Diversification of Cropping Pattern: Its Determinants and Role in Flood Affected Agriculture of Assam Plains

Abstract

Using farm level survey data, the paper examines the determinants of cropping pattern diversification, and evaluates the role of crop diversification in increasing farm income in flood affected agriculture in the plains of Assam. The results of censored regression on a cross section of 342 randomly selected farms suggest that crop diversification has been adopted as a mechanism to cope with limits imposed by flood. Moreover, the results of a linear regression led to the conclusion that crop diversification has an important role in enhancing farm income. The results reported in the study are quite interesting and useful, and offer important policy suggestions.