





































Ecology, Economy and Society–the INSEE Journal 5 (1): 15-21 January 2022 

COMMENTARY 

Crop Diversification for Sustainable Agriculture 

Raj Paroda 

Abstract: In India, over the years, the new cropping systems have become 
predominant in view of their higher productivity as well as income for farmers. 
Examples are rice-wheat cropping system in the north, groundnut in Gujarat, 
sugarcane in the north, chickpea in southern states, arhar in the north-western 
states, soybean in Madhya Pradesh and adjoining states, and winter maize in Bihar. 
Unfortunately, most of these systems require diversification for greater 
sustainability and conservation of natural resources. Time is ripe now to bring in 
needed reforms in the existing cropping systems that are more scientifically based 
and more suited to varying agro-climatic conditions. The possibilities of future crop 
diversification that can increase farmers’ production as well as income and also 
ensure conservation agriculture through sustainable intensification are described in 
this commentary. There is a need for long term planning and development of 
various strategies for crop diversification in the best national interest.  

Crop diversification, defined as the introduction or addition of new crops 

to the existing farming system, can occur at the individual farm level or at 

larger scales. It involves the practice of cultivating more than one variety of 

crops belonging to the same or different species in a given area through 

rotations and/or intercropping. It can be one of the most ecologically 

feasible, cost-effective, and rational ways of reducing uncertainties in 

agriculture—especially among smallholder farmers (Joshi 2005). Crop 

diversification also increases resilience, is more agronomically stable, and 

ensures greater spatial and temporal biodiversity in farms (Holling 1973; 

Joshi 2005). The resilience is due to factors such as reduced weed and insect 

pressures, less reliance on nitrogen fertilizers (especially if the crop mix 

includes leguminous crops), reduced erosion (because of the inclusion of 

 
 Chairman, Trust For Advancement Of Agriculture, raj.paroda@gmail.com 

Copyright © Paroda 2022. Released under Creative Commons Attribution © 

NonCommercial 4.0 International licence (CC BY–NC 4.0) by the author.  

Published by Indian Society for Ecological Economics (INSEE), c/o Institute of Economic 

Growth, University Enclave, North Campus, Delhi 110007.  

ISSN: 2581–6152 (print); 2581–6101 (web).  

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37773/ees.v5i1.611 

  

mailto:raj.paroda@gmail.com
https://doi.org/10.37773/ees.v5i1.611


Ecology, Economy and Society–the INSEE Journal [16] 

 

cover crops), and increased soil fertility and yield per unit area (Lin 2011). 

Diversification can also enhance climate resilience (Economic Survey 2019–

20) and conservation of natural resources (soil, water, and biodiversity) by 

replacing more exploitative approaches and focusing production systems on 

regenerative agriculture.  

Traditionally, prior to the Green Revolution, agriculture was more 
diversified and sustainable when it came to crops and livestock, with silvi-
pastoral systems and agroforestry approaches working with animal-based 
farming systems (Paroda 2019). Scientific advancements and options for 
improved varieties and new crops led to a shift towards a few crops having 
the potential to yield more and provide a higher income. Such an approach 
eventually narrowed down dependence to just a few crops like wheat, rice, 
maize, sugarcane, etc. Returning to higher crop diversification could 
contribute to all three main principles of climate-smart agriculture (CSA): 
improving productivity and livelihood outcomes, increasing the resilience 
and sustainability of farming systems, and reducing carbon dioxide 
emissions. Additionally, crop diversification has a positive impact on 
climate change due to increased carbon sequestration. 

