social growth

Introduction
RNI. MAHMUL02937/2010/35848
SOCIAL GROWTH
Half yearly
Research Journal
ISSN 2229-6190
Vol. I, Issue : III, Nov. 2011 to April 2012
Agriculture is the primary activity which is largely depended on physical,
environmental and socioeconomic conditions of the region. In India, 60 percent net sown
area is rain feed. Agriculture practice has been probably changed faster in the past two
centuries. Better agriculture techniques have successfully applied in order to get self
sufficient in agriculture products. Combination analysis is one of the important tools in
statistical studies of geography, particularly in agricultural geography. Presently statistical
tools has gained momentum and its importance in agricultural geography. When study of
crop is done on regional level it is very essential to consider the combinational analysis
and relative position of crops. This technique helps to identify crop regions in term of
spatial predominance of certain crop or combination. Such analysis would ultimately
minimize the change of oversimplified generalization (Ali, 1978).
Objectives
Specific objective of the study is to understand relative strength of crop percentage
at tahsil level by using ranking of crops.
Data Base and Methodology
6
Crop Ranking In Satara District Of Maharahtra
Research Paper - Geography
Dr. Vinod R. Veer
Dept. of Geography,
Kissan Veer Mahavidyalaya,
Wai, Dist. Satara
This study is based on secondary data. This data have been collected for the
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RNI. MAHMUL02937/2010/35848
SOCIAL GROWTH
Half yearly
Research Journal
ISSN 2229-6190
Vol. I, Issue : III, Nov. 2011 to April 2012
year 2005-2006 for ten crops in eleven tahsils from Revenue Department, Agriculture
Department and Land Record Office, Satara. This data were converted into percentage.
In order to compute crop ranking ten dominant crops have taken into consideration.
These crops are, namely, jowar, bajra, rice, sugarcane, fodder crops, groundnut, fruits
and vegetables, wheat, kidneybean and gram.
Study Area
Satara district lies in west part in Maharashtra state. It extends from 17º 5´ to 18º
11´ north latitudes and from 73º 33´ to 74º 54´ east longitudes on 10,484.00 square
kilometers area. In term of area, Satara district ranks fifteenth in Maharashtra state. This
district has 2,808,994 persons (2001 Censes). Satara district is bounded by Pune district
in north, Solapur district in east, Sangali district in south, Ratnagiri district in west and
Raigad district in northwest. According to 2001 Census, Satara district consists of eleven
tahasils having 1573 villages. These eleven tahsils are, namely, Satara, Wai, Khandala,
Koregaon, Phaltan, Man (Dahiwadi), Khatav (Vaduj), Karad, Patan, Jaoli (Medha) and
Mahabaleshwar. The Satara district varies in relief, climate and vegetation.
Discussion and Results
First Ranking
Jowar, fodder crop, bajra, sugarcane and rice have identified as first ranking
crops in Satara district. Jowar is identified as first ranking crops in five tahsils occupying
43.05 percent of total area of first rank crop in study area. Jowar belt is concentrated in
north and central parts. Fodder crop as second crop has identified in first ranking crop.
It is concentrated on east and west part in study region on 29.77 percent as first rank
crop. Bajra, rice and sugarcane crops have identified as first rank in study region. Bajra
shows first rank in Khatav tahsil while rice and sugarcane occupies first rank in Patan and
Karad tahsils respectively. Bajra as a first ranking is practiced on 22309 hectares (11.38
percent). While sugarcane is practiced on 19497 hectares (9.94 percent) and rice is
practiced on 11494 hectares (5.86 percent) in study region. Sugarcane appears on
southern part in study region on deep soil along Krishna river. Rice appears on southwest
part in Satara district where rainfall is high and soil is red in colour. Bajra ranks first in
Khatav tahsil laying in southeast parts having less rainfall region and has coarse shallow
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soil.
