What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification? (Answer in 250 words)

Crop diversification shifts land from a narrow cereal pattern towards pulses, oilseeds, millets, horticulture, livestock and other higher-value activities suited to local resources.

Current challenges

• MSP procurement, input subsidies and assured markets favour rice-wheat cultivation in several regions.
• Farmers face uncertain prices, weak value chains, perishability, inadequate storage and limited processing.
• Fragmented holdings, credit constraints, irrigation bias, risk aversion and limited extension slow adoption.
• Changing climate, soil degradation and groundwater depletion make transition both necessary and risky.

Technology opportunity

• Remote sensing, GIS and soil-health analytics enable crop choice based on agro-climatic suitability.
• Drip irrigation, protected cultivation, precision nutrient management and sensor-based advisories improve productivity with fewer resources.
• Climate-resilient seeds, genome-assisted breeding, biofortification and digital extension expand viable alternatives.
• e-NAM, traceability, cold chains, drones and farm-gate processing can connect diversified output to remunerative markets.

Enabling conditions

Technology must be paired with procurement reform, FPOs, insurance, local processing, public research and demand creation through nutrition programmes.

Agro-climatic planning; millets; precision farming; FPOs; e-NAM; climate-resilient seeds; cold chain.