Changes in Cropping Pattern in Western Maharashtra

The study has analyzed the changes in land-use and cropping pattern in western Maharashtra by collecting secondary data for a period of 40 years from 1970–71 to 2010–11. For analysis simple tabular and statistical tools have been employed. The study has revealed that the area sown more than once has increased by 3.06 per cent and gross cropped area by 23.3 per cent in western Maharashtra during this period. The area under cereals and other crops decreased by 38.7 per cent and under fodder crops by 20.1 per cent in western Maharashtra over the study period. On the other hand, the area under fruits and vegetable has increased from 1.22 lakh ha to 4.47 lakh ha. The correlation coefficient analysis has revealed that the large and medium farm-size groups are negatively correlated with marginal, small and semi-medium groups. A continuous decrease has been observed in operational holding-size of every group which indicates the division of families and breaking of joint family system. The per family operational holding has decreased from 3.96 ha to 1.32 ha during the study period in western Maharashtra.