses, oilseeds etc. and diversification of crops can potentially reduce India’s import dependence thereby reducing the burden on exchequer.
Conclusion
India, being a vast country of continental dimensions, presents wide variations in agroclimatic conditions. Such variations have led to the evolution of regional niches for various crops. Historically, regions were often associated with the crops in which they specialize for various agronomic, climatic, hydro-geological, and even, historical reasons.
But, in the aftermath of technological changes encompassing biochemical and irrigation technologies, the agronomic niches are undergoing significant changes.
Insta Links:
• Emerging Trends in Cropping Pattern
Mains Link:
Explain the changes in cropping patterns in India in the context of changes in consumption patterns and marketing conditions (UPSC 2023)