Extent of crop diversification in Maharashtra

The area under cereal crops is dominated with decreasing trend in all the regions over the time. The increased trends were observed in the magnitudes of diversification indices during post-WTO period over Pre-WTO period. It implies that the cropping pattern as a whole has been diversified but among the group of crops, the acreage under foodgrains and commercial crops has been increased. The diversification of crops found in western Maharashtra, stagnant in Marathwada and Vidarbha regions and decline in diversification indices in Konkan region. This suggests that major emphasis given on irrigation and infrastructure development in Marathwada, Vidarbha and Konkan regions of Maharashtra.