The Agro-Economic Research Centre, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan (West Bengal) in collaboration with the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics (ISAE), Mumbai is organising a Regional Seminar to be held during March 18-20, 2012. 

Theme: “Diversification of Agriculture in Eastern India”  

A large number of academicians, researchers and policy makers will participate in the Seminar. Research papers on the following emerging issues related to agricultural diversification in Eastern India will be invited from selected paper-writers. 

1.   1.The rationale for diversification in Eastern India. Why do farmers need diversification and under what context? This needs to be understood properly in the context of agriculture dominated by small and marginal farms. 

2.  2. The nature and extent of diversification of agriculture in Eastern India. It is hypothesised that the nature and magnitude of diversification varies across regions, production systems, livelihood groups and over time. 

3.  3. The scope for further horizontal and vertical diversification towards high value crops as well as non-farm activities in Eastern India. 

4.  4. Determinants of diversification in Eastern India. A large number of price and non-price factors determine the agricultural diversification of a region and their roles are changing over time with changing resource base as well as change in policies. 

5.  5. The constraints (agro-ecological/technological/socio-economic) in realizing the potential benefits of diversification of agriculture in Eastern India needs special attention. Identification and prioritization of constraints with respect to agricultural diversification may help the policy makers in deciding the kinds of policy interventions. 

6.  6. Possible impacts of diversification of agriculture on different livelihood groups in Eastern India particularly on food and livelihood security is a matter of concern now. The relationship between diversification and changing consumption pattern also requires special attention. 

7.  7. Institutional arrangements to promote diversification of agriculture in Eastern India. The role of contract farming, micro-finance, land acquisition norms, crop insurance and other new institutions on agricultural diversification in Eastern India need to be studied in depth.  

8.  8. Areas of policy intervention needed to promote diversification of agriculture in Eastern India. In this context public policies in terms of price protection, development of rural infrastructure particularly market, storage and cold chain system, land ceiling and tenancy act, etc needs in-depth investigation.