97

CHAPTER V

AGRICULTURAL LAND USE AND LAND COVER

5.1 Introduction

5.2 General Land use

5.2.1 Area Under Forest

5.2.2 Land Not Available for Cultivation

5.2.3 Grazing and Cultivable Waste Land

5.2.4 Fallow Land

5.2.5 Net Sown Area

5.3 Spatial Distribution of Food Crops

5.3.1 Cereals

5.3.1.1 Jowar

5.3.1.2 Bajra

5.3.1.3 Corn

5.3.1.4 Wheat

5.3.2 Other Food Crops

5.3.2.1 Pulses

5.3.2.2 Oilseeds

5.3.2.3 Vegetables

98

5.1 Introduction:

The land utilization pattern in any geographical region is the result

of the continued interplay of physical elements like topography, climate

and soils. It is also the result of interaction between human and

surrounding environment. People make the land suitable for agriculture.

They also make the land more productive and convert the single crop land

to double crop or multi crops. The fundamental utility of land is

satisfying human need of food, habitation and housing material.

Agriculture is being practiced in India since ancient times. Even today the

economy of India is largely dependent on agriculture. Out of the total

population, about 70 percent people directly or indirectly depend on this

occupation. Agriculture of India has witnessed revolutionary changes

after mid sixties when Green Revolution was introduced.

Day by day population pressure is increasing along with an

increasing variety of demand on land resources has brought additional

pressure on available resources. In order to deal with these and to plan

for optimum utilization of land, it is necessary to have accurate and up to

date information in all possible details on landuse. It is therefore

necessary to understand the classification of landuse pattern in the present

study region which is one the important objective in terms of food

security in the study region of the present research work.

5.2 General Land Use:

The concept of land use is related to the use to which land is put

in a certain region at a given period of time. The use of land by man

depends on the qualities of land that he lives on. If the land contains

minerals, the occupation selected is mining. In areas where the land is

fertile and flat and the climate is favourable for cultivation of crops,

agriculture is followed. The occupation of grazing is carried on in areas

99

of good pastures. Land use studies aim at explaining the constant

interaction between available land resources on the one hand and human

needs and efforts on the other hand.

Jalgaon district has an area of 11638.98 Sq. Km. and with regard to

its size it is the 8th

largest district in the Maharashtra state. Its area is 3.82

percent of the total land area of Maharashtra state. Considering the

characteristics of land utilization in the district, the land use is classified

into five major categories. It is to mention that village wise sufficient data

for land use categories is not available; therefore tehsilwise analysis has

been made. Following table No. 5.1 shows tehsil wise area under

different land use categories.

Table 5.1 - Jalgaon District: Tehsil wise Land Utilization, 2012

Sr.

No.

Name of the

tehsil

Total

Geographical

Area (ha.)

Land Use Category (figures in %)

Area

Under

Forest

Land not

available

for

cultivation

Grazing

and

Cultivable

waste land

Fallow

land

Net

Sown

Area

1 Chopda 95436 22.88 2.94 8.67 0.47 65.03

2 Yawal 95438 34.88 0.97 7.53 0.53 56.08

3 Raver 93570 27.80 4.05 2.01 0.88 65.26

4 Muktainager 64611 18.80 15.33 4.87 0.25 60.75

5 Bodwad 35545 18.22 1.51 3.78 1.55 74.94

6 Bhusawal 47470 28.47 6.93 1.34 6.43 56.84

7 Jalgaon 82507 20.62 6.78 3.65 4.01 64.93

8 Erondol 49442 7.61 8.90 7.43 3.50 72.55

9 Dharangaon 48014 4.85 3.81 0.79 0.87 89.68

10 Amalner 84415 2.26 11.86 5.41 2.11 78.37

11 Parola 79121 13.45 6.91 11.38 1.35 66.91

12 Bhadgaon 48453 20.64 4.36 12.76 1.01 61.23

13 Chalisgaon 121763 13.91 6.44 2.53 3.72 73.40

14 Pachora 82041 13.83 4.61 2.73 2.92 75.91

15 Jamner 136072 22.84 1.06 1.56 0.81 73.73

Dist. Total 1163898 18.76 5.48 4.87 1.92 68.97

Source: Jalgaon District Statistical Abstract. 2012

100

5.2.1 Area under Forests:

Under this category area under all types of forests is included.

