Crop Diversification and Varieties in Agriculture
- Crop Diversification – Concept
Definition: Crop diversification is the practice of growing a variety of crops over time or space on the same farm to optimize resource use, reduce risk, and improve income and nutritional security.
Objectives:
- Reduce dependence on a single crop.
- Mitigate risks due to drought, pests, diseases, or market fluctuations.
- Improve soil fertility and resource use efficiency.
- Enhance farm income and employment.
- Promote nutritional security by including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables.
Types of Crop Diversification
|
Type |
Description & Example |
|
Temporal Diversification |
Growing different crops in sequence over seasons (e.g., Rabi wheat after Kharif rice) |
|
Spatial Diversification |
Growing multiple crops in the same field at the same time (intercropping) |
|
Structural Diversification |
Integrating non-crop enterprises (horticulture, livestock, aquaculture) |
|
Mixed Cropping |
Growing two or more crops simultaneously in the same field (e.g., Maize + Cowpea) |
|
Agroforestry |
Growing trees with crops/livestock for multiple outputs (e.g., Teak + Pulses) |
Fact: Crop diversification improves farm resilience under dryland/rainfed conditions.
Importance of Crop Diversification
- Reduces yield variability in rainfed/dryland agriculture.
- Enhances soil fertility through rotation of legumes and cereals.
- Reduces pest and disease incidence by breaking pest cycles.
- Improves income stability through high-value crops like vegetables, spices, or oilseeds.
- Supports sustainable agriculture and resource use efficiency.
Fact: Areas practicing crop diversification in India show 10–30% higher farm income compared to monocropping systems.
Varieties – Concept
Definition: A variety is a plant population that is genetically distinct, uniform, and stable in its characteristics, which can be reproduced through seeds.
Types of Varieties:
|
Type |
Description & Example |
|
Traditional / Local |
Landraces maintained by farmers over generations (e.g., Ragi local varieties) |
|
High-Yielding Varieties (HYVs) |
Developed through breeding for yield, disease resistance (e.g., Wheat HD 2967, Pearl Millet HHB 67) |
|
Drought-Tolerant Varieties |
Varieties adapted to low rainfall areas (e.g., Sorghum CSV 15, Chickpea JG 11) |
|
Short-Duration Varieties |
Complete growth in short LGS; suitable for contingency cropping (e.g., Maize HQPM 1) |
|
Hybrid Varieties |
Crossbred for heterosis and higher yield (e.g., Maize DHM 117) |
Importance of Varieties in Dryland Agriculture
- Drought tolerance: Ensures crop survival in water-scarce conditions.
- Early maturity: Fits the short Length of Growing Season (LGS).
- Pest & disease resistance: Reduces losses in erratic climatic conditions.
- Yield stability: Ensures minimum production in risky environments.
Fact:
- Dryland crops like millets, sorghum, and pulses have been improved for drought tolerance, disease resistance, and early maturity by ICAR-CRIDA and AICRPDA programs.
- Short-duration pulses (Chickpea JG 11, Pigeon pea ICP 8863) are recommended for semi-arid tropics.
Crop Diversification & Varieties – Example for Semi-Arid Region (Dryland Agriculture)
|
Agro-Climatic Zone |
Main Crops |
Diversification |
Suitable Varieties / Hybrids |
|
Arid (<500 mm) |
Bajra, Moth bean, Guar |
Pulses + Oilseeds |
Bajra HHB 67, Guar HG 563 |
|
Semi-Arid (500–750 mm) |
Sorghum, Chickpea, Sunflower |
Intercropping / Sequential |
Sorghum CSV 15, Chickpea JG 11, Sunflower Morden |
|
Sub-Humid (750–1150 mm) |
Maize, Soybean, Groundnut |
Mixed cropping / Rotation |
Maize HQPM 1, Soybean JS 335, Groundnut JL 24 |
Quick Facts
- Crop diversification + improved varieties = main strategy for risk reduction in drylands.
- Millets, pulses, oilseeds form the backbone of dryland crop portfolios.
- ICAR-CRIDA develops drought-tolerant, short-duration, and high-yielding varieties for semi-arid tropics.
- Crop diversification improves soil fertility, pest management, yield stability, and income security.
