Agriculturaldevelopment in Maharashtra State by Estimating Growth Rates of Area, Production and Productivity of Major Crops Grown and Fertilizer Consumption Pattern

Agriculture development has been analysed by studying the cropping pattern, land utilization pattern, fertilizer consumption and crop specialization in any agro-ecosystem in regional and temporal framework. Tribal regions are experiencing agricultural intensification changing cropping pattern and crop specialization as a result of ecological economic changes as well as impact of public policy of technology transfer and resource use intensification.

In this paper, an attempt is made to estimate growth rates of area, production and productivity of major crops grown and fertilizer consumption in Maharashtra state over a period of time. Such an analysis will help in launching different programmes for developing agriculture in the state. Result of study will help policy makers,administrators and research worker for development of agriculture in different fields to plan their strategies for overall development of state. This study revealed that the positive growth rate were noticed in area, production and productivity of majority of major crops. This indicate that the agricultural development is taking place in desired direction. In the overall period the Nitrogenous fertilizer is non significant but phosphatic and potassic fertilizers was significant in Maharashtra state.