About 18.76 percent of the total geographical area of the district is under

forest cover. Forest is dense in the higher altitude mountainous regions,

and areas of heavy rainfall. In other places, the area under forest varies

according to the amount of rainfall.

The proportion of the forest area varies from 34.88 percent in

Yawal tehsil to 2.26 percent in Amalner tehsil. Besides Yawal tehsil,

Bhusawal also have a high proportion of the area under forest, 28.47

percent followed by Raver tehsil 27.80 percent. Area under forest ranging

between 20 and 25 percent is observed in Chopda, Jamner, Bhadgaon and

Jalgaon tehsils. In Muktainager, Bodwad, Parola, Chalisgaon and Pachora

tehsils percentage of area under forest varying from 10-20 percent. Less

than 10 percent area under forest is reported in Amalner (2.26%),

Dharangaon (4.85%) and Erondol tehsil (7.61%).

High proportion of forest cover is observed in northern tehsils of

the district viz. Yawal, Raver, Chopda etc. Major proportion of these

tehsils is occupied by the Satpuda mountain therefore large areas are

under forest cover.

5.2.2 Land Not Available for Cultivation:

The land under roads, railways, settlements, water bodies etc. are

included in this category. Similarly barren, rugged and land not suitable

for cultivation also come in this category.

About 5.48 percent of the area of the Jalgaon district is included in

this type of land use. It is observed from above table No. 5.1, that very

high proportion of land not available for cultivation is found at

Muktainager (15.33 %) and followed by Amalner tehsil (11.80%).

Whereas, the least proportion is found at Yawal tehsil where only 0.97

101

percent area of land is not available for cultivation. In Chopda, Raver,

Bodwad, Dharangaon, Bhadgaon, Pachora and Jamner tehsils, area under

this category found below 5 percent. While Bhusawal, Jalgaon, Erondol,

Parola, Chalisgaon have proportions between 5 and 10 percent. The use

of land for roads and urban settlements is increasing continuously due to

industrial development. Therefore, proportion of this category is

increasing day by day.

5.2.3 Grazing and Cultivable Waste Land:

The permanent pastures, the area under miscellaneous trees and the

cultivable waste are included in this category. Cultivable waste is a land

which is not cultivated at present but can be brought under cultivation.

About 4.87 percent of the area of the district is included under

grazing and cultivable waste land. High proportion of such land is

observed in Bhadgaon and Parola tehsils. The proportion of area occupied

by these tehsils is 12.76 and 11.38 percent respectively. Chopda, Yawal,

Erondol and Amalner tehsils have a medium proportion of area under

grazing and cultivable waste land varying between 5 and 10 percent. Less

than 5 percent proportion of reporting area under this category is

observed in tehsils namely Raver, Muktainager, Bodwad, Bhusawal,

Jalgaon, Dharangaon, Chalisgaon, Pachora and Jamner. Dharangaon

tehsil has shown this least proportion under grazing and cultivable waste

land, which is 0.79 percent only.

5.2.4 Fallow Land:

The land which was under cultivation but presently is not being

cultivated is known as fallow land. Some farmers keep the land fallow for

a year or two to maintain the fertility of soil. The area under fallow land

is about 1.92 percent in the study region.

102

Map No. 5.1

103

The proportion of fallow land is higher in the tehsils Bhusawal (6.43%)

and Jalgaon (4.01%). In Bodwad, Erondol, Amalner, Parola, Bhadgaon,

Pachora, Chalisgaon tehsils area under fallow land is ranging between 1

and 4 percent. Reporting area under fallow land is less than 1 percent in

tehsils viz. Chopda, Yawal, Raver, Muktainager, Dharangaon and

Jamner. The least proportion of area under fallow land is reported in

Muktainager tehsil which is only 0.25 percent.

5.2.5 Net Sown Area:

This category includes the area of cropped land in any region.

