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Haryana, is an agrarian State of India and most parts of Haryana are suited for farming. After Punjab, Green Revolution has been dominating here and this technology by encouraging wheat-rice specialization resulted into environment and natural resources degradation and emphasized upon crop diversification. Moreover the globalization and liberalization policy of early nineties that raised price and demands for diverse crops also encouraged crop diversification. Presently crop diversification has become the most pragmatic approach for raising agricultural productivity, farmer’s income, employment and agricultural development. Though, crop diversification is controlled by the geographical and climatic conditions, social and cultural conditions of the farmers, but in Haryana, the development of irrigation, markets, infrastructure, implements, fertilizers, research institutions, HYV seeds, minimum support price, degrading water and soil quality, globalization and liberalization were the dominating factors to influence crop diversification. Henceforth it has a multi-dimensional approach and to understand the various determinants, the study of crop diversification at regional level is highly useful.

On the basis of research gaps and inferences found in the reviewed literature, following objectives have been formulated: 1. To examine the levels of crop diversification at district level in Haryana during the three time frames. 2. To study the spatial patterns of crop diversification at micro regional level. 3. To identify the various determinants and drivers of crop diversification in Haryana.

By using both primary and secondary data for 2005-15 Kumar (2018) in Rohtak district of Haryana state found that pipeline irrigation has highly influenced crop combination, cropping patterns and crop diversification and led to commercialized and specialized cropping pattern. Bansal and et.al. (2020) in Rewari and Sonepat district of Haryana analyzed influencing factors and various constraints: socio-economic and technological to crop diversification by using both primary and secondary data from 2006 to 2017. They found that education, age, size of land holdings, market facilities and technical knowledge were the major influencing and constraints for crop diversification. Neogi and Kumar (2022) crop diversification by promoting food security leads to agricultural development. By using the Shannon-Wiener diversification index at regional level in India found that there is a great increase for cash crops and cropping pattern is highly influenced by varying agro-climatic and socio-economic conditions of the regions. Duhan and Soni (2022) has visualized the cropping pattern of Haryana since 1966 and by using Simpson Index found that there was a trend towards specialization and at present farmers are moving towards crops diversification with the influence of horticultural crops. For Dalal and Shankar (2022) “Crop diversification is basically a shift from low profitable cropping system to high profitable cropping system”. However there are various constraints for crop diversification but it is an important component for raising quantity and quality of production and hence income too.

The spatial pattern of crop diversification in 1966-67, 1982-83 and 2011-12 can be visualized from Table 1.1 and Map 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3. Because of the traditional farming system in 1966-67 Haryana had a diversified cropping pattern but with the passage of time agriculture got developed and resulted into specialized cropping pattern in 1982-83 and highest specialization in 2011-12 thus, negatively impacting the agricultural system of the state. Henceforth state government gave due concern to crop diversification.

Table 1.1: Crop Diversification Index (HHI) in Haryana.

S. No.	Districts	1966-67	1982-83	2011-12
1	Ambala	0.251	0.935	0.933
2	Panchkula	0.251	0.936	0.959
3	Yamuna Nagar	0.250	0.925	0.923
4	Kurukshetra	0.108	0.864	0.947
5	Kaithal	0.204	0.830	0.659
6	Karnal	0.190	0.925	0.862
7	Panipat	0.198	0.923	0.905
8	Sonepat	0.141	0.916	0.931
9	Rohtak	0.192	0.614	0.794
10	Jhajjar	0.182	0.552	0.685
11	Faridabad	0.159	0.819	0.975
12	Gurgaon	0.184	0.769	0.809
13	Rewari	0.190	0.609	0.883
14	Mahendragarh	0.275	0.636	0.814
15	Bhiwani	0.271	0.371	0.361
16	Jind	0.205	0.606	0.434
17	Hisar	0.190	0.711	0.606
18	Fatehabad	0.191	0.705	0.721
19	Sirsa	0.198	0.446	0.797
20	Mewat	0.181	0.780	0.876
21	Palwal	0.273	0.827	0.955
	State	0.173	0.322	0.845

Source: Statistical Abstract, Haryana (1966-67, 1982-83 and 2011-12).

