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Agriculture is the main occupation of the rural population in India. It is only one source of income of the farmers. The size of the land holdings is reducing in at present due to the family division in rural areas. The production and productivity in agriculture sector has been affected by the using of technology in agriculture. Although the production in agriculture sector has been increased rapidly but the opportunity of employment in agriculture has been decreased. Due to the small land holdings the farmers have practiced horticulture to improve the economic condition. Due to practicing such types of farming the pattern of agriculture has been changed in rural areas. Mostly small farmers have adopted the vegetable cultivation to improve the economic condition. They are practicing vegetable agriculture to achieve the high economic growth in a short period. Due to illiterate the farmers are unable to use the innovative technology in agriculture yet they have changed the pattern of agriculture and working manually to fulfill the requirement of their family. Indian economy is based on agriculture sector but the growth in agriculture sector is very slow. To improve the economic growth of rural areas the cropping pattern can be changed by using the high value crops cultivation. The cultivation of vegetable is very useful for the sustainable development in agriculture sector because the demand of vegetable is regular in every part of the country. So small farmers have moved toward this crops. Such types of agriculture provides many opportunities to develop the rural areas. It is a better source of employment of female workers in local areas. Vegetables are very important for the health nutrients and vitamins. It is better profitable than the other crops, return. Its provided whole year employment and reduced the poverty level of the farmers. The growth in vegetable agriculture is found highly in the rural areas, which villages have facilities of transportation. Due to transportation facilities availability in rural areas the vegetable farming is growing up rapidly. So the small farmers are getting good economic growth in agriculture.

The researcher has made an attempt to arrange the literature related to the research problem. Indian and foreign author has worked on this research problem. The review of literature of the present study is as follows‒

Shuryavanshi and Daya (2010) has presented a research paper on “A spatio-temporal analysis of crop diversification in Nasik district of Maharashtra.” In their study they investigated the degree of crop diversification and variation therein, competition among the different crops and the factors responsible for crop diversification. They used crops diversification index method to identity the behaviour of crops over a time and space. In their research study they found that the crop diversification is not uniform in the study area. They found high level crops diversification in Dindori and Kalwan Tehsil due to favourable physical conditions and good infrastructure. They found that the demand of horticulture crops has increased in the study area. Acharya et al. (2011) have discussed about the nature and extent of crops diversification, factors have affected the cropping pattern in Karnataka. They used the methods of ‘composite entropy index’ and multiple linear regression analysis to find out the result of crops diversification. They investigated that the facilities of irrigation intensity, market, transportation, land holding's size, machinery, credits etc. are affected the process of agricultural development and crop diversification. Pal and Kaur (2012) has analysed the crops diversification and changing pattern of crops diversification. They prepared a comparative level of crops diversification on the state level and block level. Bowman and Zilberman (2013) has studied on diversified cropping systems. They found that it is the base of economic growth in rural areas. They pointed that diversify farming system is essential to reduce the poverty level and unemployment in rural areas. Kumar (2014) has studied about the pattern of agriculture diversification in India. He found that the agriculture production is shifting from the traditional substance agriculture to high value products. Kumar and Gupta (2015) studied about the crops diversification towards high value crops in India. They examined the cropping diversification level on state level and analysed the high value crops. They found that high value crops are responsible for economic development on rural India. Kumar, Saroj and Singh, Shiv (2016) presented a research paper on “Agricultural diversity dietary diversity and nutritional intake : An evidence on inter-linkages from village level studies in eastern India.” They examined that the food consumption patterns, assessed the relationship between agricultural production and dietary diversity on nutritional intake. In their study they pointed that the dietary diversity is depend on agricultural diversification. Dietary diversity is fulfill the requirement of protein and calories in human body. Sen, Venkatesh, Jha and Singh (2017) has presented a research paper about the agricultural diversification and its impact on farm income. They examined the diversification on national level and found that the concentration ratio for 4 major agricultural sub-sectors has declined from 73.6% to 69.6% for the study period 1999-2000 to 2013-14. It clearly indicates a shift in Indian agriculture from cereals-based production pattern to their high-value based production pattern. In their study they used ‘Simpson index method’ for agricultural diversification. Kumar, P. and Kumar, S. (2018) presented a research paper on “Agricultural diversification – An opportunity for small land holders.” They found that the pattern of crops has been changed on the study area. The crops of high calories are increasing and the cereals crops are decreasing. Demand of high value crops is very high in the markets, small land holders are adopting the high value crops cultivation to earn high profit.

