HIGHLIGHTS:
- Telangana is the first state in the country to use an index to track crop
- Telangana grows 77 different crop varieties, according to the crop diversification index.
- Only about ten crops (mainly grains) are favoured for diversity among 77 crops
Telangana is the first state in the country to use an index to track agricultural diversification tendencies.
About the crop diversification index
The base value of the crop diversification index is one, which represents the percentage of total farmed land devoted to a single crop. When the index value is greater, it means the crops are more diverse.
The current crop diversity index is based on the area under 77 various crops farmed in the state, including all food, non-food, cash crops, and floriculture.
Many districts in Telangana have index scores ranging from 0 to 5. The crop diversification index will act as a benchmark for the state’s future crop diversification efforts.
Observations
- Telangana grows 77 different crop varieties, according to the crop diversification index.
- Only about ten crops (mainly grains) are favoured for diversity among 77 crops.
- Nirmal, Vikarabad, and Sangareddy are the top three districts in terms of agricultural diversification.
- In terms of agricultural diversification, Peddapalli, Karimnagar, and Suryapet are the worst three districts. The maize cropping area has fallen dramatically in certain regions where paddy is largely cultivated, whereas the cotton cropping area has expanded.
- Telangana’s most popular crops are paddy, maize, and legume Wheat, jowar, bajra, chilies, etc. are other high-priority crops for farmers in the state
- The present crop diversification index result indicates that crop diversity is more important in Telangana in order to achieve sustainable development.
