Use of Crop Ranking Technique for Quantitative Evaluation of Landuse in Ahmednagar District in 1960-61 and 2010-11
Abstract
The net sown area, current fallows and land under tree crops and groves are included in agricultural land use. Use of land is an important factor for planning process because of the finite nature of land resource. Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra covered an area of about 17 lakh hectare comprising nearly 73.52percent area under net sown area in 1971-1972. Area under forest decreased slightly, area not available for cultivation decreased by 0.52 percent, other uncultivated area increased by 0.38 percent, while fallow land decreased by 0.92 percent during that period. Among the talukas, overall volume of change is greater in Nagar, Sangamner, Shrirampur and Newasa tahsils probably due to dynamic conditions existing there.
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Introduction
Agriculture is very important occupation inmost of the Indian states. Agricultural scientists, economists, geographers and many others are engaged in the study of agriculture. Utilization requires proper planning for being limited resource. For agriculture, land is avery important resource. For its large area size, and physical and socio-cultural diversities, Ahmednagar has different types of land uses. Agriculture is predominant economic activity in Ahmednagar, engaging nearly three-fifths of its working population. Though the share of agricultural sector in gross domestic product has considerably declined to about one-fourth yet the importance of agriculture as employment provider to workforce especially in the countryside is very high. Obviously, agriculture forms the hub of Indian economy as a large number of industries are also heavily dependent on agriculture for supply of raw materials. Agriculture involves not only crops rising but also animal ranching and fishing. Here an attempt has been made to study the land use pattern in Ahmednagar district from 1960-61 to 2010-
Conclusion
The ranking of crops denotes the relative strength of individual crops. Jawar ranks as the first ranking crop in 11 talukas respectively, Kopargaon, Rahata, Shrirampur, Newasa, Shevgaon, Pathardi, Nagar, Rahuri, Parner, Shrigonda, Karjat and Jamkhed (85% to total talukas) and consequently occupies an outstandingly predominant position in 642779 hectares in 1960-61. In 2010-11 Jawar had covered on 287331 hectares (54.50%) in the five talukas, viz. Nagar, Parner, Shrigonda, Karjat and Jamkhed in the district. Bajara stands second in rankin six tahsils (43 % to total tahsils) and wheat stand third in rankin five tahsils. Other crops namely sugarcane, pulses, oilseeds, fodder crop, cotton, vegetables, fruits, maize and rice have low percentage than that of Jawar, Bajara and Wheat. The third ranking crops were Oilseeds, Pulses, Bajara, Sugarcane and Cotton in 1960-61. Pulses hold third rankin the district and observed in three taluka (2010-11) occupied 18923 hectares (20.42%) in Newasa, Parner and Karjat talukas. Sugarcane, Bajara, Condiments and Spices, Jawar, Cotton and Vegetables stands as third ranking crops each in one taluka. The fourth ranking crops were Pulses, Bajara, Fodder crops, Oilseeds, Sugarcane, Cotton, wheat and Rice in 1960-61and seven crops respectively Oilseeds, Vegetables, Sugarcane, Fruits, Fodder crops, Pulses and Maize in 2010-11.Fodder crops, Fruits and Sugarcane hold fourth rankin the district and observed each in two talukas (2010-11). The numbers of crops in fifth rank were five in 1960-61 respectively, Wheat, Fodder Crop, Pulses, Bajara and Oil Seeds and six in 2010-11 respectively, Wheat, Pulses, Vegetable, Bajara, Cotton and Oilseeds. Wheat was dominant crop in the district. Wheat covered 15081 hectares (35.08%) There were five crops which emerge in sixth rankin 1960-61while seven crops in sixth rankin 2010-11 in the district. In 1960-61the crops were Wheat, Pulses, Cotton, Bajara and Fodder crops. There were seven crops which emerged in sixth rankin the district. In 2010-11 the crops were Vegetables, Pulses, Cotton, Sugarcane, Fodder Crops, Wheat, Jawar and Fruits. The crop distributional pattern in seventh ranking was more diversified. Those crops were Fodder crops, Cotton, Vegetables, Sugarcane, Wheat, Jawar and Condiments & Spices. Among the seven crops Fodder crops was principal crops found in five talukas. Fodder crops covered 10377 hectares (46.25%). The numbers of crops in seventh rank were eight (2010-11). Those crops were Fodder crops, Sugarcane, Pulses, Fruits, Jawar, Bajara, Oilseeds and Maize. Among the eight crops fodder crops was found largest coverage on 2348 hectares (10.61%). In 1960-61 there were five crops which emerge as eighth in rankin Ahmednagar District. The crops were Cotton, Vegetables, Sugarcane, fodder crops and Condiments and Spices. Among the five crops Cotton and Vegetables were the principal crops found largest coverage in the district. Cotton coverage on 3762 hectares (32.43%) and found in four talukas respectively Shrirampur, Kopargaon, Parner and Jamkhed. There were seven crops (in 2010-11) which emerged as eighth in rankin Ahmednagar District. The crops were Sugarcane, Fodder crops, Fruits, Maize, Jawar, Cotton and Oilseeds. Eight rank crops indicate diversity in number and crop distribution in the area under study. Among the seven crops Sugarcane, Fodder crops and Fruits were the principal crops found larges coverage in the district.
