Spatial Patterns and Regional Concentration of Cash Crops in Odisha, India

Abstract

Understanding cash crops offers insight into regional concentration, agricultural economics, market demands, and the social impacts of farming practices globally. The authors try to study the spatial patterns and regional concentration of cash crops in the state of Odisha, India. Twelve cash crops that are predominant in the state are considered under study. The study is based on secondary data collected from the Statistical Abstract of Odisha. Twelve major cash crops, primarily grown in Odisha, were taken under study. We are utilizing the crop concentration method proposed by Bhatia and Geospatial technology for this study. The cash crop area in the state of Odisha is miserable, as the major cash crops, which are under study, covered only 3.98 % of the net area shown. The highest concentration of crops above concentration index 10 are jute (20.98), Kendrapara, maize (18.89), Gajapati, til (17.54), Malkangiri, maize (15.48), Nabarangpur, nizer (14.14), Koraput, ragi (12.62), Koraput and mung (10.31), Jagatsinghpur. Agro-climatic zone wise concentration of cash crops are biri in North Western Plateau; biri, groundnut, and kulthi in North Central Plateau; potato, and sugarcane in North Eastern Central Plateau: groundnut; jute, kulthi, mung, and potato in East and South-Eastern Coastal plateau; maize, mustard, nizer, and ragi in North Eastern Ghat; kulthi, maize, potato, and ragi in Eastern Ghat High Land; nizer, til, sugarcane, and groundnut in South Eastern Ghat; mustard, and kulthi in Western Undulating Zone; biri, and maize in Western Central Tableland: and Potato in Mid Central Table Land. The study's findings help policymakers and agricultural planners distinguish between cash crop production and noncash crops, particularly rice cultivation, as well as to create and promote numerous appropriate cash crops in an appropriate agroclimatic and geographic location. This can boost farmer income, guarantee food security, while minimize farmer distress and end suicides.