Assessing Regional Patterns of Horticultural Crop Diversification and Sustainability in Odisha, India
Urmi Pattanayak *
ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, India.
Sonali Sahoo
Department of Gender Studies, Rama Devi Women’s University, India.
Jyotirmayee Acharya
Department of Gender Studies, Rama Devi Women’s University, India.
Amrita Nath
Department of Management, Brainware University, West Bengal, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Horticultural crop diversification involves growing a range of fruits, vegetables, floriculture, plantation crops, and spices to enhance sustainability. It improves soil health, biodiversity, and resource-use efficiency while reducing income risks and strengthening resilience to climate and market fluctuations. Although studies have examined the sustainability impacts of diversification using environmental, economic, and social indicators, limited empirical research exists in Odisha that quantitatively analyses regional dimensions. This study aims to assess regional patterns of horticultural crop diversification and sustainability in Odisha, India. The study uses secondary data from Odisha Agricultural Statistics, Statistical Abstracts, Agricultural Statistics in Odisha, and the Directorate of Economics and Statistics for the period 2014–15 and 2018–19. The Herfindahl Index and multiple regression analysis are employed for analysis. The results show clear regional variation in horticultural crop diversification across Odisha during 2014–15 and 2018–19. In 2014–15, most districts were concentrated in the low and very low diversification categories, indicating a generally less diversified horticultural structure. Highly diversified districts were limited and mainly concentrated in select regions such as Angul, Khordha, and Sundargarh. By 2018–19, a slight improvement in diversification is observed in several districts, with more districts shifting towards moderate diversification. However, a number of districts still remain in the low and very low categories, particularly in coastal and some interior regions. The regression results indicate changing impacts of agricultural inputs over time, with fertiliser consumption, farm mechanisation, and rainfall gaining greater statistical significance, while the influence of seed consumption declined. Overall, diversified horticulture systems offer financial advantages through greater revenue stability and market access in addition to improving soil health, water management and pest control. Climate, infrastructure and local knowledge are examples of region-specific characteristics that affect how well diversification strategies work. The study's overall findings demonstrate how diversifying horticulture crops might improve Odisha's agricultural landscape's resilience and sustainability. Promoting horticultural crop diversification in Odisha requires strengthening R&D, market linkages, sustainable farming practices, risk management support, and farmer training to enhance income, resilience, and long-term agricultural sustainability.
Keywords: Diversification, horticulture, climate resilience, agricultural productivity, regions, sustainability