Crop diversification has helped attain more sustainable agriculture in other 
parts of the world. For example, the most sustainable cropping system 
accounts for 38% and 35% of maize and soybean production in the US, 
respectively, producing around 360.25 and 120.56 mt in 2020. Over 85% is 
produced in the north-central region known as the “Corn Belt”, where two-
year maize–soybean rotation is the dominant cropping system (Grassini et 
al. 2015). Israel, once the world’s leading fresh citrus producer and exporter, 
now grows more than 40 types of fruits including avocados, bananas, olives, 
apples, cherries, figs, plums, grapes, dates, strawberries, prickly pears, 
persimmons, loquats, and pomegranates. The fruit crops have eventually 
replaced wheat and cotton. Similarly, several varieties of dates were tried in 
Coachella valley in California, but ‘Deglet Noor’, an Algerian variety, 
became most popular, covering approximately 90% of the area under date 
cultivation in California today.  

In the Green Revolution era (1967–68 to 1977–78), the major focus was on 
cereals (mainly rice and wheat). Over the years since then, fortunately, our 
food basket has started to diversify again, although more progress still 
needs to happen. The pattern of cropping has shifted mainly to more 
profitable crops like pulses, oilseeds, cotton, sugarcane, vegetables, fruits, 
and spices. At the state level, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat 
seem to have the highest crop diversification followed by West Bengal, 
Bihar, and Karnataka. Most of the other states, especially Odisha, Madhya 



[17] Raj Paroda 
 

Pradesh, and the north-eastern states, are still confined to a few traditional 
crops. 

There are two main types of agricultural diversification prominent in India: 
i) horizontal diversification (multiple cropping or mixing of crops instead of 
growing a single crop), and ii) vertical diversification (incorporation of 
industrialization along with multiple cropping, wherein farmers invest in 
supplemental activities like horticulture, agroforestry, livestock rearing, 
culture of aromatic plants, etc.).  

Today, with regional diversification patterns, there is still a predominance of 
rice–wheat cropping systems in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh; 
groundnut in Gujarat; sugarcane in the north (mainly due to the 
nobilization of sugarcane by transferring both drought and disease tolerance 
from Saccharum spontaneum); chickpea in south India (due to the breeding of 
short duration varieties); pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) in north-western states 
like Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat (due to early maturing 
varieties [120 days]); soybean in Madhya Pradesh and adjoining states; and 
winter maize in Bihar with very high productivity (>7.0 tons/ha). Despite 
these dominant crops, there are still opportunities for shifting  areas to 
short-duration varieties of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in non-traditional areas 
of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka; mixed cropping of 
urd bean (Vigna mungo), mung bean (Vigna radiata), and pigeonpea in central 
and peninsular regions; introduction of short-duration pigeonpea in 
Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and  Punjab; and lentils (Lens culinaris), 
mustard (Brassicaspp), and peas (Pisum sativum) in rice fallows in Bihar, West 
Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and some of the north-eastern states. 

Currently, we are short of pulses in the country, and to achieve additional 
production, there is a need to breed and promote short-duration (less than 
110 days) pigeonpea hybrids for the north-western region and improved 
varieties of soybean and kabuli chickpea for the north-western region; 
popularize improved short-duration, disease-resistant varieties of mung 
bean to fit rice–wheat cropping systems during summers in the north; and 
promote urd bean in rice fallows in the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, 
Odisha, and West Bengal. The decline in the production of sorghum and 
pearl millet is largely due to changes in dietary habits, low yields, and 
shifting of areas towards more remunerative crops such as cotton, soybean, 
wheat, oilseeds, and pulses. Though farmers have been cultivating sorghum 
(both in kharif and rabi) and pearl millet in rainfed areas, their production 
has been highly volatile largely due to low and erratic rainfall (Paroda 2006; 
2018). These changes from traditionally grown, less remunerative crops to 
more productive crops that are ideally suited to some geo-climatic, socio-



Ecology, Economy and Society–the INSEE Journal [18] 

 

economic, and technological options have invariably been gradual. 
However, it primarily accelerated after India’s Independence (1947) when 
cradles of success such as policy support, good institutions, human 
resources, and infrastructure were put in place. 

