Cropping Pattern Diversification Across Assam: Variations and Causes

Diversification of crops may prove to be an important source of augmenting agricultural growth in India, when the scope for area expansion and technological breakthrough (at least in the near future) has become largely limited. Diversification into crops as well as seasons has a special significance in the state of Assam with a view to providing a boost to agricultural production and reducing its instability, mostly caused by floods every year. The paper examines the nature of cropping pattern and extent of crop diversification in the plain districts of Assam. It investigates the possible influences of irrigation, agricultural workforce, average size of landholdings and flood on the choice of cropping pattern, and level of crop diversification in the said areas. A multiple linear regression model has been used after conducting a logit transformation of the diversification index. The study reveals that irrigation through shallow tube wells and the availability of agricultural workforce have positive and significant role in the diversification of crops in Assam. However, flood proneness limits the same by restricting the cropping season, thereby forcing the farmers to confine to staple crops rather than diversifying into high value crops.