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Abstract
Sorghum, which once occupied more than 18 M ha of area in the country,
has been on a continuous decline during the past two decades and has
fallen down to 10.39 M ha. Most of the decline in area has occurred in
kharif sorghum. This warrants critical examination of the changing scenario
of kharif sorghum and identification of the reasons thereof. For the macro
analysis, secondary data on various aspects of kharif sorghum have been
used, whereas the farm survey data have been used to draw the inferences
at the micro level with respect to changing scenario of kharif sorghum.
The growth rates in area, production and productivity of kharif sorghum
have been computed. The Herfindahl index has been computed to find out
crop diversification in the sample districts of Dharwad and Belgaun. The
deceleration in the kharif sorghum area in the overall period 1970-71 to
1997-98 and different sub-periods has been found due to the diversion of
kharif sorghum area to more remunerative crops like oil seeds (groundnut
and sunflower), and pulses. Belgaum district displayed a moderate degree
of crop diversification compared to that of Dharwad district. Unfavourable
prices, declining yields, inadequate credit and adverse climatic conditions
have been identified as the major reasons for the replacement of kharif
sorghum crop in the two sample districts. The net returns and benefit-cost
ratio have been found low in the cultivation of kharif sorghum compared
to those of its competing crops, viz. cotton, green gram and groundnut.