Changing Cropping Pattern in West Bengal during 1995-96 to 2023-24

Abstract

The cropping pattern in West Bengal has undergone significant transformations over the last three decades. Based on the Transformed Herfindahl Index, the paper defines the changes in the agricultural landscape where the prevalence of foodgrains is gradually reduced and the dominance of high-value crops, including boro rice, potato, oilseeds (especially mustard), and ginger are on the increase. Although recent years are characterized by the partial re emergence of the previous patterns of re-cropping, the general shift is a response to changing market conditions, availability of better irrigation infrastructure and encouraging policy interventions by farmers. Nevertheless, the decreasing proportion of wheat, pulses, and fibre crops show that the specific focus on research and policy assistance is necessary to ensure balanced agricultural output. The results indicate the importance of infrastructural and technological conditions, such as the growth of irrigation, road connectivity, the use of fertilizers, and agricultural credit as the driving forces behind diversification. The paper concludes that all-encompassing policies to facilitate rural infrastructure, irrigation, and financial access, as well as the balanced use of inputs, are critical to realizing sustainable diversification, boosting farm incomes, and building a robust, market-focused agricultural sector.