TEMPORAL CHANGE IN AREA UNDER FOOD CROPS IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

Himachal Pradesh is primarily an agricultural state, with agriculture employing 71% of the population and cash crops accounting for the majority of the state's earnings. Wheat, maize, rice, barley, seed-potatoes, ginger, vegetables, vegetable seeds, mushrooms, chicory seeds, hops, and olives are among the most important food crops cultivated in Himachal Pradesh agriculture. Because of its large-scale fruit production, Himachal Pradesh is also known as the "Apple State of India." Farmers' principal priority is how to make the best use of limited land. The current research seeks to examine the change in area under different food crops in Himachal Pradesh from 1990-91 to 2015-16. According to the findings, the state's typical cropping pattern is altering. From 1990-91 to 2015-16, the area under cereals and pulses in Himachal Pradesh declined by 5.1 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively, while the area under fruits and vegetables grew. The state is moving away from cultivating cereals and pulses and toward growing fruits and vegetables. During the given time, the biggest negative change in the area of cereals was discovered in Shimla, while the highest positive change in the area of cereals was found in Solan. Shimla district has the largest positive change in fruits, whereas Una district has the highest negative change in the given time. The most practical method for utilising these restricted resources is to adjust the cropping style.