Spatial distribution of net sown area to a large extent is influenced by

variations in relief, river valleys, flood plains, low lands and low plateaus

with gentle slopes exhibit a high proportion of land under cultivation. The

study area is occupied by some big river valleys like Tapi, Girna etc. and

the region is covered by Deccan plateau which is suitable for agricultural

purpose. As a result about 68.97 percent of the total area of the district is

under cultivation.

The net sown area occupies the highest proportion in Dharangaon

tehsil have 89.68 percent of the reporting area. It is the lowest in the

Yawal tehsil of the district i. e. 56.08 percent only. In Bodwad, Erondol,

Amalner, Chalisgaon, Pachora, and Jamner tehsils have above 70 percent

of area under this category. In Chopda, Raver, Muktainager, Jalgaon,

Parola and Bhadgaon tehsils have net sown area ranging between 60 and

70 percent. Two tehsils namely Yawal and Bhusawal have less than 60

percent under net sown area category.

5.3 Spatial Distribution of Food Crops:

The term „Agricultural Landuse‟ denotes the extent of the gross

cropped area during the year under various crops. People generally eat

104

what they grow or the food they find in their surroundings. Different

geographical factors like climate, soil etc. determine the growth of crops.

It is because of the variations in the geographical conditions and

sociocultural milieu that the food habits of the people differ in the

different parts of the world. Variety of crops is cultivated by the Indian

farmers to produce different food items. Disparities are present in the

production of crops. Preponderance of food crops is the main

characteristic of the Indian agriculture. Including cereals, millets and

pulses, these crops cover 75 percent of the country‟s total cropped area

and contribute over 55 percent of the total value of agricultural output.

Agriculture is the main economic activity of the study region.

Majority of farmers in the Jalgaon district are using traditional methods

of farming but the development into modern and commercial farm

gradually emerging. In this part of the study an attempts is made to

present a scenario of spatial distribution of food crops in various PHC

regions (primary health center) of the study area. The village wise area

under various crops for the reference year 2012-13 have been collected

from the tehsil office as well from agricultural office of respective tehsils

of the study region. The village wise data has been grouped in the

respective PHC regions. However, it was not possible to show the

variation in area under various food crops for the consecutive years due to

unavailability of sufficient data.

Agriculture in the district is mainly dependant on monsoon. Kharif

and Rabi are the main cropping seasons in the study region. Kharif crops

are grown during rainy season in the months from June to October.

Jowar, bajra, pulses, corn, cotton, soyabean etc. are the main crops

cultivated in kharif season. Rabi is the other cropping season in the

district. Rabi crops are grown during winter season in the months from

105

November to February. Wheat, jowar, dadar, gram etc. are the main rabi

crops in the district.

During the year 2012-13 around 749794.43 hectares area was

under gross cropped area, which accounts 64.42 percent to total

geographical area of the district. Out of which about 316815.01 hectares

area was under seven major food crops, namely jowar, bajra, wheat, corn,

pulses, vegetables and oilseeds. The proportion of area under food crops

was 42.25 percent to gross cropped area during the reference year. Table

No 5.2 and 5.3 are showing area under various food crops during the

study period.

5.3.1 Distribution of Cereals:

Jowar, bajra, corn and wheat are the major cereals grown in the

study region. Cereals altogether have occupied 201863.36 hectares of

gross cropped area, which accounts 26.92 percent to gross cropped area

during the study period.

5.3.1.1 Jowar:

Jowar is a crop which is cultivated both in kharif and rabi season in

the study region. Jowar thrives well in areas of high temperature and

moderate rainfall well distributed upto 50 cm. is enough for this crop. It

grows well in the regur soils. Such ideal condition is available in large

area of the Jalgaon district. Therefore, jowar is an important crop and

rank first among the food crops of the study region. Jowar is one of the

most important food crop of the population of Jalgaon district. It is also

grown as fodder crop in the district.

Jowar occupied 108743.51 hectares of area which is 14.50 percent

to the gross cropped area of the district during the study period. Jowar

occupies more area than any other cereal crop in the study region.

106

0 10 20 km5km N

SCALE

> 20

10 - 20

< 10

% Area Under Jowar

P.H.C. WISE AREA UNDER JOWAR

Boundary

Tehsil PHC

Town

21

°00'

N2

0°4

5'

20

°30'

74°55'E. 75°10' 75°25' 75°40' 75°55' 76°10' 76°25' 76°28' E.