RNI. MAHMUL02937/2010/35848
SOCIAL GROWTH
Sr.No. Crops
Second Ranking
Half yearly
Research Journal
Table-1 : Crop Rank Frequency
ISSN 2229-6190
Vol. I, Issue : III, Nov. 2011 to April 2012
Crop Ranks and Number of Tahsils
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 Jowar 5 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
2 Fodder crop 3 2 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
3 Bajra 1 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 2
4 Rice 1 0 2 0 3 2 0 0 2 0
5 Sugarcane 1 0 1 2 3 0 3 0 0 0
6 Groundnut 0 1 2 2 1 0 0 3 0 1
7 Fruits and Vegetables 0 1 2 0 1 3 0 3 1 0
8 Wheat 0 0 0 3 2 3 2 1 0 0
9 Kidneybean 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 5
10 Gram 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 3 1 1
Source : Computed by Researcher
Five crops have been identified as second ranking crops. These crops are bajra,
jowar, fodder crop, groundnut and fruits and vegetables. Among these second ranking
crops, bajra is cultivated in four tahsils. It is distributed in north and east parts in study
area covering 65364 hectares. These tahsils are namely, Wai, Khandala, Phaltan and
Man. In these tahsils, bajra is cultivated on coarse shallow soil. Jowar is identified as
second ranking crop in three tahsils occupying 42142 hectares. Its distribution in study
area appears into two patches. One patch is lying in west part and another is located in
southeast part. In two tahsils fodder crops have been identified as second ranking crop
practiced on 22818 hectares (16.34 percent) in study region. Fodder crop is identified
as second ranking crop in Koregaon and Patan tahsils. Koregaon tahsil is located in
central part in Satara district while Patan tahsil lies in southwest part. Groundnut, fruits
and vegetables have found as second rank crop in one tahsil each on 8477 hectares and
832 hectares respectively. Groundnut is identified as second ranking crop in Satara tahsil
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RNI. MAHMUL02937/2010/35848
SOCIAL GROWTH
Half yearly
Research Journal
ISSN 2229-6190
Vol. I, Issue : III, Nov. 2011 to April 2012
and its position is identified in central part in study area. While fruits and vegetables is
identified as second ranking crop in Mahabaleshwar tahsil in study area.
Third Ranking
In third ranking crops number have increased than earlier ranking crops in number.
These six crops are, namely, fodder crops, jowar, groundnut, rice, sugarcane and fruits
and vegetables. Among these crops fodder crops is dominant crop in this ranking. It is
cultivated in three tahsils on 28939 hectares. These tahsils are Satara, Phaltan and Karad.
Phaltan tahsil is located in northeast part in study area while Satara tahsil is located in
central part.Karad tahsil is located in south part in study region. Jowar is identified as
third ranking crop in Man tahsil covering 25374 hectares. Man tahsil is located in east
part in study area. Groundnut is identified as third ranking crop in Wai and Patan on
13108 hectares. Rice is ranked as third in Mahabaleshwar and Jaoli tahsils covering
9710 hectares area. One identical rice patch is visible in west part. In this area hilly
topography is present. Sugarcane has been ranked as third crop only in Koregaon tahsils
lying in central part of study area. This crop practiced on 7008 hectares area in Koregaon
tahsil. Fruits and vegetables have ranked as third in two tahsils covering 6658 hectares.
Two patches of fruits and vegetables have seen in study area. One patch is found in
southeast and another patch in north parts in study area.
Fourth Ranking
The fourth ranking crops present relatively increasing number of crops than earlier
ranking. Seven crops have identified in fourth ranking crop. These seven crops are,
namely, sugarcane, groundnut, wheat, bajra, kidneybean, jowar and fodder crops. Among
these seven crops, sugarcane is cultivated in two tahsils in study region. Groundnut is
identified as fourth ranking crop in Jaoli and Karad tahsils occupying 11588 hectare
areas. In three tahsils, wheat has been identified as fourth ranking (13.23 percent) in
study region. These tahsils are, namely, Mahabaleshwar, Phaltan and Khatav lying west,
northeast and southeast parts in study region. Bajra is ranked as fourth in Koregaon tahsil
covering 5937 hectares. Here bajra is cultivated on coarse shallow soil. Kidneybean
have been ranked as fourth crop in Man tahsil covering 5275 hectares. Jowar is identified
as fourth ranking crop in Patan tahsil. Fodder crop has been ranked as fourth ranking in
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RNI. MAHMUL02937/2010/35848
SOCIAL GROWTH
Half yearly
Research Journal
ISSN 2229-6190
Vol. I, Issue : III, Nov. 2011 to April 2012
Khandala tahsil lying in north part in study area (1493 hectares).
Fifth Ranking
Six crops have entered in fifth ranking in Satara district (Table-5.6). These crops
are, namely, rice, sugarcane, fruits and vegetables, wheat, groundnut and jowar. Rice
holds rank fifth in three tahsil (27.27 percent). The distribution of rice in study area is
found in one continuous patch consisting of Wai, Satara and Karad lying on foothill of
western side of Sahyadri ranges. Rice covers 11334 hectares area in these tahsils.
Sugarcane is found as fifth in three tahsils on 9001 hectares (30.73 percent). These
tahsils are, namely, Phaltan, Khatav and Patan in study region.Fruits and vegetables stand
as fifth rank in Man tahsil covering 3349 hectares (11.43 percent). Wheat ranks as fifth
crop in two tahsils on 2938 hectares (10.03 percent) in Jaoli and Khandala. Groundnut
ranks fifth in Koregaon tahsil lying central part in study area. Groundnut is practiced on
2424 hectare area in Koregaon tahsil. Jowar is found as fifth ranking crop in
Mahabaleshwar tahsil. Area under jowar in this tahsil is only 243 hectares. Due to heavy
rainfall and hilly topography less cultivation of jowar practiced in Mahabaleshwar tahsil.
