Agricultural development has been a significant issue in developing economies such as India, where a large population relies on agriculture. Despite technological progress and government efforts, problems such as low productivity, seasonal unemployment, poverty and environmental stress continue. Agricultural diversification has become a key ploy in sustainable rural development. The main task of this book is to examine how agricultural diversification could lead to the sustainability of economic, social and environmental conditions in rural communities. The results of this book indicate that agricultural diversification has been very important in changing the rural economy of Paschim Medinipur. Increment in commercial crop farming, intensification of livestock farming and the development of horticulture have provided new income-generating activities to rural households. Simultaneously, the study examines several issues such as the lack of equal access to irrigation, uncertainties in the market and technological limitations of small and marginal farmers. The book has been concluded by providing policy suggestions to enhance sustainable rural development in the area. These are the encouragement of crop diversification, development of irrigation facilities, the enhancement of rural markets, farmer cooperatives and agro-based industries. This can help decrease the poverty of rural areas, maximise farm income and further make the agricultural sector sustainable.
Contents –
1. Introduction
1.1 Concept of Agricultural Diversification
1.2 Gross Value Added of Agriculture and Allied Sector in India
1.3 Growth in Gross Value Added (GVA) of Agriculture and Allied Sectors in India
1.4 Factors Responsible for Agricultural Diversification
1.4.1 Supply-Side Factors Influencing Agricultural Diversification
1.4.2 Demand-Side Factors Influencing Agricultural Diversification
1.5 Importance of Agricultural Diversification in West Bengal
1.6 Sustainable Rural Development
1.7 Livestock and Fishery in West Bengal and Paschim Medinipur District
1.8 Concept of Crop-Diversification
1.9 Advantages of Crop-Diversification
1.10 Crop Diversification in India Including West Bengal
1.11 Factors Influencing Cropping Pattern and Crop-Diversification
1.12 Rural Development in India and West Bengal
1.13 Some Research Questions
1.14 Objectives
1.15 Hypotheses
1.16 Database and Methodology
1.17 Chapterisation Plan
2. Review of Literature
2.1 Concept of Agricultural Diversification
2.2 Types of Agricultural Diversification
2.3 Sustainable Rural Development in India and West Bengal
2.4 Factors and Forces of Agricultural Diversification
2.5 Agricultural Diversification in West Bengal: Significance and Implications
2.6 Changing Cropping Pattern and Crop-Diversification in India
2.6.1 National Level and Common Issue-related Study
2.6.2 State Level Study
2.6.3 District Level Study
2.6.4 Block Level and Village Level Studies
2.7 Factors Influencing the Changing Cropping Pattern or Crop-Diversification
2.8 Role of Government to Changing Cropping Pattern or Crop-Diversification
2.9 Impacts on Sustainable Rural Development
2.10 Barriers and Constraints to Agricultural Diversification
2.11 Policy Context and Regional Disparities
2.12 Livestock Diversification in West Bengal and India
2.13 Literary Lapses of the Existing Literature
3. District-Level Comparative Analysis in West Bengal
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Brief Profile of the Districts of West Bengal
3.3 Agro-Climatic Zones of West Bengal
3.4 Trends and Patterns of Agricultural Diversification in Districts of West Bengal
3.4.1 Changing Cropping Pattern in Districts of West Bengal During 2000-01 to 2013-14
3.4.2 Percentage of Area under Non-Foodgrains in the Districts of West Bengal in 2000-01 to 2013-14
3.5 Changes in Area under Fruits and Vegetables in Districts of West Bengal, 2000-01 to 2022-23
3.6 Crop Diversification Index in Districts of West Bengal
3.7 District-Wise Productivity of Foodgrains, 1990-91 to 2014-15
3.8 District-Wise productivity (Yield per Hectare) of vegetables and fruits
3.9 Livestock Diversification in Districts of West Bengal
3.9.1 District-wise Trends in Cattle Population Share
