ISSN: 0374-8588

Volume 21 Issue 16, December 2019

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Cropping Pattern Changes in Agricultural

Development - A Mini Review
S. Suthakar, Dr. N. Palaniraj,
M.A, M. Phil, Ph. D

Abstract: The weather and climatic conditions exert a definite influence on cropping pattern in particular regions. Rainfall is
another physical factor which has a bearing on the cropping pattern in particular regions. Certain crops need good quantity of
water, while others need lesser amount of water. Cropping pattern means the proportion of area under different crops at a point of
time. In other words, it means a ratio of different crops cultivated at a particular time. A change in cropping pattern implies a
change in the proportion of area under different crops. Agriculture is the principal source of livelihood for more than 40 percent of
the population of this State. Agriculture provides wage goods required by the non-agricultural sectors and raw materials for the
industrial sector. Ratcheting up the growth of the economy would be possible provided the agriculture sector fares well on a
sustained basis. A good performance of the agriculture sector is viewed as an effective instrument for attainment of inclusive
economic growth and poverty reduction.

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Introduction Variety of crops grown Almost every

The present study is going to analyze the kind of crops are grown in India as it is
crop concentration and crop wise changes The endowed with a variety of soils. These crops
study presents an overview of agricultural can be grouped into (a) Food crops (b) Fiber
cropping concentration and crop wise changes crops (c) Oilseeds (d) Medicinal plants and
in Tamilnadu. The study area is mainly suitable spices. Food crops are of two types-cereal and
for climatic conditions, so the agriculture non-cereal. Among the cereals rice, wheat and
production is high. But recently the agricultural millet are important. Pulses come next and then
production is slowly decreased. oilseeds. Similarly a number of spices and
medicinal plants are also cultivated throughout
CROPPING PATTERNS AND ISSUES IN the country. Emphasis is placed now on
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT production of oilseeds, because a large amount
The agricultural land devoted to different of foreign exchange is spent on import of edible
crops in a region or state or country at a oils. Special attention is also given to
particular point of time is called the cropping production of medicinal plants, fruits, flowers
pattern. The cropping pattern of a region is an and vegetables.
outcome of a long term agricultural practices,
social customs and traditions, physical Objectives of the study
conditions and historical factors. Features of  1.To investigate the perception of the
changing crop-pattern Changing crop pattern in selective farmers on crop diversification
India is as under:-A. Dominance of food crops and its consequences in the study area.
over non-food crops

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 2.To assess the significance of Crop associated with use of chemical fertilizers is
diversification in agricultural their imbalanced use. Nitrogen, phosphorous
transformation in Tamil Nadu. and calcium required by the plants for balanced
growth and good health of the soils are not used
ISSUES IN AGRICULTURAL by most of the Indian farmers. There is over
DEVELOPMENT emphases on the use of nitrogen, resulting in
Agriculture contributes a significant share to the damage to fertility of soils and adverse effect on
national income (26%) but more importantly it crop productivity.
is a major source of livelihood for majority of 2. Small Size of Land holdings
work force in the countryside. However, the per About 89 percent of operational farm holdings
hectare production of different principal crops in the country are below two hectares in size.
in the country is relatively low. In some cases it Over 70 percent of agricultural production
is as low as 1/4th to 1/5th as compared to other comes from the subsistence agriculture. Unless
countries due to traditional methods of small farmers are helped to improve the
cultivation, small farms size, low investment, productivity and profitability of their farms, the
low input, poor health and lack of education agriculture in India will not develop in its true
among the farmers, lack of linkages between sense. This can be possible by optimum use of
agriculture and industry, and poor condition of available land, water, credit facilities and labour
infrastructure. Limited availability of cultivable resources.
land and ever increasing population has left no 3.Farm Mechanization
alternative but to increase productivity of crops. The use of improved agricultural implements
It is this sector that continues to have great and machines such as the plough, tractor,
potential for reducing poverty and hunger in trolley, harvester, thrasher, water pump,
rural areas. Following issues are important for sprinkler etc. are important to modernize Indian
the development of agriculture in India agriculture. These machines are being used in
1. The Use of Farm Inputs some parts of the country. Diffusion of modern
For high growth rate, farm inputs like seeds, farm technology and techniques is both
fertilizers, and irrigational facilities play an necessary as well as a big challenge. To
important role. The use of high yielding increase productivity, some agricultural
varieties of seeds, chemical fertilizers have implements are being made available to the
increased particularly in Green Revolution areas farmers through Development Blocks and Co-
of Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, operative Societies.
coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. 4. Consolidation of Holdings
However, in several other parts of the country Small and scattered holdings of land are one of
the use of chemical fertilizers is much below the the reasons of low agricultural productivity in
national average. In regard to irrigation, the India. This is an obstacle in the way of modern
irrigated land in the country is less than 50 per agriculture in which machines, improved
cent of the potential. Hence, there is a need for equipments and techniques are used. These
equitable and efficient use of inputs in the problems are being minimized through
country so that regional disparities in its use can consolidation of land holdings. However, in
be minimized. Another important factor many parts of the country it is still a big

