Statistical analysis of crop diversification in Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra

The present study examined the spatio-temporal crop diversity of the Ahilyanagar district. The investigation relies on data gathered from the District Statistical Abstract of Ahmednagar and utilizes Gibbs and Martin's Index to assess the intensity of variation in crop diversity across tahsils. The result reveals that the northern tahsils such as Akole, Sangamner, Kopargaon, Rahata, Shrirampur, Newasa, Shevgaon, Pathardi, and Rahuri experienced high diversification, while in the southern semi-arid tahsil like Nagar, Parner, Shrigonda, Karjat, and Jamkhed indicates moderate diversification, where jowar cultivation dominated in 2013-14. However, in 2023-24, the picture has completely changed. Nagar, Parner, Shrigonda, Karjat, and Jamkhed tahsils have also jumped in high diversification. The tahsils, which have a heavy reliance on a single crop, are shifting to growing a variety of crops.