Determinants of cropping pattern changes of pulses in the dry zones of Karnataka

摘要

Pulses production in the country has been stagnating around 8-14 million tonnes for the last 40 years. In Karnataka, there has been a trend of increase in the area under pulses from 13.1 lakh hectares in 1960-61 to 16.5 lakh hectares in 1995-96. Theproduction of pulses has however not increased appreciably since 1970-71. Tur and bengalgram are the major pulse crops of the Karnataka, which were grown either pure crop or mixed crop. Multiple regression analysis was carried out on the time series data for the period 1970-71 to 1993-94 to identify the important factors affecting the area changes of pulses and consequently production for the dry zones of Karnataka. The supply response of tur is characterized an absence of response to its own price inthe major growing zones of the state. Cotton was the competing crop and high cotton prices had a potentially adverse effect on tur area. Unlike tur, bengalgram was responsive to its own price in NDZ and NEDZ. But, for the state as a whole the own price coefficients of the crop were non-significant. Increased area under pulses was due to increase in the gross cropped area on account of the creation of irrigation facilities. Given the low yield levels of pulses in the state, effort should be made towardsachieving a technological brerkthrough in improving tur production.