20

°15'

Tapi River

INDEX

JALGAON DISTRICT

TO GROSS CROPPED AREA (2012)

Satpuda Mountai

n

Satpuda Mountain

20

°00'

N.

Map No. 5.2

107

The spatial distribution of jowar is shown in the map No. 5.2. It is

observed from the map that, most of the PHC regions in the central part

of the district are having area under jowar less than 10 percent. Less than

10 percent area under jowar to gross cropped area is found in all PHC

regions of Pachora, Jalgaon and Erondol tehsils. Wakdi PHC region of

Jamner tehsil occupies only 0.68 percent area under jowar during the

reference period. Very few PHC regions located to the north of river Tapi

have less than 10 percent area under jowar. It includes the tribal PHC

Lohara and Chahardi PHC region of Chopda tehsil, and Nimbhora and

Ainpur PHC regions from Raver tehsil.

In the northern part of district, i. e. to the north of river Tapi in

most of the PHC regions area under jowar have occupied between 10 and

20 percent to gross cropped area. Few PHC regions located in the

southern part of river Tapi are Marwad and Mandal PHC regions of

Amalner tehsil, Nanded and Sonwad PHC regions of Dharangaon tehsil,

Girad PHC region of Bhadgaon, Umbarkhed, Shirasgaon and Patonda

PHC regions from Chalisgaon tehsil are having area under jowar ranging

between 10 and 20 percent.

Maximum area under jowar is recorded in the Varadsim PHC

region (65.23%) of Bhusawal tehsil followed by Shendurni PHC region

(50.22%) of Jamner tehsil. All PHC regions of the eastern tehsils

Muktainager, Bhusawal and Bodwad occupy more than 20 percent area

under jowar. Out of ten PHC regions of Chalisgaon tehsil seven have

more than 20 percent area under jowar.

5.3.1.2 Bajra:

Bajra is one of the most important millet crop in the study region. It is

known as drought resistant crop and mainly grown in kharif season in the

Jalgaon district. This crop is also called as the food crop of the poor People.

108

Table No. 5.2- Jalgaon District: PHC Wise Area under Cereals (2011-12)

Sr.

No.

Name of the Gross

Cropped

Area (Ha.)