The current challenge is to breed early hybrids to replace HHB67 in the 
very dry region (A1 zone) in Rajasthan, and varieties/hybrids of rabi 
sorghum to replace the predominantly cultivated older variety, “Maldandi”, 
in Maharashtra. Introducing quality protein maize (QPM) hybrids suited to 
different agro-climatic zones, and improving coverage of the area under 
single cross maize hybrids, will further enhance maize production. For 
future diversification, pseudocereals (grain amaranth, buckwheat, and 
quinoa), legumes (rice bean, faba bean, adzuki bean, and moth bean), and 
small millets (finger millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, little millet, barnyard 
millet, and kodo millet) having high nutritional value and niche for high 
drought and heat tolerance have considerable potential. Soybean, popular in 
Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, has the potential to replace rice to some 
extent in north India. There is a need to promote the cultivation of specific 
crops in new niches to harness their maximum genetic potential (Paroda 
2019). 

Past experiences have amply demonstrated that expansion of crops in non-
traditional, newer areas can lead to more rapid progress in diversification 
due to faster adoption of full technological packages without any pre-
existing prejudices from traditional practices. Some good examples of this 
are puddled rice in north India, use of wide permanent rows for groundnut 
planting in Gujarat, cultivation of soybean in Madhya Pradesh, rabi maize in 
Bihar, etc. Such an approach is most beneficial when it is based on scientific 
land-use practices. 

Other good examples of diversification are hybrid rice in eastern India, 
soybean in the eastern and north-eastern regions, and, to some extent, 
sunflowers in north India. After Brazil, India is the second-largest producer 
of sugarcane in the world. It has the best R&D infrastructure and is known 
globally for nobilization of sugarcane resulting in short-duration, drought- 
and disease-tolerant varieties, which enabled its spread to central, northern, 
and western India. Earlier, productivity in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, 
and Maharashtra was even lesser than the national average despite the 
availability of good varieties and production technologies. With increasing 
area under a new variety (CO238), the scenario for productivity and sugar 
recovery has changed significantly. The yield potential of maize can also be 
enhanced significantly by bringing more area under single cross hybrids that 



[19] Raj Paroda 
 

are high yielding. Its extension to eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, 
and West Bengal is already taking place (Paroda 2019). 

Crop diversification largely depends on technological innovations aimed at 
sustainable intensification and increased productivity while reducing the 
cost of inputs so as to raise the income of farmers. The dynamic aspect of 
diversification includes the accommodation of new crops or cropping 
systems that are best suited to prevailing eco-regional conditions while 
ensuring higher production and income. By growing a variety of crops, 
farmers lower their risk and can gain access to national and international 
markets. Agricultural intensification has helped us achieve food security in 
the past, but now we need to reorient existing cropping systems to be more 
sustainable and to continue addressing our household food, nutrition, and 
environmental security. 

It is necessary to develop a shared conceptual understanding of 
diversification. Often, terms such as diversity, diversification, crop rotation, 
and mixed cropping are used interchangeably, preventing generalization of 
results. The crop diversification approach provides information on (i) 
problem definition, (ii) baseline definition, (iii) scale definition, (iv) 
characterization of the experimental design including a minimum set of 
target variables, and (v) defining the impact systematically to assess and 
report the effects of the diversification measures. 

The main challenges facing agricultural diversification are land degradation, 
a decline in soil health, groundwater depletion, environmental pollution, 
and a decline in total factor productivity. These constraints must be 
addressed if existing cropping systems are to be made both more 
sustainable and remunerative for farmers. 

Farmers need to be continuously motivated and encouraged to pursue crop 
diversification for better sustainability as well as income and employment 
opportunities. Given that an accelerated pace of diversification will have 
positive impacts on income, employment, conservation, and use of natural 
resources, there is a need for increased investment in R&D and scaling of 
innovations linked to sustainable farming systems that are best suited to 
varying agro-ecologies. However, while adopting crop diversification, 
cultivators must ensure that it does not adversely affect the existing 
environmental balance concerning available natural resources. 

