(Solved) What is Crop Diversification? What are the advantages of diversifying cropping pattern?

Crop diversification can be regarded as the re-allocation of crop into new and improved species of crops.
Advantages:
? Increasing income on small farm holdings
? Withstanding price fluctuation
? Mitigating effects of increasing climate variability
? Balancing food demand
? Improving fodder for livestock animals
? Conservation of natural resources
? Reducing dependence on off-farm inputs
? Depending on crop rotation, decreasing insect pests, diseases and weed problems
? Increasing community food security.

The process of farmer experimentation and the subsequent introduction of adapted and accepted varieties can potentially strengthen farmers? cropping systems by increasing yields, improving drought resilience, boosting resistance to pests and diseases and also by capturing new market opportunities. To make the products of the research process more relevant to the needs of smallholder farmers, research organisations are increasingly engaged in participatory research in recognition of its potential contribution to marginal areas with low agricultural potential. There is a need to identify crops and varieties that are suited to a multitude of environments and farmer preferences. Participatory approaches increase the validity, accuracy and particularly the efficiency of the research process and its outputs. Researchers are better informed and can better inform about the traits that should be incorporated in improved varieties. Participatory processes also enhance farmers? capacity to seek information, strengthen social organisation, and experiment with different crop varieties and management practices.

Crop diversification provides better conditions for food security and enables farmers to grow surplus products for sale at market and thus obtain increased income to meet other needs related to household well-being. Crop diversification can enable farmers to gain access to national and international markets with new products, food and medicinal plants. Diversifying from the monoculture of traditional staples can have important nutritional benefits for farmers in developing countries and can support a country to becoming more self-reliant in terms of food production. Diversification can also manage price risk, on the assumption that not all products will suffer low market prices at the same time. Compared to producing monocultures, management techniques for diversified crops generally consist of more sustainable natural resource practices

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What is Crop Diversification? What are the advantages of diversifying cropping pattern?

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