TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL CHANGES IN CROP DIVERSITY AND ITS IMPACT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO DISTRICT PRAYAGRAJ

Human beings have to face different types of risks and uncertainties in their daily activities. Agriculture sector is also not untouched by it. Agriculture is fraught with uncertainty like rain, flood, drought and risk of diseases, pests and market fluctuation etc. In such a situation, undoubtedly crop diversity is a useful concept, which is very helpful for better use of agricultural resources and mitigation of risks related to agricultural production and providing quick and regular benefits to the farmers. Crop diversification refers to growing multiple crops instead of just a single crop, but crop diversification requires the highest level of managerial investment by each farmer. It is required to tackle the difficulties related to the low surplus, operation and marketing of the produce of agricultural products. Effective policy and investment are needed to overcome these difficulties. In fact, crop diversification exists as an effective strategy for achieving multiple aims like food security, nutritional security, poverty alleviation, availability of new employment opportunities, sustainable use of land, agricultural development and environmental improvement.