author(s)
Bandna Ranga

abstract
Amid rising ecological stress and shifting market realities, Haryana’s agriculture stands at a decisive turning point where the old wheat-rice legacy meets the urgent call for diversification. The state, once celebrated as a Green Revolution success, now confronts groundwater depletion, input fatigue and a narrowing crop base that has weakened long-term sustainability. An assessment of cropping patterns from the late 1960s to 2022-23 reveals three clear transitions from a diverse millet-pulse system, to decades of wheat-rice dominance and finally to a slow resurgence of oilseeds, cotton and horticulture. Using area trends and Simpson Index values, the study highlights modest but measurable diversification driven by rising mustard acreage, expansion of fruits and vegetables and targeted schemes such as Mera Pani Meri Virasat. While cereals still occupy the largest share of gross cropped area, emerging high-value crops signal a gradual reorientation toward a more resilient and economically balanced agricultural system in Haryana.