The vegetable crop diversity index and its contributing
factors among vegetable growers in the special agricultural zones (SAZs) of Kerala are examined in the present study. A total of 270 farmers from five SAZ
blocks – Chitoor–Kollengode, Kanjikuzhy, Pazhayannur, Vattavada and Devikulam were surveyed. Vegetable crop diversity was measured using the Shannon–
Wiener diversity index, with the highest diversity recorded in Kollengode (H = 1.118) and Kanjikuzhy
(H = 1.108) panchayats, while the lowest diversity was
found in Chelakkara panchayats (H = 0.740). Results
revealed significant differences in crop diversity
among panchayats P < 0.05, with pairwise comparisons
showing that Kollengode, Kanjikuzhy, Devikulam and
Vattavada had similar diversity levels. Further, findings signalled that farmers with a high-risk propensity
are willing to diversify their vegetable cultivation (r =
0.362, P < 0.01). Key personal socio-economic factors
affecting crop diversity, irrigation potential, vegetable
farming experience and credit orientation, as indicated
by stepwise regression analysis, explained 19% of the
variance in crop diversity. The study highlights the
importance of understanding the socio-economic traits
and risk aversiveness of vegetable farmers in designing
strategies to promote vegetable crop diversity, which is
essential for improving agricultural resilience and
farmer livelihoods in Kerala’s SAZs.