Cropping Pattern in Tribal Area of Dang District

Study was conducted in the Dang district of Gujarat. For the purpose of this study, 20 villages of Waghai, Ahwa and Subir talukas were selected. 200 respondents were selected for the study with the help of proportionate multistage random sampling methods of analysis. 44.5 per cent of the respondents were in the middle age group, 62.5 per cent of the respondents were found to have below or primary level of education, 57.0 per cent of the respondents belonged to the marginal and small farmers, respectively. Majority (76%) of the respondents were in the middle to low level of extension personnel contact, 78 per cent of the respondents were in the low to middle level of economic motivation, 77.5 per cent of the respondent had low to medium level of scientific orientation and 38.5 percent of farmers did not have any source of irrigation. Production of paddy (drilled), paddy (T.P), niger and gram had increased during the last five years, no major change was observed in cropping pattern in kharif crops, although, in rabi, change in cropping pattern was observed due to increase in irrigation facility and market availability. Area under paddy, black gram, soybean and niger had increased while area under ragi, sorghum, pigeon pea had decreased during last five years. Population growth and change in family structure, modernization and commercialization of agriculture, change in agricultural production, prices and food and fodder self-sufficiency were socio-economic factors responsible for to change in cropping pattern.