Sixth Ranking
There are five crops which emerged as sixth rank in Satara district. These crops
are fruits and vegetables, wheat, rice, gram and kidneybean. Among these crops, fruits
and vegetables are principle crops found higher coverage on 4079 hectares (26.39 percent)
in Jaoli, Koregaon and Karad tahsils. Wheat occupies sixth ranking crop in three tahsils
consisting of two patches. One patch is located in eastern part in Man tahsil. While other
patch is located in central and west parts in Satara and Patan tahsils. This crop is cultivated
on 3838 hectares. Rice is cultivated on 3775 hectares and it occupies sixth rank in two
tahsils forming one continuous patch lying north in study area. This patch is identified in
Khandala and Phaltan tahsils. Gram rank sixth position in two tahsils practiced on 3139
hectars in study area. The cultivation of gram is spreaded in one patch lying in northwestern
hilly part. This patch is located in Mahabaleshwar and Wai tahsils. Kidneybean has ranked
as sixth in Khatav tahsil located in southeast part in study area. Area under kidneybean is
634 hectares in Khatav tahsil accounting 4.10 percent under sixth ranking crop.
Seventh Ranking
There are four crops in this ranking. These crops are, namely, gram, fodder crop,
wheat and sugarcane. Among these crops, gram stands first in study region. The distribution
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RNI. MAHMUL02937/2010/35848
SOCIAL GROWTH
Half yearly
Research Journal
ISSN 2229-6190
Vol. I, Issue : III, Nov. 2011 to April 2012
of gram appears in two patches. One patch lying central and southwest parts in Satara
and Patan tahsils. Gram is grown on 4814 hectares in study area. Wheat ranks seventh
position in two tahsils on 2580 hectares in study area. The cultivation of wheat is identified
into Koregaon and Karad tahsils on deep and medium black soils. Sugarcane ranked
seventh in three tahsils distributed in three patches. One patch is identified in Jaoli tahsils
lying in western parts in Satara district and another patch lying north part in Khandala
tahsil. Third patch lies on east part in study area consisting of Man tahsil where irrigation
is available for sugarcane growth. This area is very limited. Sugarcane is found as seventh
ranking crop on 1586 hectares area.
Eighth Ranking
Four crops have been identified as eighth ranking crops. These crops are, namely,
fruits and vegetables, wheat, gram and groundnut. Fruits and vegetables ranks eight is
found in three tahsils occupying 34.50 percent area in study region. Fruits and vegetables
belt is concentrated in southwest, central and northeast part in study region. Wheat is
another crop showing eighth rank in study region. Its cultivation is found on hilly northwest
part in study area. This crop is grown on 2666 hectares occupying 28.14 percent of total
area. Gram has identified as eighth ranking crop in three tahsils, namely, Jaoli, Koregaon
and Karad. Jaoli lies at west part in study region, Koregaon located in central part and
remaining Karad tahsil lies at south part in Satara district. Gram is grown in combination
with other crops in three tahsils. Groundnut ranks eight in three tahsils, namely, Khandala,
Man and Khatav. All these three tahsils experience drought prone. The cultivation of
groundnut is found in two patches. One patch is located in north part and another part lies
at east part in study region.
Ninth Ranking
In ninth ranking number of crops have increased than eight rank reveals distribution
of ninth ranking crop in Satara district. These are six crops, namely, kidneybean, fruits
and vegetables gram, rice, bajra and fodder crops are included in ninth ranking. Area
under bajra is observed in one patch in Karad and Patan tahsils. Tenth Ranking
Ten dominent crops have taken into consideration to compute crop ranking.
Among these, six crops are grown in Mahabaleshwar tahsil. In Jaoli, Patan, Khatav and
Man tahsils show nine crops cultivation. In Jaoli, Patan and man tahsil crops, namely,
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RNI. MAHMUL02937/2010/35848
SOCIAL GROWTH
Half yearly
Research Journal
ISSN 2229-6190
Vol. I, Issue : III, Nov. 2011 to April 2012
bajra, kidneybean and gram are not grown. Three crops kidneybean, bajra and groundnut
have entered in tenth ranking in Satara district. Kidneybean holds rank tenth in four
tahsils (63.06 percent). The distribution of kidneybean in study area is found in one
patch. The patch of four tahsil is found in north, central, northwest and south parts in
Koregaon, Khandala, Karad and Wai tahsils. A groundnut rank tenth is found in Phaltan
tahsil on 367 hectares (36.44 percent area). Bajra stands as a tenth rank in Satara tahsil
covering 5 hectares land. Conclusion
Sugarcane appears as dominant crop on southern part of study region where
deep soil is present along Krishna river. In the areas of high rainfall and red soil rice
appears as dominant crop. These areas lie in southwest part of Satara district. Bajra
ranks higher in areas of less rainfall and coarse shallow soil. Fodder crops are dominant
in areas were number of domesticated animals are more. Area under fruits and vegetables
is more in hilly and irrigated areas.
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References
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