Imbalance in Cropping Patterns in India

In India, there is an existing imbalance in the cropping pattern of the food grains because a large proportion of the area under food grains is occupied by rice and wheat. Further, there is a gradual shift from non-food grains to food grains.

Reasons of imbalance in Crop Pattern

• Prices of food grains have been rising quite fast and the farmers have started growing food crops in the similar way they grow commercial crops like cotton, oil seed crops sugarcane etc.
• Cultivation of food grains has become highly remunerative and productive under the influence of new technology.
• Traditionally, the Minimum Support Prices for wheat and rice have been maintained reasonably high. This has helped the farmers to increase their production.
• There has been a change in the consumption pattern and people have moved from coarse cereals to wheat and rice for their main dietary grain. This is because of the increase in the income of the people and coarse cereals being the inferior goods.
• The strategic objectives of agricultural development in India have been changing over time.
  • In 1960s, it was to maintain the prices of food grains at low level. The government significantly supported the growth of wheat and rice cultivation via its policy intervention, procurement and technology.
  • In 1960s to 1980s, it was to maximize food production.
  • In 1980s to 1990s, it was to go for a demand driven production pattern.
  • Since 1990s, it was to reduce inputs of agricultural commodities.