Regional Growth Analysis of Oilseed Crops in Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Indian vegetable oil economy is the fourth largest in the world. The state of Uttar Pradesh occupies a prominent place in the production of oilseeds in India as the area under these crops is 1.16 million hectares (4.37 per cent) in the country. The growth pattern of these crops in the Uttar Pradesh state has been prone to risk over time and across the agro-climatic regions because of the rainfall pattern and limited water-resources. The Success of any policy action for agricultural growth depends on measurement of instability, identification of its broad sources and means to stabilize the growth process. Keeping in view the importance of oilseeds from several stand points, the present study was conducted from the period 1980-81 to 2011-12 for the present state of Uttar Pradesh. The study was conducted to examine the growth in area, production and productivity of oilseeds and its impact on change in cropping pattern, and identifying the constraints responsible for slow growth of oilseed in Uttar Pradesh. The study in based on the secondary data of area, production and productivity of major oilseeds grown in four regions different agro economic regions of the state. The compound growth rates based on log linear function were worked out to measure the growth in area, production and productivity of oilseeds during Three Phases of thirty years. The Compound growth rate in the state indicated that the area of total oilseeds, Rabi oilseeds and mustard reduced from phase I to Phase II. The region wise annual compound growth of area indicates that in western region it was reduced for mustard, til, rabi and total oilseeds from phase I to phase 11; in central region it was increased for mustard, til and total oilseeds up to phase III; in Bundelkhand region it was increases for kharif, rabi and total oilseeds from phase I to phase HI; while in eastern region the area of mustard and til increased up to phase Ill. The growth rate of production of total oilseeds, Rabi oilseeds, mustard and til were reduced in phase 1 but it was increased from phase li to phase III. Region wise trend in growth pattern shows that, in western region it was reduced for total oilseeds, rabi oilseeds, mustard and til during phase I to II; while in central region it was increased for mustard, til and rabi oilseeds; in Bundelkhand region it shows positive trend for til, groundnut, kharif and total oil seeds and in eastern region, it was increased for mustard, til and rabi ·oil seeds in all phases, respectively. The growth of productivity in state was increased for mustard, rabi oilseeds and groundnut crops. Region wise trend indicates that in western, central and eastern regions the maximum positive growth was observed in mustard crops; while in Bundelkhand region it was maximum in case of til crops. The relative contribution of change in cropping pattern on state level in area shows that it was decrease for kharif oilseeds and total cereals in phase I and increased in phase II and III. The area under Rabi and total oilseeds was reduced in all the regions except Bundelkhand region; while it was increased for kharif oilseeds in Bundelkhand and eastern regions. The result of decomposition analysis of total oilseeds on production revealed that the contribution of change in area on prodili:tion was found to be positive in all regions and state as a whole in phase I and III (except eastern region); th'e variabiJity in area, production and productivity of total oil seeds the similar trend was observed for state as a whole i.e. it was maximum in phase I. Through an opinion survey conducted with farmers, economists, policy makers, extension workers and agricultural researchers. a number of constraints like physical, technological, economical, institutional, natural and poor infrastructural facilities were observed. To improve the existing level of production of oilseed crops in the state. For this purpose an integrated scheme of cultivation and productivity, storage, pricing, credit, buffer stock, marketing, irrigation, insurance, export is to be implemented at shortest possible time.