Spatial Analysis of Sustainable Agricultural Diversification in Aligarh District, Uttar Pradesh: “A Village-Level Study.”

Agricultural diversification has emerged as an important strategy for strengthening rural livelihoods, enhancing farm income, and promoting sustainable agricultural development in India. It refers to the transition from traditional subsistence agriculture to a more dynamic and diversified farming system that includes multiple crops and allied activities such as livestock rearing, dairy, poultry, horticulture, and fisheries. This transformation is influenced by factors such as technological advancement, irrigation development, infrastructure, market access, income levels, and government policies. The present study examines the spatial patterns and determinants of agricultural diversification in villages of Aligarh district, Uttar Pradesh, with special reference to the innovation adoption index. The study is based on primary data collected during a field survey conducted in 2017–2018 across twentyfour villages selected from twelve blocks of the district. A total of 10 percent of households from each village were surveyed to analyze the relationship between agricultural diversification, innovation adoption, and socio-economic factors, including landholding size, income level, irrigation facilities, education, age composition, and electricity supply. The findings reveal that agricultural diversification in the district is spatially uneven and strongly influenced by larger landholdings, higher income levels, better irrigation facilities, higher educational attainment, younger age groups, and reliable electricity supply. Farmers with better access to these resources are more likely to adopt innovations and engage in diversified agricultural practices. The study concludes that agricultural diversification is a crucial pathway for sustainable rural development; however, its expansion is constrained by inequalities in access to infrastructure, knowledge, and economic resources. The paper suggests policy interventions focusing on irrigation facilities, income enhancement, farmer training, education, and promotion of allied agricultural activities to ensure balanced agricultural diversification.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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The datasets used in this study are openly available at [repository link] and the source code is available on GitHub at [GitHub link].

This work did not receive any external funding.