In the process of structural transformation of any country, diversification is very essential. In this direction, crop diversification is considered as one of the best options for maintaining food security and thereby helping for income growth, poverty alleviation, employment generation and judicious use of natural resources, sustainable agricultural development, and environmental and ecological balance. Against this scenario, this paper analyzes the crop diversification in the Asia pacific region, which consists of 44 countries. This study reveals that significant crop diversification has been made during the past few years; however, the level of success varies from country to country. Despite the significant progress in crop diversification, there is a need to further promote crop diversification on scientific lines for the realization of its untapped potential.

Diversification is an essential part in the process of structural transformation in every country. Diversification at the macro level generally means that secondary and tertiary sectors of an economy progressively become more important over time than the primary sector, in terms of their contributions to national income as well as in disposition of the work force. The diversification can be of three broad categories: (a) a shift of labor from farm to non-farm activities, i.e., employment diversification; (b) a shift from a less profitable crop to a more profitable one, i.e., crop diversification; and, (c) use of resources in diverse but complementary activities, i.e., resource diversification. This paper concentrates on the issues of crop diversification, especially how this diversification has been taking place in the Asia-Pacific region over the last decade. The objective of this paper is to explore different aspects of crop diversification and how it is happening in the Asia-Pacific region.

Since the early 1990s, significant changes are taking place in domestic and international demand for crop products due to rise in income and improved standard of living, fast urbanization, and changing life styles and preference patterns in the Asia-Pacific region. Trade liberalization and development of transport infrastructure have opened new avenues of trade and have improved access to new and distant markets. This has created new opportunities for crop diversification, especially for enterprising and progressive farmers in various countries.

Crop diversification can be an important instrument for food and nutrition security and thus helping income growth, poverty alleviation, employment generation, judicious use of natural resources, sustainable agricultural development, and environmental and ecological management or improvement. Therefore efforts are needed to be made both at private and government levels to explore the full potential and prospects of crop diversification to forge congruence of enhanced productivity, profitability and sustainability.

Crop Diversification, Experience in the Asia-Pacific Region, structural transformation, food security, income growth, poverty alleviation, employment generation, natural resources, sustainable agricultural development, environmental and ecological balance.