Adoption drivers and diversification barriers in Indian rice cultivation: pathways to sustainable agriculture

Introduction Rice cultivation is of significant importance to India’s agrarian economy; however, its prolonged dominance has led to serious sustainability concerns, viz., groundwater depletion, soil compaction, fertility loss, yield stagnation, waterlogging, greenhouse gas emissions and inefficient input use. Methods To assess the drivers of rice adoption and barriers to diversification, a perception-based survey was conducted during 2023–2024 across nine purposively selected rice-dominant yet low-productivity districts [Bhilwara (Rajasthan), Jhargram (West Bengal), Khammam (Telangana), Mahesana and Sabarkantha (Gujarat), Tiruppur (Tamil Nadu), Udaipur (Rajasthan), Udhampur (Jammu and Kashmir) and West Kameng (Arunachal Pradesh)]. Using a multi-stage stratified random sampling design, 696 farmers were selected from the Pilot Project on Crop Diversification (PPCD) database of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. The primary data were analysed using Chi-square tests, Standardized Residual Analysis (SRA) and Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA). Results The Chi-square test confirmed significant association between farmer responses and the reasons for rice adoption (Cramér’s V = 0.370, moderate association). SRA identified the availability of high-yielding varieties (R8, residual = 14.23*) as key motivators, while strong disagreement was observed for the notion that local soils are unsuitable for other crops (R4, residual = 19.66*). MCA revealed four dominant dimensions explaining 54.0% of inertia, i.e., (i) varietal access and market assurance, (ii) input responsiveness and mechanization, (iii) wildlife risk and fodder dependence, and (iv) household consumption and agroecological constraints. Discussion District-specific patterns indicated that Mahesana and Sabarkantha (Gujrat) are primarily driven by varietal access and market assurance; Tiruppur (Tamil nadu) and Bhilwara (Rajasthan) combine varietal access with mechanization benefits; Khammam (Telangana) and Udaipur (Rajasthan) are constrained by limited mechanization and weak input responsiveness; whereas Udhampur (Jammu and Kashmir), West Kameng (Arunachal Pradesh), and Jhargram (West Bengal) reflect wildlife risk, fodder needs, household consumption, and agroecological constraints. These findings highlight the role of developing and access to seeds of improved varieties, suitable mechanization and assured markets in adopting diversified crops.