Area under Cereals (%) Cereals

Total

(%) Tehsil PHC

Jowar Bajra Wheat Corn

1

Chopda

Adawad 10144.82 10.02 0.47 1.02 7.60 19.11

2 Lasur 10551.87 16.53 5.17 1.11 3.43 26.24

3 Chahardi 9267.09 7.69 0.45 3.36 5.01 16.52

4 Gorgawle 8486.070 10.94 0.51 2.94 4.47 18.86

5 Hated 11855.58 13.97 6.35 3.71 3.05 27.08

6 Vaijapur 10895.70 5.34 0.58 0.50 2.77 9.19

7 Dhanora 10284.49 12.89 0.44 0.63 0.85 14.80

8

Yawal

Bhalod 7542.03 15.93 0.17 4.06 3.36 23.51

9 Hingone 5103.44 19.84 0.00 1.83 1.03 22.70

10 Kingaon 8530.14 15.25 0.48 6.37 3.56 25.65

11 Padalse 6913.44 17.07 0.21 5.16 0.82 23.26

12 Sakli 10347.11 17.42 0.43 4.65 2.70 25.20

13 Savkhedasim 6293.21 16.86 1.38 1.49 2.10 21.83

14

Raver

Ainpur 9065.09 4.65 0.00 15.15 1.90 21.69

15 Chinawal 6608.23 13.04 0.00 17.30 0.84 31.18

16 Khiroda 7152.54 23.39 0.00 6.00 0.37 29.75

17 Lohara 5916.73 17.89 0.00 6.62 0.08 24.58

18 Nimbhora 6175.09 4.64 0.00 11.69 2.17 18.49

19 Thorgavan 7543.24 14.01 0.00 8.35 1.03 23.39

20 Waghoda 11486.2 19.99 0.00 7.46 3.43 30.88

21

Muktainager

Anturli 6419.29 29.34 3.85 9.89 4.22 47.30

22 Kurha 5140.46 33.43 6.64 2.37 0.14 42.57

23 Ruikhede 7264.18 29.66 2.51 4.42 2.71 39.30

24 Uchande 6454.95 24.15 9.98 0.00 8.36 42.50

25 Bodwad

Yengaon 10517.10 34.24 1.20 2.01 0.18 37.63

26 Yevati 15045.03 23.97 0.99 1.83 0.14 26.93

27

Bhusawal

Kinhi 1543.99 41.32 0.65 2.51 15.33 59.82

28 Pimpalgaon 3343.32 48.37 0.00 3.05 11.54 62.96

29 Varadsim 4605.31 65.23 0.41 2.19 2.15 69.98

30 Varangaon 3413.34 38.64 0.15 2.42 4.91 46.12

31

Jalgaon

Bhadli 7853.58 3.41 1.08 1.09 0.39 5.97

32 Dhamangaon 4805.12 6.31 0.23 2.61 1.49 10.64

33 Kanalde 11005.97 5.64 1.21 0.80 2.57 10.22

34 Mhasawad 13744.82 9.95 0.43 0.57 2.17 13.12

35 Nashirabad 12058.02 5.20 0.39 0.85 0.93 7.37

36

Erondol

Ringangaon 17542.00 5.14 1.28 7.33 18.69 32.44

37 Kasoda 12481.31 7.27 1.01 7.01 24.33 39.63

38 Talai 11961.00 8.65 1.22 5.39 16.47 31.74

109

39

Dharangaon

Chandsar 12130.22 9.21 0.74 0.38 1.66 11.99

40 Nanded 6781.07 11.70 0.21 0.10 3.23 15.25

41 Salve 9589.86 8.00 0.96 0.30 5.05 14.29

42 Sonvad 9378.97 11.45 0.06 0.05 5.01 16.57

43

Amalner

Dheku 15469.49 27.33 9.76 2.05 0.19 39.33

44 Janave 9745.11 26.70 18.49 1.56 0.01 46.76

45 Mandal 10465.01 19.61 17.32 1.27 0.10 38.31

46 Marwad 15788.50 16.30 8.76 1.11 0.03 26.19

47 Patonda 17382.29 32.75 7.45 0.72 0.01 40.94

48

Parola

Mangrul 16365.21 6.51 3.55 1.94 3.28 15.28

49 Shelave 11087.83 13.43 4.37 2.60 3.34 23.74

50 Shirsode 14989.25 8.73 6.72 5.19 3.88 24.52

51 Tamaswadi 11391.51 4.92 3.56 1.99 2.88 13.34

52

Bhadgaon

Girad 3937.31 10.76 0.92 0.41 3.88 15.98

53 Gudhe 8307.63 9.16 3.37 1.27 1.02 14.82

54 Kajgaon 8224.81 7.84 3.18 1.12 3.60 15.73

55 Pimparkhede 12276.78 7.02 2.02 1.03 3.12 13.19

56

Chalisgaon

Dahiwad 11595.45 25.02 19.90 3.16 0.33 48.41

57 Khedgaon 7506.53 22.85 17.29 1.30 0.09 41.53

58 Londhe 6046.59 26.94 18.50 2.49 0.31 48.23

59 Patonda 8591.89 19.48 20.65 0.91 0.11 41.14

60 Ranjangaon 9744.82 23.68 17.20 2.13 0.31 43.32

61 Shirasgaon 15202.77 10.82 18.93 2.78 4.22 36.76

62 Talegaon 15826.31 21.45 27.44 0.62 0.03 49.53

63 Tarwade 9983.80 29.43 26.06 1.99 1.19 58.67

64 Umbarkhed 5751.24 13.77 19.24 5.02 1.40 39.43

65 Waghli 9359.15 20.08 24.74 2.01 0.40 47.23

66

Pachora

Lohara 12529.85 3.59 2.60 0.98 16.42 23.59

67 Lohtar 8602.62 9.97 2.10 0.88 15.38 28.34

68 Nandra 6271.15 2.38 1.93 1.05 18.53 23.89

69 Nagerdeola 9302.83 8.04 4.34 1.10 9.09 22.58

70 Varkhedi 13155.20 6.84 0.85 0.37 20.38 28.45

71

Jamner

Betawad 13962.93 9.93 0.94 0.33 2.71 13.92

72 Garkhede 3297.18 8.28 1.43 0.75 23.43 33.90