3.9.2 Local Trends in Buffalo Population Share by District
3.9.3 District-wise Percentage Share of Goat, Pig and Sheep in Total Livestock Population
3.9.4 Livestock Diversification and Rural Development Implications
3.10 District-Wise Milk Production and Growth (1990-91 to 2019-20)
3.11 District-wise Egg Producers and Gainers (1990-91 to 2019-20)
3.12 District-Wise Fish Production and Growth
3.13 Factors Influencing Crop Diversification
3.14 Agricultural Diversification and Sustainable Rural Development
3.14.1 Economic Sustainability (Income Stability) in Districts of WB
3.14.2 Social Sustainability in Districts of WB
3.14.3 Correlation between Percentage of Non-Foodgrains Area and Agricultural Income
3.14.4 Environmental Sustainability in the Districts of West Bengal
3.15 Pattern of Rainfall in West Bengal in Districts (1996-2005 and 2006-2015)
3.16 Summing Up
4. Agricultural Diversification in Paschim Medinipur District
4.1 District Profile
4.2 Trends and Patterns of Agricultural Diversification in Paschim Medinipur District
4.2.1 Changing Cropping Pattern of Paschim Medinipur District
4.2.2 Changes in Area under Fruits and Vegetables
4.2.3 Fruits Production and Growth in Paschim Medinipur
4.2.4 Growth of Vegetable Production
4.2.5 Foodgrains and Oilseed Productivity
4.3 Livestock Diversification in Paschim Medinipur District
4.3.1 Trends in Cattle, Buffaloes, Goats, Pigs, and Sheep Population Share
4.3.2 Poultry Population
4.4 Production of Livestock (Milk, Egg and Meat)
4.5 Factors Affecting Crop Diversification
4.6 Agricultural Diversification and Sustainable Rural Development in Paschim Medinipur
4.6.1 Economic Sustainability in Paschim Medinipur District
4.6.2 Social Sustainability in Paschim Medinipur District
4.6.3 Environmental Sustainability in Favour of Agricultural Activities in Paschim Medinipur
4.7 Summing Up
5. Block-Level Comparative Analysis
5.1 Demographic Profile of Blocks
5.2 Agro-Climatic Zones
5.2.1 Laterite Zone or Laterite Soil
5.2.2 Clay Loam Soil
5.3 Changing Cropping Pattern Across Blocks of Paschim Medinipur District, 1995-96 to 2012-13
5.4 Non-foodgrains in Blocks of Paschim Medinipur
5.5 Crop Diversification Index in Blocks
5.6 Livestock Population in Blocks of Paschim Medinipur District
5.7 Factors Influencing Dairy Farming in Blocks of Paschim Medinipur
5.8 Factors Influencing Changing Cropping Pattern in Blocks of Paschim Medinipur
5.9 Impact of Crop-Diversification Index on Sustainable Rural Development in blocks
5.10 Summing Up
6. Micro-Level Analysis
6.1 Profile of Sample Villages
6.2 Land Holding Size
6.3 Pattern of Cropping in Sample Villages
6.4 Changing Cropping Pattern by Farm Size in Sample Households
6.5 Modification of Cropping Pattern by Age of Head of Household.
6.6 Vegetables Productivity (Yield Kg/Ha) by Sample Villages 2020-21
6.7 Diversification of Livestock in Sample Villages
6.8 Milk Production in 16 Sample Villages in Six Months 2020-21
6.9 Egg, Fish and Meat Production by Sample Villages 2020-21
6.10 Crop Diversification
6.11 Factors of Crop-Diversification or Changing Cropping Pattern
6.11.1 Fertilisers Consumption
6.11.2 Irrigation
6.11.3 The Empirical Results: Probit Estimates
6.12 Estimated Cost and Returns per Acre in Paddy and Potato Cultivation by Farm Size
6.13 Estimated Cost and Returns per Acre in Til and Cauliflower Cultivation
6.14 Estimated Cost and Returns per Acre in Mustard and Pulses (MUG) Cultivation
6.15 Estimated Cost of Production and Net Returns of Vegetables per Unit of Labour by Farm Size
6.16 Impact of Crop-Diversification on Economic Development
6.17 Agricultural Diversification to achieve Sustainable Rural Development
6.17.1 Economic Sustainability through Agricultural Diversification
6.17.1.1 Per-Capita Farm-Income and Non-farm Income in Sample Villages
6.17.1.2 Employment Generated in Production of Different Crops
6.17.1.3 Employment by Farm Size
6.18 Social Sustainability in Sample Villages:
Food Security and Living Standards
6.18.1.1 Food Security in Sample Villages
6.18.2 Living Standards and Income Security
6.19 Summing Up
7. Conclusion
7.1 Conclusions
7.2 Policy Recommendations
7.3 Limitations of the Study
7.4 Suggestions for Further Study
Bibliography