Trends in Cropping Patterns in India
The trends in cropping patterns in India can be analyzed through various angles and perspectives. The foremost among them is to examine these trends in context with the food and non-food crops. By food crops, we refer to the crops that are cultivated for human and animal consumption. There are two major categories of the food crops viz. Foodgrains (cereals, coarse cereals and pulses) and horticulture (fruits and vegetables). Non-food crops include cash crops such as sugarcane, tobacco; plantation crops such as tea or coffee; oilseeds such as mustard, groundnut, palm oil etc.
Following are important observations on food and non-food cropping patterns, for your examinations:
Historical Trends
In the first few decades of 20th century, Non-food crops were very popular
At the dawn of 20th century, around 85% of cultivable land in India was under Food crops while remaining 15% was under non-food crops. The period between 1901 to 1947 is marked by a constant fall in area under food crops and constant rise of area under non-food crops, except few World War-2 years. The cropping pattern across the country tilted towards non-food crops and to some extent, this was also a reason behind famines in the first half of 20th century in India.
How this happened despite the fact that at that time, Indian economy was shattered and most farmers were poor? The basic reason was that this was a period of low population growth and the higher prices of the non-food grain crops i.e. cash crops attracted the farmers. Thus, during this period, a change from subsistence cropping to commercial cropping happened in India. But this trend reversed in 1940s and continued till 1990s.
Green revolution tilted the cropping pattern towards food crops, particularly food grains
In the decade of 1940s, the above mentioned trend reversed mainly because of two reasons. First, there was an immediate requirement of food due to war, and second, the frequent famines forced the farmers to cultivate food crops for subsistence. This trend continued and share of area under food crops went to peak during green revolution years (1967 onwards). During and after green revolution, the cereals started to be grown as commercial crops. Thus, now the food non-food crop comparison became food grains versus non-food grains because now food grains were also cultivated for cash and not for subsistence. By 1970-71, the ratio of Foodgrains to non-Foodgrains reached to 74 : 26. In the coming decades, the share of food grains declined and in 2010-11, the ratio of food grains versus non-food grain crops became 66:34. This ratio stands around that figure currently.
Thus, from 1960s to early 2000s, growing cereals became highly remunerative. Wheat and rice became dominant crops in entire north and central India.
What were the implications of these trends? Firstly, commercial cultivation of Foodgrains made us self sufficient in food-grain production. Secondly, middle and large farmers became prosperous. Thirdly, the entire cropping landscape changed in many parts of India and non-food crops, particularly pulses and oil seeds suffered; this is one reason that we have huge import bill of edible oil. Fourthly, intensive cultivation of cereals again and again in some areas resulted in degradation of soil and depletion of ground water.
Recent trends
In recent times, the cultivators are getting attracted towards various kinds of alternative to cereals crops; and there is a slow but steady change undergoing in India. These are as follows:
- Since good inputs (seeds and know-how) are available, farmers are growing horticultural crops along with or as an alternative to food grains.
- Some water intensive Foodgrains (paddy) and cash crops (such as sugarcane) losing interest in favour of water efficient crops or pulses and oil seeds. These are not only water efficient but also climate resilient.
We note that government is also supporting crop diversification by providing various kinds of supports including MSP for oilseeds, pulses, support to food processing industry (for horticultural production) etc.
Conclusion
There was a time when learned experts used to opine that India’s farmers are tradition-ridden, illiterate and unwilling to make experiments; and India’s cropping pattern cannot change. The farmers of this country have proved them wrong by adopting and experimenting with new opportunities. The cropping pattern of the country has never remained unchanged and should never remain unchanged.