73 Neri Bk. 10077.11 7.01 0.94 0.87 20.52 29.34

74 Phattepur 11631.13 5.48 0.95 0.54 4.03 11.00

75 Shendurni 3660.91 50.22 5.11 0.95 2.51 58.79

76 Wakadi 17596.26 0.68 0.42 0.69 3.73 5.52

77 Wakod 21426.96 6.88 1.17 0.92 3.55 12.52

PHC Average 749794.43 14.50 5.21 2.66 4.55 26.92

Source: Tehsil and Agricultural Office, 2011-12.

110

0 10 20 km5km N

SCALE

> 06

03 - 06

< 03

% Area Under Bajra

PHC WISE AREA UNDER BAJRA

Boundary

Tehsil PHC

Town

21

°00'

N2

0°4

5'

20

°30'

74°55'E. 75°10' 75°25' 75°40' 75°55' 76°10' 76°25' 76°28' E.

20

°15'

Tapi River

INDEX

JALGAON DISTRICT

TO GROSS CROPPED AREA (2012)

Satpuda Mountai

n

Satpuda Mountain

20

°00'

N.

Map No. 5.3

111

Among the cereals, bajra stands second and grown on 39061.13 hectares

area of the district. About 5.21 percent of the total gross cropped area is

under bajra.

The spatial distribution of bajra in the study region is shown in the

map No. 5.3. It is clear from the map that less than 3 percent area under

bajra is observed in all PHC regions, except the western tehsils like

Amalner, Parola and Chalisgaon. On the eastern part except Muktainager

tehsil all PHC regions are having less than 3 percent area under bajra.

In very few PHC regions like Lasur from Chopda, Tamaswadi,

Mangrul from Parola, Kajgaon, Gudhe from Bhadgaon, Nagardeola from

Pachora, Anturli from Muktainager and Shendurni from Jamner tehsil

have grown bajra on 3 to 6 percent area to gross cropped area.

In the western parts of the district, PHC regions like Hated from

Chopda tehsil, all PHC regions from Amalner and Chalisgaon tehsil,

Shirsode from Parola, and two PHC regions Kurha and Uchanda from

Muktainager tehsil have recorded more than 6 percent area under bajra.

Area under bajra is negligible in all PHC regions of Raver tehsil,

while maximum area under bajra is recorded in Talegaon PHC region

(27.44%) followed by Tarwade (26.06%) of Chalisgaon tehsil.

5.3.1.3 Corn:

Corn is an important food crop in the hilly and sub mountain tracts

where mainly tribal people are inhabited. Corn is cultivated during kharif

as well as Rabi seasons in the district. Corn thrives well on fertile and

well drained alluvial or red loams soils. Considering the area after bajra,

corn is the third ranking cereal crop in the study region, grown on

34099.46 hectares area. Out of gross cropped area of the district about

4.55 percent is under corn cultivation in the district.

112

0 10 20 km5km N

SCALE

> 06

04 - 06

02 - 04

< 02

% Area Under Corn

PHC WISE AREA UNDER CORN

Boundary

Tehsil PHC

Town

21

°00'

N2

0°4

5'

20

°30'

74°55'E. 75°10' 75°25' 75°40' 75°55' 76°10' 76°25' 76°28' E.

20

°15'

Tapi River

INDEX

JALGAON DISTRICT

TO GROSS CROPPED AREA (2012)

Satpuda Mountai

n

Satpuda Mountain

20

°00'

N.

Map No. 5.4

113

Map No. 5.4 is showing spatial distribution of corn in the study area.

Most PHC regions of the district have less than 2 percent area under corn

cultivation. It includes all PHC regions from Amalner tehsil, Dhanora

PHC region from Chopda, Hingona, Padalse from Yawal, except

Nimbhora and Waghoda all PHC from Raver, Chandsar from

Dharangaon tehsil, Dhamangaon, Bhadli, Nashirabad from Jalgaon tehsil,

Kurha from Muktainager, both PHC regions from Bodwad, Gudhe form

Bhadgaon and except Shirasgaon PHC region of Chalisgaon tehsil all

other nine PHC regions have less than 2 percent area under corn

cultivation. It is to note that very negligible portion under corn cultivation

is observed in Khiroda PHC region from Raver and PHC regions from

Amalner etc.