To complete the research the researcher has used both types of data. Primary data has been collected from the study area by using the questionnaire and schedule method. An attempt has been made by the researcher to collect the primary data by personal interview method. Secondary data has been used to complete the present research work. It is collected from the various departments, offices, library and websites. District statistical magazine is used for agriculture data for present the result. Statistical methods has been used to find out the result. Graphical and non-graphical method has been used to present the data.

To complete the present study and find out the result the researcher has used two stages randomly sampling method stage. Ist is related to block level and study IInd is related to village level. There are 6 blocks in Amroha district and 1133 villages. There are selected 2 villages from every block. Researcher has selected 25 household from every village. Thus the research design of the sampling is as‒

Statement of Research Problem

Mostly farmers are poor in India and have very small land holdings for cultivation. The pattern of agriculture is traditional which is used by the farmers. The production is not sufficient for fulfill the basic requirement of the farmers. There are present the lack of transportation facilities, lack of high yield variety seeds, lack of fertilizers, lack of agriculture markets, lack of electricity and lack of finance facilities in rural areas, so the farmers are unable to achieve a high growth rate in agriculture. Population pressure is going high on agriculture and the agriculture land is reducing due to other use than agriculture. Due to illiteracy and unawareness about the high value crops the socio-economic condition of the farmers is poor and the purchasing capacity is very low in rural areas.

To complete the present study and find out the result the researcher has used two stages randomly sampling method stage. Ist is related to block level and study IInd is related to village level. There are 6 blocks in Amroha district and 1133 villages. There are selected 2 villages from every block. Researcher has selected 25 household from every village. Thus the research design of the sampling is as‒

Importance of The Study

The present study is related to the upliftment of socio-economic condition of the small farmers. It will be useful to increase the per capita income and also useful to eradicate the rural poverty. it will be useful to generate the employment in rural areas in agriculture sector. It will be helpful to change the cropping pattern of small farmers. It will be useful to improve the soil fertility and also useful in agriculture diversification. It will provide an opportunity for sustainable agriculture development.

Vegetables Cultivation in Study Area

The demand of vegetables is regular in markets. The area under the vegetables cultivation has been changed rapidly in the study area. Mostly farmers are poor. They have small land holdings. They prefer vegetable agriculture than the cereals crops. The researcher has selected secondary data related to the vegetables agriculture. The area under the vegetables agriculture is given below in the following table‒

Table-1

Pattern of Vegetables Agriculture in Amroha District (2020)

Sr.No.	Block	Area in Hectare	Percentage
1.	Amroha	293	4.57
2.	Joya	1771	27.59
3.	Dhanaura	1786	27.83
4.	Gajraula	704	10.97
5.	Hasanpur	1404	21.87
6.	Gangeshwari	460	7.17
Total		6418	100

Source: District Statistical Magazine, District Amroha, 2020.

According to the above table the area under the vegetables crops is maximum 27.83% in Dhanaura block and minimum 4.57% in Amroha block in the study area. The area under the vegetables crops of 77.29% is present in block Joya (27.59%), Dhanaura (27.83%) and Hasanpur (21.87%) in the study area. These block are rich in vegetable agriculture.

