Drought and Socioeconomic Drivers of Crop Diversity in India: A Panel Analysis

Understanding the trends in crop diversity in context of changing socioeconomic and climatic factors are essential for implementing sustainable agricultural practices. The Shannon Index was adopted to calculate crop diversity across all districts of India from 2001 to 2021. High-resolution Standardized Precipitation Eevapotranspiration Index (SPEI) data was developed using the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation (CHIRPS) and Global Land Evaporation Amsterdam Model's (GLEAM) data to capture climate variability. A panel regression was employed using ordinary least squares, fixed effects, and random effects models. Crop diversity in India experiences an increase of 2.6% between 2001 and 2021. During the study period, India experienced an increase in the proportion of land dedicated to non-food crops, rising from 19.79% to 22.80%. The area allocated to cereal and millet crops experienced a decline, decreasing from 54.51% to 50.61%. SPEI is a significant factor in diversified agriculture, showing a negative association. Higher urbanization, road density, number of markets, the presence of organic carbon in the soil, improved seeds, fertilizers, and credit facilities for farmers reduce crop diversity. Access to irrigation increases the likelihood of practicing in diversified crop. Increasing education level of farmers positively influences the practice of crop diversity in India. Farmers in droughtprone areas of India often adopted diversified cropping practices.