Status and Growth Trend of Major Crops in Adopted Villages Under Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Udalguri, Assam, India

Assam's agricultural sector is diverse, with rice as the dominant crop alongside
pulses, oilseeds and vegetables. Udalguri district, situated in the North Bank Plain Zone,
faces challenges such as limited irrigation, low mechanization and restricted market access.
Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Udalguri, has implemented interventions in two adopted
villages i.e Kacharital and Habigaon, aiming to improve the status of agriculture through
enhancing productivity and optimize cropping patterns. However, variability in farmer
adoption rates and climatic uncertainties posed difficulties in assessing long-term
sustainability. This study analyses the impact of KVK’s interventions on crop area expansion,
production trends and diversification between 2018-19 to 2022-23 for Kacharital and 2015-
16 to 2022-23 for Habigaon. Data was gathered through farmer interviews, Participatory
Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Focus Group Discussions (FGD), and analysed using statistical
tools such as Percentage Change, Coefficient of Variation, Simpson’s Index of Diversification
(SID) and Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR). Findings reveal a shift towards
diversified cropping. Rice cultivation declined (-5.26 ha in Kacharital, -6.36 ha in Habigaon)
due to water constraints and market shifts. Pulses, oilseeds and vegetables expanded
significantly, improving farm income and soil fertility. Cropping intensity increased from
100.35% to 155.07% in Kacharital and from 106.53% to 129.84% in Habigaon, reflecting
better land utilization. The Simpson Index of Diversification rose to 0.55 in Kacharital and
0.53 in Habigaon, highlighting adaptive farming practices. This study contributes to the
understanding of how targeted interventions influence cropping diversification,
demonstrating that strategic support can improve land-use efficiency and farmer resilience
despite systemic constraints.