Original Research Article
Determinants of Crop Diversification in Mixed Cropping Zone of Punjab Pakistan
Pomi Shahbaz* |
Ismet Boz |
Shamsheer ul Haq |
Article Number: DRJA031962257
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26765/DRJAFS.2017.2257
ISSN: 2354-4147
Vol.5 (11), pp. 360-366, November 2017
Copyright © 2017
Author(s) retain the copyright of this article
Abstract
Agriculture income is part and parcel of every households income in all over the country, especially in rural areas. But agriculture has become very risky due to its whole dependence on nature and market conditions. Crop diversification is a low cost, self-motivated protective measure against climate changes and market conditions to reduce income fluctuations. Multiple stage sampling technique was used to select 100 crop growers for an interview in district Faisalabad. Widely used Herfindahl index (HI) was applied to calculate the farmer’s diversification level. Sampled farmers were classified by cluster analysis into low and high diversified farms. The socio economic characteristics of farmers were compared by statistical analysis such as independent t test etc. and determinants of the crop diversification index were analyzed by Tobit model. Highly diversified farmers were found younger (36 years) as compared to low diversified farmers (45.6 years) and mostly high diversified farmers were having off-farm source income as compared to low diversified farmers. The result of econometric model depicts that the education and farm size positively and significantly affect the crop diversification. Similarly, the ownership of farm machinery enhance the diversification level of farms in crop cultivation. The self-owned operated farms will be less likely to be diversified in crop cultivation than another form of tenure types like renter and shareholder. Farmers should be educated about the benefits of crop diversification and farmers should also rent or share the land when it looks necessary to increase farm size for enjoying long term benefits of farming.
Key words: Crop diversification, cluster analysis, Tobit model, Herfindahl Index, Faisalabad, PakistanReceived: September 24, 2017 Accepted: October 11, 2017 Published: October 17, 2017