Regional Dynamics of Sesamum Cultivation across Agro-climatic Zones of Rajasthan, India

Sesamum (Sesamum indicum L.) is an important rainfed kharif oilseed crop in India, but its production is highly unstable because of erratic rainfall, poor soil conditions and limited irrigation facilities. Rajasthan, which has the largest area under sesamum cultivation in the country, comprises ten distinct agro-climatic zones with diverse production environments. The present study examined instability, growth trends, absolute and relative changes, and the decomposition of production change in sesamum cultivation across these zones using secondary data from 2003–04 to 2022–23 obtained from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Rajasthan. The study employed the Cuddy-Della Valle Instability Index (CDVI), Compound Growth Rate (CGR), absolute and relative change analysis, and decomposition analysis. The results showed that production instability (33.00%) was higher than instability in area (25.57%) and productivity (24.94%) at the state level. The humid south eastern plain recorded the highest instability in area (80.42%) and production (88.74%), while the flood prone eastern plains showed the lowest productivity instability (12.46%). CGR analysis revealed a declining trend in area and production across most zones, although the hyper arid partial irrigated zone recorded positive growth in both area and production. At the state level, area and production declined annually by 2.74 per cent and 2.10 per cent, respectively, whereas productivity showed marginal positive growth (0.65%). Decomposition analysis indicated that the area effect was the major contributor to production change at the state level, while the yield effect dominated in the arid western plain. The study suggests that region-specific interventions focusing on irrigation expansion, climate-resilient varieties, quality seed supply and improved extension services are necessary to stabilise sesamum production and promote sustainable oilseed development in Rajasthan.