This paper has studied the changes in land utilization pattern, to estimate growth rates of area, production and productivity of major crops grown in Maharashtra state, and has estimated the growth rate of fertilizer consumption. The study has revealed that area under forest and other fallow land was non-significant, and the area under cultivable waste land, net sown area, the total cropped area was negatively significant. The positive growth rates were noticed in area, production and productivity of major crops. This indicates that agricultural development is taking place in the desired direction. The use of nitrogenous fertilizer has been found nonsignificant, but use of phosphatic and potassic fertilizers was significant in Maharashtra. These results will help in launching different programmes for developing agriculture in the state.
Linear growth rate, compound growth rate, land-use pattern, cropping pattern, fertilizer consumption, Maharashtra
