Author(s): T. N. ROY

Abstract: This study analyses the extent of crop diversification or change of cropping pattern for transformation of agriculture towards allied sectors with a unique set of secondary data available from Govt. and other sources w.e.f. 2007 to 2012 in Coochbehar district of West Bengal. Estimates of linear growth analysis show that there is a tendency of shifting areas towards high value crops/enterprises, but cropping pattern is still skewed towards cereal crops. Barring livestock, agriculture and allied sectors have a very negligible progress. Higher value of Simpson’s Diversification Index (greater than 0.5) show higher level of crop diversification but it also re-establishes dominance of small and marginal farmers. Improvement in infrastructural facilities and inputs uses (irrigation, road, fertilizer consumption, cold storage, electricity, credit, etc.) are also lacking. Agro-based units show a declining trend in terms of number due to lack of infrastructural and marketing facilities, thus, opportunity for absorption of labor could not be exploited and is reflected in high level of migration (15-20%). Only 4.25 per cent of area is under agricultural allied sectors. Only paddy processing unit is the dominant figure among the agro-based units. Besides, non-cereal sectors have not occupied a reasonable place in the agrarian system which is seemed to be largely responsible for low intensity of agricultural transformation. This may happens due to several technical, commercial and socio-economic reasons which call for further study.

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