Crop Planning for Improving Resource Use Efficiency and Sustainability in Scarcity Zone of Maharashtra

The paper has studied land-use pattern, cropping pattern, resource-use levels and cost and return structure in 12 selected crops in the scarcity zone of Maharashtra based on the data collected from the ‘Comprehensive Scheme for Study of Cost of Cultivation of Principal Crops’, MPKV, Rahuri for the period 2011–12 to 2013–14. The study has also suggested optimum crop plans for better resource-use efficiency, sustainability and maximizing returns which lead to better household nutrition. The kharif season was observed to be predominant in this zone with 43.49 per cent of area. The drought-resistant fruit crops like guava, pomegranate, custard apple, etc. and irrigated fruit crops like grapes, banana and papaya were grown in the zone. The use of human labour and bullock labour was highest for kharif-brinjal and rabi-groundnut, respectively with machine power use for kharifbrinjal. The use of organic manure was quite satisfactory in the zone with highest application of N, P and K in banana. Most of the field crops in kharif, rabi and summer seasons were not able to cover the costs incurred on their cultivation, the only exceptions being coriander and tomato. The sensitivity analysis has revealed that if one hectare of area under cultivation is increased, the profits will increase by 90,618.