Subject: Economy

The evolving landscape of Indian agriculture has witnessed significant transformations in cropping patterns, driven by changing consumption preferences and market dynamics.

Changes in Consumption Pattern

• Dietary Diversification: Rising incomes and urbanization have led to increased demand for high-value crops like fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich pulses, shifting away from traditional cereals.

• Urban-Rural Consumption Gap: According to NSSO data (2023-24), the rural-urban consumption gap has narrowed from 84% to 70%, indicating evolving rural consumption patterns.

• Non-Food Expenditure: The survey reveals higher spending on non-food items in both rural and urban areas, reflecting changing lifestyle preferences and consumption habits.

Market-Driven Changes in Cropping Pattern

• Commercial Orientation: Farmers are increasingly adopting market-responsive cropping decisions, moving towards:

  • Cash crops with higher market value.
  • Short-duration crops allowing multiple harvests.
  • Crops with export potential.

• Infrastructure Development: The Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) with ₹1 lakh crore allocation has sanctioned ₹52,738 crore for over 87,500 projects, enabling better:

  • Post-harvest management facilities.
  • Storage infrastructure.
  • Market linkages.

Marketing Reforms and Impact

• Model APMC Act 2017:

  • Enhanced market access through private markets.
  • Introduction of electronic trading platforms.
  • Greater competition among buyers.

• Market Integration: Development of:

  • e-NAM (electronic National Agriculture Market).
  • Direct farmer-consumer connections.
  • Contract farming opportunities.

Challenges and Way Forward

• Infrastructure Gaps:
  • APMC monopolies and high fees.
  • Limited storage facilities.
  • Transportation bottlenecks.

The transformation in India's cropping pattern reflects the dynamic interplay between evolving consumer preferences and market conditions. Success stories like Maharashtra's grape exports and Punjab's crop diversification demonstrate the potential for sustainable agricultural transformation through market-oriented cropping patterns.