Map 1.1

Map 1.2

Map 1.3

Many scholars from diverse disciplines, throughout the world, have defined crop diversification differently and also developed various methods and technique to measure crop diversification, which have their own benefits and limitations. Initially the concept of crop diversification was used by industries; it was with the efforts of Bhatia that it got recognition in geography. Besides, Index of maximum proportions, Modified Entropy Index, Simpson Index, Composite Entropy Index, Entropy Index, Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), Bhatia and Singh’s crop diversification index, Gibbs and Martin index, etc. are the various other methods developed over time to measure crop diversification. For the present study data has been collected at district level from ‘Statistical Abstract, Haryana’ of the concerned years. The study has been conducted in three-time frameworks; 1966-67; the year of launch of Green Revolution and formation of Haryana, 1982-83; the year when Green Revolution got fully operationalized in all the districts of the state and final land reforms enactment took place and 2011-12. The present study has utilized Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) as a tool of measurement of crop diversity in Haryana. It is calculated by summing up the squares of crop’s share as follow: HHI=∑_(i=1)^n▒S_i^2 Where ‘CPi’is the share of crops in the‘t’ year and ‘n’ is the number of crops. The resultant scores ranges from 0.00 to 1.0 scale or 0 to 10,000 points. The lowest score i.e.; 0, denotes the crop diversification and the maximum score i.e.; 1, denotes the monopoly or specialization (dominance of single crop). However, after the initiatives of ‘The United States Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission’ (Department of Justice, 2015) in 2015, this method got popularized. However to avoid lubrications, modifications have been incorporated in the guidelines given by the department for the categorization of HHI scale range: i. HHI score below 0.01 or 100 points denoted highly competitive index ii. HHI score between 0.01 to 0.15 or 100 to 1500 points indicated diversified index iii. HHI score between 0.15 to 0.25 or 1500 to 2500 points indicatedmoderatelydiversified index iv. HHI score between 0.25 to 0.45 or 2500 to 4500 points indicatedlow diversified index v. HHI score between 0.45 to 0.65 or 4500 to 6500 points indicatedlow concentrated/specialization index vi. HHI score between 0.65 to 0.85 or 6500 to 8500 points indicatedmoderately concentrated/specialization index vii. HHI score between 0.85 to 1 or 8500 to 10,000 points indicated highly concentrated/specialization index (monopoly)

1.1 High Competitive Index (Below 0.01)

The areas below 0.01 were having high competition for spatial expansion of the crops, indicating the agriculturally backwardness of these areas and lower level of agricultural development. During the study period (1966-67, 1982-83 and 2011-12) none of the districts registered index value below 0.01.

1.2 Diversified index (between 0.01 to 0.15)

These areas displayed higher level of crop diversification. In 1966-67, Sonepat (economic factors; nearness to Delhi) and Kurukshetra (physical factors; fertile soil) were part of this category. Food-grains were dominating here followed by gram, ragi, bajra, jowar, fodder, millets, rice, wheat, sugarcane, fruits and vegetables. Due to less developed irrigation farmers were growing various crops to earn and to fulfill their family demands. However, during 1982-83 and 2011-12, none of the districts recorded index value between 0.01 to 0.15.

1.3 Moderately Diversified Index (between 0.15 to 0.25)

In 1966-67,districts like Mewat, Faridabad, Jhajjar, Gurgaon, Hisar, Sirsa, Karnal, Panipat, Fatehabad, Jind, Kaithal, Rohtak and Rewari hadmoderatelydiversified index and were indicating a trend towards specialization as these were also moderatelyconcentrated districts. Here the agro-climatic conditions were influencing the cropping pattern and crops like bajra, rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, and pulses were chiefly grown. Here again due to expansion of Green Revolution technology not even a single district showed moderately diversified index values during 1982-83 and 2011-12.

1.4 Low Diversified Index (from 0.25 to 0.45)

In 1966-67, Ambala, Yamuna Nagar, Palwal, Bhiwani, Mahendragarh and Panchkula comprised of this category. The hilly terrain and dry climatic conditions (Bhiwani, Palwal and Mahendragarh) of these districts promoted crop diversification here. Crops such as Bajra, wheat, pulses, fruits and vegetables were giving competition to sugarcane, rice, cotton and oilseeds.

In 1982-83 Sirsa and Bhiwani, and in 2011-12 Jind and Bhiwani had low diversified index. Earlier pulses, oilseeds and coarse grains were prominent but later, cotton, rice and oilseeds dominated the cropping pattern because of the improved marketing facilities governed by the globalization and liberalization policy of the government.

1.5 Low Specialization Index (from 0.45 to 0.65)

Areas in this category show the lowest level of specialization but with suitable measures these can move into diversified regions. None of the districts in 1966-67 showed specialization, as explained above. However, during 1982-83, five districts namely Jhajjar ,Jind ,Rewari ,Rohtak and Mahendragarh respectively, had  low specialization level. In 2011-12, there was only one district; Hisar to register lowest specialization level. Major competing crops in these areas were rice, oilseeds, cotton, sugarcane, jowar and maize. Cash crops and water intensive crops were dominating the agricultural landscape of the state during 2011-12.

