Abstract:
The present study highlights the impact of crop diversification on livelihood security and level of living of the farmers in
an agriculturally prosperous district of West Bengal. A total of seven different cropping patterns were followed by the
farmers, where 13 out of 120 farmers adopted more than one cropping pattern. The cropping pattern of Paddy-Potato-
Sesame was preferred by most of the farmers (56.39%). The impact of crop diversification on livelihood security was
measured on the basis of six indicators, each on 5-point continuum. The perception of livelihood security of all the groups
of farmers was found at above average level (≥15) ranging from 16.26 to 18.38 except group of six farmers following
Paddy-Fallow-Paddy cropping pattern. The level of living indicated through five types of assets holdings of the groups of
farmers adopting various cropping pattern, each of which measured on 5-point continuum. Level of living was found to be
below average (≤ 12.50) for all the groups ranging from 12.39 to 10.32, lowest for group of farmers following Paddy-
Fallow-Paddy cropping pattern. Therefore, it is worth mentioning that the crop diversity is a key to the livelihood security.
The change in level of living is a gradual process and also depends on initial level of resources/assets of farmers
