Changes in Land-use and Cropping Pattern in Maharashtra

The study has analyzed the changes in land-use and cropping pattern in Maharashtra during the past five decades. The time series data were collected from various published resources and websites for the period 1960 to 2011. The study has revealed that cropping intensity had increased steadily from 105 per cent to 130 per cent over this period, which is a sign of intensive use of land available for cultivation in the state. The dominance of cereal crops remained over the period, their share in gross cropped area declined from 55.4 per cent in 1960–63 to 37.6 per cent during 2007–10. A notable feature of Maharashtra agriculture is that the cropping pattern is shifting towards commercial crops. The changes in cropping pattern have led to serious environmental consequences such as groundwater depletion, soil fertility loss and waterlogging and salinity, all of which can reduce the productive capacity and growth potential of agriculture over the long-term. A classical example is of cotton in the Vidhrbha region of Maharashtra replacing soybean crop. The study has also identified the factors that are responsible for cropping pattern changes in Maharashtra.