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problem. For example, apart from hill states, organized six Regional Conferences to sensitize
Rajasthan and Bihar are two states in the all the States for the strategy that will lead to
northern plain where land consolidation is yet to doubling the income of farmers by 2022.
be implemented
Types of Cropping System
Agriculture plays a vital role in India’s There are three types of cropping system
economy followed in India which is below:
Agriculture plays a vital role in India’s 1. Mono-Cropping or Monoculture: In this
economy. 54.6% of the population is engaged in system, only one crop is grown on farm land
agriculture and allied activities (census 2011) year after year.
and it contributes 17% to the country’s Gross 2. Multiple-Cropping: In this system, farmers
Value Added (current price 2015-16, 2011-12 grow two or more crops on farm land in one
series). Given the importance of agriculture calendar year with intensive input management
sector, Government of India took several steps practices. It includes inter-cropping, mixed-
for its sustainable development. Steps have been cropping and sequence cropping.
taken to improve soil fertility on a sustainable 3. Inter-cropping: In this system, farmers grow
basis through the soil health card scheme, to two or more crops simultaneously on the same
provide improved access to irrigation and field in one calendar year.
enhanced water efficiency through Pradhan The Indian agricultural practices are still
Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), to lacking by intensive planning because India has
support organic farming through Paramparagat diversified agro-climatic zone, which is
Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and to support for unfortunately not giving sufficient production.
creation of a unified national agriculture market If our farming system relied on modern
to boost the income of farmers. Further, to cropping pattern and cropping system, then we
mitigate risk in agriculture sector a new scheme have a predominance of food grain crops, our
“Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) farming will also inclined towards commercial
has been launched for implementation from crops and most importantly it will noticeable
Kharif 2016. increase in the production of individual crops

To achieve the target of doubling of income Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
of farmers by 2022, (PMKSY):
As announced during presentation of The scheme has been approved with an
Budget, 2016-17, a Committee has been outlay of Rs. 50,000 crore for a period of 5
constituted under the Chairmanship of years (2015-16 to 2019-20). The major
Additional Secretary, Department of objective of PMKSY is to achieve convergence
Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare of investments in irrigation at the field level,
to examine the various issues involved. All the expand cultivable area under assured irrigation,
State Governments have been requested to hold improve on-farm water use efficiency to reduce
across-the– board deliberations and prepare wastage of water, enhance the adoption of
strategy for the states that will lead to doubling precision irrigation and other water saving
the income of the farmers. NABARD has also technologies (More crop per drop), promote

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sustainable water conservation practices etc. 5. Ramakrishna, Y.S., Rao, G.G.S.N., Rao, S.G.
Cabinet decision has been made in July, 2016 and Vijayakumar, P. 2006. Impact of climate
for implementation of PMKSY on mission change in Agriculture. In: Environment and
Agriculture (eds. Chadha, K.L. and
mode approach. The mission is administered by
Swaminathan, M.S.). Malhotra Publishing House,
Ministry of Water Resources, River New Delhi, pp. 1-30
Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. 6. Samra, J.S., Singh, G and Ramakrishna, Y.S.
2004. Cold wave during 2002-03 over North
Conclusion India and its effect on crops. The Hindu dated
The outcome of the study would derive 10th January, 2004. p. 6
the inferences from the perspective of the 7. Vandana tyagi “Indian Agriculture: Challenges
for Growth & development in present scenario”
farmers. So, it would be helpful to the policy
Volume 2, Issue 5, IJPSS. 2012.
makers to conceive the policies more inclusive
in the selected domain. In addition, grass root
level challenges, constraints and probable
alternatives of the cultivators would tend to be
more effective in addressing the constraints in
implications of crop diversification. It also
enables the crops diversification process more
effective and lucrative to the farmers engaged in
the area. Further, these findings would replicate
the rest of the areas of Tamil Nadu as well so
any policy implications developed on the basis
of the outcome would be fruitful and more
effective

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