Although Green Revolution led to the development of irrigation, infrastructure, agricultural machinery, chemicals; insecticides and pesticides, fertilizers, HYV seeds and many others to increase yield among the districts of the state and resulted in monopoly of certain crops (wheat, rice, cotton and sugarcane), but still it could not compete with the dry agro-climatic conditions of the districts like Jhajjar, Jind, Rewari, Rohtak, Mahendragarh and Hisar. Earlier in 1966-67 these areas were diversified, but now the rising specialization will put a strain on the agricultural resources and agricultural development process and will lead to environmental degradation as well.

1.6 Moderate Specialization Index (From 0.65 to 0.85)

No district in 1966-67 had moderate specialization index.

During 1982-83, the competition from food grains and cash crops drastically lowered the acreage of coarse grains and of others crops in Gurgaon, Hisar, Mewat, Fatehabad, Palwal, Kaithal and Faridabad and registered moderate specialization index. The sandy soil, undeveloped irrigation and agro-climatic conditions were responsible factors. But with government emphasis in 2011-12, spatial growth was registered by bajra, rice and fruits and vegetables’ cultivation.

In 2011-12; Kaithal, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Jhajjar, Gurgaon, Mahendragarh and Rohtak registered moderate specialization index scores. In these districts the cropping pattern was highly influenced by the location factor; nearness to New Delhi, and henceforth only those crops were grown which could suppress the demand (fruits and vegetables) and which (wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane and few pulses) could gain more profit from the nearby markets.

1.7 High Specialization Index (From 0.85 To 1)

During 1966-67, none of the district’s of Haryana belongedto thiscategory.

In 1982-83, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat, Yamuna Nagar, Panchkula and Sonepat, whereas in 2011-12, Rewari, Panipat, Mewat, Karnal, Yamuna Nagar, Faridabad, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Palwal, Sonepat and Panchkula displayed High specialization index.

The factors such as huge demands, rising crops’ price and developed agricultural base encouraged farmers to overcome the terrain difficulties in North-Eastern parts. In the Northern parts, the technological advancements, developed irrigation, fertile soil, globalization and liberalization policies and location played a key role in achieving, high specialization level.

The prevailing socio-economic, geo-climatic and technological factors determines the level of crop diversification. By generating employment, natural resources sustainability and output growth, the crop diversification in any region led to agricultural development. The study revealed that in 1966-67 in Haryana higher level of crop diversification was under the influence of traditional farming methods, physical factors and technological backwardness, whereas in 1982-83 and 2011-12, economic factors along with developed irrigation, infrastructure and technology shifted the diversed cropping pattern towards specialization and commercialization. Though, Green Revolution has raised the land and labour productivity but it has also created socio-economic and environmental problems. Hence it can be envisaged that higher the usage of developed technology lower the level of crop diversification. As a result of this presently in Haryana, crop diversification is taking place in the form of acreage extension of horticultural and commercial crops because of the liberalization policy. Over the agricultural landscape of Haryana, jowar, ragi, millets and fodder had lost their spatial extension completely. But with the introduction of HYV seeds of bajra and maize these crops portrayed acreage expansion. From the present study it can be propounded that crop diversification takes place in two conditions. Firstly, when the agriculture is of subsistence nature and secondly when there is higher specialization. Moreover from the HHI it can also be concluded that crop diversification signifies the lower level of agricultural development; in 1966-67 there wasmoderate to high diversification but lower level of agricultural development and in 1982-83 and 2011-12 moderate to high specialization and higher level of agricultural development. By understanding crop diversification as the need of the hour, Indian Government in 2011-12 launched ‘Crop Diversification in Original Green Revolution States’ in Haryana along with Punjab and Utter Pradesh and sanctioned funds for the encouragement of crop diversification. “Haryana has plans to divert 60,000 hectares of area under paddy to other crops including guar (16,800 hectares), maize (9,250 hectares), poplar (25,000 hectares) and short term rice (3,000 hectares) in the ongoing kharif season. Haryana government will be providing subsidy to the tune of up to Rs 10,000 per hectare through these funds to farmers on seeds and insecticides for opting for alternative crops” (One India, 2013, p.1). Moreover TMO, NHM, MSP, ISOPOM, TMC, HAFED, agricultural banks and many others also helped in diversifying the agriculture of Haryana. Therefore, for sustainable agricultural development: for enhancing agricultural productivity and managing natural resource crop diversification bags utmost importance.

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