Land Holdings Size

The size of land holdings play an important role in agriculture development. Big size of land holdings with technology input is known as the high production agriculture land. Small size land holdings are unable to use the agriculture technology. So the production and productivity is effective due to lack of none use of technology. Mostly farmers are poor and have not sufficient land for livelihood. Poor farmers who have small size of land holdings prefer horticulture and get high income from the small size of land holdings. Due to the scarcity of underground water the pattern of agriculture has been changed in the study area. The land holdings, size of the study area is given below in the table‒

Table-2

Land Holding Size of the Study Area District Amroha (2019-20)

Land Holdings Size	No. of Land Holdings	Percentage	Area	Percentage
< 0.50	98662	54.31	30653	18.59
0.50 – 1.00	36624	20.16	28312	17.17
1.00 – 2.00	27255	15.00	39241	23.79
2.00 – 4.00	14492	7.98	40892	24.80
4.00 – 10.00	4494	2.48	24121	14.63
> 10.00	131	0.07	1688	1.02
Total	181658	100	164907	100

Source: District Statistical Magazine Amroha District, 2020.

According to the above table, we found that the small size of land holdings are 54.31% in the study area. These land holdings have less than 0.50 hectare area and the big land holdings are 2.55% in the study area. So we can say that poor farmers have not sufficient land for cultivation. So the earning is very little from the farming. So we can say that we need horticulture in rural areas to increase the economics growth.

Cropping Pattern in the Study Area

There are present various food and non-food crops in the study area. These crops are cultivated in three main cropping seasons which are known as Rabi, Kharif and Zaid. Cropping pattern depends on the soil, climatic conditions, irrigation facilities and transport facilities etc. Due to the demand of the agriculture products the pattern of cropping has been changed in the study area during in the period of 2000-01 to 2019-20 in the study area. The cropping pattern of the study area is given below in the table‒

Table-3

Changing Cropping Pattern of the Study Area District Amroha (2000-01 to 2019-20)

Sr. No.	Crops	Area			2000-01 to 2010-11	2010-11 to 2019-20	2000-01 to 2019-20
		2019-20	2010-11	2000-01
1.	Rice	23965	25580	28991	‒3411	‒1615	‒5026
2.	Wheat	92304	91373	92406	‒1028	931	‒102
3.	Barley	48	26	109	‒83	22	‒61
4.	Millets	0	0	82	0	0	0
5.	Pearl Millets	4035	4061	6195	‒2104	‒26	‒2160
6.	Maize	1564	2498	4957	‒2459	‒934	‒3393
Total Grains		121916	123538	132740	‒9202	‒1622	‒10824
7.	Black Gram	3072	3825	783	3042	‒753	2289
8.	Green Gram	5	42	36	06	‒37	‒31
9.	Lentil	64	70	288	‒218	‒06	‒224
10.	Gram	3	1	1	01	02	02
11.	Pea	47	134	195	‒61	‒84	‒148
12.	Pigeon Pea	207	294	381	‒87	‒87	‒174
Total Pulses		3398	4366	1684	2682	‒968	2682
13.	Mustard	2813	2810	1882	928	03	931
14.	Linseed	0	0	0	0	0	0
15.	Seasome	107	20	4	16	87	103
16.	Groundnut	0	21	0	21	0	0
17.	Sunflower	0	0	0	0	0	0
18.	Soyabean	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total Oil Seeds		2920	2851	1886	965	69	1034
Grand Total		128234	130755	136310	‒5555	‒2521	‒8076

Source: District Statistical Magazine District Amroha, 2001, 2011 and 2020.

According to the above table, the pattern of the agriculture in the study area has been changed during in this period 2000-01 to 2019-20. The area under the grains was 132740 hectare in 2000-01, 123538 hectare in 2010-11 and 121916 hectare in 2019-20 in the study area. During in this period (2000-01 to 2019-20) the area under the grains crops has been decreased 10824 hectares in the study area. The area under the pulses crops was 1684 hectare in 2000-01, 4366 hectare in 2010-11 and 3398 hectare in 2019-20. It has been increased 2682 hectare during in this period (2000-01 to 2019-20) in the study area. The area under the oil seeds crops was 1886 hectare in 2000-01, 2851 hectare in 2010-11 and 2920 hectare in 2019-20 in the study area. During in this period the area under the oil seeds crops has been increased 1034 hectare during in this period 2000-01 to 2019-20 in the study area. On the basis of the above table, we can say that the pattern of pulses and oil seeds agriculture has been changed in the study area. The area under the grains has been decreased in the study area during in this period 2000-01 to 2019-20. Thus we can say that the area under the vegetables agriculture has been increased here. The small farmers have moved towards horticulture.

