Archives of Current Research International

Vegetables play a vital role in Tamil Nadu’s agricultural economy, contributing to rural employment, household income and food security. The state produces about 5 per cent of India’s total vegetables, with cucurbits particularly bitter gourd, ridge gourd and snake gourd - occupying a significant share of 4.50 per cent. Dharmapuri district has emerged as a major production center for these crops; however, spatial disparities and structural changes in their cultivation remain underexplored. To address this, the present study analysed the degree of concentration, specialization and competitiveness of cucurbit crops in Dharmapuri and its major blocks - Karimangalam and Palacode using secondary data from 2014-15 to 2023-24. A two-tier analytical framework was employed, wherein the Modified Location Quotient (LQ) measured spatial dominance and the Modified Shift-Share Analysis (SSA) assessed structural transformation and regional advantage over time. The findings revealed strong concentration of bitter gourd, ridge gourd and snake gourd, supported by favorable agro-climatic and market conditions. Positive growth and regional shift effects confirmed Dharmapuri’s competitive position. The study highlights Dharmapuri’s strategic role in strengthening Tamil Nadu’s vegetable sector and emphasizes the importance of targeted interventions for sustaining regional competitiveness.