For crop diversification, future strategies must aim at: i) horizontal 
approaches that integrate crop intensification and crop substitution with 
species that are most suited to specific eco-regions; ii) vertical approaches 
for enhancing productivity using genome editing and good agronomic 



Ecology, Economy and Society–the INSEE Journal [20] 

 

practices (GAP) aimed at judicious use and increased efficiency of costly 
inputs such as water, energy, fertilizers, and pesticides; iii) post-harvest 
processing, value addition, branding, packaging, etc. to enhance income; iv) 
water-use efficiency through micro-irrigation, especially in drylands; v) 
varietal diversification introducing both high-yielding varieties and hybrids 
for higher productivity; vi) incorporation of legumes; vii) large-scale 
adoption of integrated pest management; and viii) risk management through 
inter-cropping and mixed cropping, a shift towards low-volume high-value 
crops, and mixed farming. Such an approach would require scaling of 
innovations to improve resource-use efficiency through appropriate policies 
and programmes. In this context, scientific land-use planning so far has 
been a weak link. Fortunately, vast opportunities in unexplored frontiers of 
science exist with potential for new gains from the application of science, 
technology, and innovation (STI) for sustainable agricultural growth and 
development. 

There is a need for further diversification around local food systems, as has 
been emphasized by the UN Food Systems Summit held in September 2021 
and the second International Agrobiodiversity Congress (IAC) organized in 
October 2021. COVID-19 has further highlighted this particular 
requirement for crop diversification for greater sustainability of agricultural 
production systems, as well as for household nutrition security and 
improved health and immunity. Required actions include: i) ensuring access 
to safe and nutritious food for all; ii) shifting to sustainable consumption 
patterns; iii) boosting nature-positive, eco-region-specific production; iv) 
advancing equitable livelihoods; and v) building resilience against 
vulnerabilities, shocks, and stress. 

India needs the right mix of policies, moving from subsidy-driven to 
investment-driven, from price-focused to income-focused, and from 
exploitative to sustainable agricultural diversification around more 
nutritious food. It also needs to incentivize the private sector, especially 
young entrepreneurs, to build efficient and inclusive value chains for 
farmers’ prosperity, giving due importance to environmental sustainability. 

 

REFERENCES 

Economic Survey. 2019–20. “Economic Survey 2019–20 – Volume 1 (January 
2020).” New Delhi: Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, 
Government of India. 



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Grassini, Patricio, James E Specht, Matthijs Tollenaar, and Ignacio Ciampitti. 2015. 
“High-yield Maize–Soybean Cropping Systems in the US Corn Belt.” Crop 
Physiology: 17–41.  https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-417104-6.00002-9   

Holling, Crawford Stanley. 1973. “Resilience and Stability of Ecological Systems.” 
Annual Review of Ecological Systems 4 (1):1–23.  
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.es.04.110173.000245 

Joshi, P. 2005. “Crop Diversification in India: Nature, Pattern and Drivers.” New 
Delhi, India: Asian Development Bank. 

Lin, Brenda B. 2011. “Resilience in Agriculture Through Crop Diversification: 
Adaptive Management for Environmental Change.” Bioscience 61 (3): 183–193.  
https://doi.org/10.1525/bio.2011.61.3.4   

Paroda, RS. 2006. “Strategy for Increasing Productivity Growth Rate in 

Agriculture.” Strategy Paper for the Planning Commission, Government of 
India for the proposed draft XI Five-Year Plan (submitted on 12th July 

2006). New Delhi: Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences. 

Paroda, RS. 2018. “Reorienting Indian Agriculture: Challenges and Opportunities.”  
Oxfordshire: Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI).  
https://doi.org/10.1079/9781786395177.0000   

Paroda, RS. 2019. “Report on Policies and Action Plans for a Secure and 
Sustainable Agriculture.” New Delhi: Committee Report submitted to the Principal 
Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. 

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