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Abstract
The nature and extent of crop diversification in the Karnataka state has been analyzed by collecting
secondary data for a period of 26 years from 1982-83 to 2007-08. Composite Entropy Index (CEI) and
multiple linear regression analysis have been used to analyze the nature and extent of crop diversification
in the state. The CEI for different crop groups has shown that almost all the crop groups have higher crop
diversification index during post-WTO (1995-96 to 2007-08) than during pre-WTO (1982-83 to 1994-95)
period, except for oilseeds and vegetable crops. There has been a vast increase in diversification of
commercial crops after WTO. Crop diversification is influenced by a number of infrastructural and
technological factors. The results have revealed that crop diversification influences production. The
study has suggested that the creation of basic infrastructural facilities like sustained supply of irrigation
water, markets, fertilizer availability, proper roads and transportation is an essential pre-requisite for creating
enabling conditions for fostering the process of agricultural development and crop diversification, as most
of these parameters are found to influence the nature and extent of crop diversification.