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Diversification in South Asian Agriculture: Trends and constraints

Author

Listed:
  • Kinlay Dorjee
  • Sumiter Broca
  • Prabhu Pingali

    (Agricultural and Development Economics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization)

Abstract

This paper provides an assessment of the agricultural diversification trends in South Asia. In the first part food consumption and crop production patterns in the region during the last twenty years are reviewed. Next, the agronomic and economic options for and constraints to diversification in the main agricultural systems are discussed based on a framework for assessing the flexibility of ricelands and rice farmers to respond to the commercialisation trends through seasonal or permanent diversification out of various farming systems. The principal contribution of this paper is to draw attention to some neglected aspects of diversification, especially the biophysical and economic constraints to the process in different farming systems. The flexibility of farmers in responding to diversification opportunities is constrained by the size of markets and price risks, soil suitability and land rights, the availability and quality of irrigation infrastructure, and the availability and cost of labour. Long term strategies to facilitate a smooth transition to commercialisation are recommended.

Suggested Citation

  • Kinlay Dorjee & Sumiter Broca & Prabhu Pingali, 2003. "Diversification in South Asian Agriculture: Trends and constraints," Working Papers 03-15, Agricultural and Development Economics Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO - ESA).
    • Handle: RePEc:fao:wpaper:0315
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    File URL: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/007/ae048e/ae048e00.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    3. Pingali, Prabhu L. & Rosegrant, Mark W., 1995. "Agricultural commercialization and diversification: processes and policies," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 171-185, June.
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    5. Rosegrant, Mark W. & Binswanger, Hans P., 1994. "Markets in tradable water rights: Potential for efficiency gains in developing country water resource allocation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 22(11), pages 1613-1625, November.
    6. Rosegrant, Mark W. & Schleyer, Renato Gazmuri & Yadav, Satya N., 1995. "Water policy for efficient agricultural diversification: market-based approaches," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 203-223, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mwangi, Edina Metili & Yu, Bingxin, 2015. "Agricultural diversification and Land use patterns in Southeast Asia," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 211864, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    2. Lighton Dube & Revaux Numbwa & Emmanuel Guveya, 2016. "Determinants of crop diversification amongst agricultural co-operators in Dundwa agricultural camp, Choma district, Zambia," Asian Journal of Agriculture and rural Development, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 6(1), pages 1-13, January.
    3. Amine, Benmehaia Mohamed & Fatima, Brabez, 2016. "Determinants Of On-Farm Diversification Among Rural Households: Empirical Evidence From Northern Algeria," International Journal of Food and Agricultural Economics (IJFAEC), Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Department of Economics and Finance, vol. 4(2), pages 1-13, April.
    4. Suvayan Neogi & Bidyut Kumar Ghosh, 2022. "Evaluation of Crop Diversification on Indian Farming Practices: A Panel Regression Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    5. Sharma, H.R., 2011. "Crop Diversification in Himachal Pradesh: Patterns, Determinants and Challenges," Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, vol. 66(1), pages 1-18.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agricultural development; Constraints; Cultural methods; Diversification; Farming systems; Marketing; Plant production; South Asia; Structural change; Trade cycles; Trends;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • Q10 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - General
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy

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