Profit in Vegetable Agriculture

 Vegetables are essential for human food. The demand of vegetables is regular in the markets in every season. The returns are very high in the vegetables cultivation. Farmers take many crops in a year. So they earn the high profit in vegetables agriculture. In other words we can say that the vegetables agriculture is more profitable than the grain crops agriculture. The researcher has made an attempt to find out the comparative result between grains cultivation and vegetables cultivation. Profit in vegetables agriculture is prepared on per hectare production and their current prices which is given below in the table‒

Table-4

Comparison between Grains and Vegetables Crops Prices and Production (April-2022)

Sr. No.	Grains Crops	Production Per Hect. in Quental	Production Rs. Per Quental	Sr. No.	Vegetables	Production Per Hect. in Quental	Production Rs. Per Quental
1.	Rice	37.5	2200	1.	Potato	125	2000
2.	Wheat	36.0	2000	2.	Lady Finger	60	4000
3.	Barley	30.50	1800	3.	Radish	110	1500
4.	Millets	25.50	1500	4.	Cali Flower	190	2000
5.	Pearl Millets	18.75	1500	5.	Tomato	325	2500
6.	Maize	30.0	1200	6.	Pea	55	4000

Source: Computed by the author on the basis of sample survey.

The researcher has selected 6 six grains crops and 6 vegetables crops to find out the comparative result about the grains and vegetables cultivation profit. On the basis of 2021-22 agriculture crops price. On the basis of the above mentioned details, we can say that grains cultivation is not more profitable for the small farmers. Vegetables cultivation is more profitable than the grains cultivation. Grains cultivation is cultivated two times in a year but vegetables crops are cropped three or four times in a year. So the vegetables cultivation is the base of rural economic growth. The vegetables cultivation is the source of employment in rural areas. Its play an important role to eradicate the rural poverty and unemployment.

Impact of Vegetable Cultivation on Small Farmers

Mostly farmers are poor in rural areas. They have small size of land holdings. They are unable to fulfill the requirement of their family. They have not other work besides agriculture. So the income of the poor farmers is very low in rural areas. Due to lack of transport facilities the farmers are not getting suitable price of their crops.

Due to illiteracy they have not knowledge about the high calories crops. These crops increase the income of the farmers. The impact of the vegetable cultivation on the small farmers is given below‒

1. Vegetables cultivation increased the income of the small farmers.

2. Generated employment opportunities in rural areas.

3.  Eradicated rural poverty.

4.  Increased soil fertility.

5. Increased maximum use of small land holdings.

6. Increased the purchasing power of poor farmers.

7. Moved others farmers towards the horticulture.

8.  Developed the cottage industries in rural areas.

9. Generated composite manures for cultivation and saved the money.

Vegetables Agriculture in Sample Villages

To find out the result about the vegetables cultivation the researcher has selected 12 sample villages and 300 sample from the villages. The researcher has collected 25 farmers from each village and arranged the data to find out the result related to the research problems. The pattern of agriculture of the sample villages is given below in the table‒

Table-5

Pattern of Vegetables Agriculture in Sample Villages (April-2022)

Sr.No.	Sample Villages	No. of Farmers	Vegetables Agriculture	Other Agriculture
1.	Buderna	25	08	17
2.	Asawar	25	06	19
3.	Barkhera Rajpoot	25	12	13
4.	Narangpur	25	10	15
5.	Faundapur	25	07	18
6.	Khayalipur	25	10	15
7.	Dhakka	25	09	16
8.	Pandki	25	07	18
9.	Halpura	25	06	19
10.	Kaural	25	08	17
11.	Malakpur	25	10	15
12.	Sutabali	25	12	13
Total		300	105	195

Source: Computed by the author on the basis of the sample survey.

According to the sample survey the researcher has collected 300 sample from the sample villages. We found that 35% farmers are cultivating vegetables agriculture in the sample villages. 65% farmers are cultivating others crops agriculture in the sample villages. They are cultivating grain, pulses and oil seeds crops. They have big size of land holdings and all facilities for cultivating.

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