Area under corn ranging between 2 and 4 percent is found in

Hated, Lasur and Vaijapur PHC regions form Chopda tehsil, Kingaon,

Sakli, Savkhedasim, Bhalod PHC regions from Yawal, Nimbhora and

Waghoda from Raver tehsil, Nanded from Dharangaon, Kanalda and

Mhasawad from Jalgoan, Varangaon from Bhusawal, Ruikheda from

Muktainager, all PHC regions from Parola, and except Gudhe PHC

region all from Bhadgaon, Shendurni, Wakli, Wakod and Betawad from

Jamner tehsil.

Area ranging between 4 and 6 percent is observed in few PHC

regions of the district. These area includes Chahardi and Gorgawle PHC

regions from Chopda, Anturli from Muktainager, Salve and Sonwad from

Dharangaon, Varadsim from Varangaon, Shirasgaon from Chalisgaon

and Fattepur from Jamner tehsil. More than 6 percent area under corn is

observed in Adawad PHC region of Chopda, Kinhi, Pimpalgaon from

Bhusawal, Uchande from Muktainager, Neri Bk. and Garkhede from

Jamner tehsil. All PHC regions from Erondol and Pachora tehsils have

114

more than 6 percent area under corn. It is to note that maximum area

under corn is observed in Kasoda (24.33%), Garkheda (23.43%) from

Erondol and Jamner tehsils respectively.

5.3.1.4 Wheat:

Since it is a crop of cool climate, it is cultivated as a Rabi crop in

the study region and sown in the month of October-November. It thrives

well in cool, dry, clear weather and required alluvial and organically rich

black soils. Considering the area, after corn, wheat is rank fourth crop

among the cereals in the study region. Out of the gross cropped area of

the district, about 19959.26 hectares (2.66%) is devoted to the wheat.

Wheat is grown in all PHC regions of the district. However, it is

observed that wheat is not cultivated on extensive areas of the district due

to varying physical conditions in different parts of the district (Map 5.5).

To the north of river Tapi, very few regions have less than 2

percent area under wheat. These PHC‟s includes Lasur, Vaijapur,

Adawad and Dhanora from Chopda tehsil, Savkhedasim and Hingona

PHC regions from Yawal tehsil. To the south of river Tapi most of PHC

regions have less than 2 percent area under wheat. All PHC regions from

Amalner, Dharangaon, Jamner, Pachora and Bhadgaon tehsils have less

than 2 percent area under wheat. One PHC region Dhamangaon from

Jalgaon and Uchande from Muktainager also comes under this category

including Khedgaon, Talegaon, Patonda and Tarwade PHC regions from

Chalisgaon tehsil. The lowest area under wheat is observed in all PHC

regions of Jamner tehsil, which is less than 1 percent in all PHC‟s.

About 2 to 4 percent area under wheat is observed in Hated,

Chahardi and Gorgawle PHC region of Chopda tehsil, Shelave from

Parola, Dahiwad, Londhe, Shirasgaon, Ranjangaon and Waghli from

Chalisgaon, Yengaon from Bodwad, Kurha from Muktainager. While, all

PHC regions of Bhusawal tehsil have area under wheat between 2 and 4

percent.

115

0 10 20 km5km N

SCALE

JALGAON DISTRICT

INDEX % Area Under Wheat

> 04

02 - 04

< 02

P.H.C. WISE AREA UNDER WHEAT

Boundary

Tehsil PHC

Town

21

°00'

N2

0°4

5'

20

°30'

74°55'E. 75°10' 75°25' 75°40' 75°55' 76°10' 76°25' 76°28' E.

20

°15'

TO GROSS CROPPED AREA (2012)

Tapi River

Satpuda Mountai

n

Satpuda Mountain

20

°00'

N.

Map No. 5.5

116

Extensive area under wheat is observed in Raver and Erondol

tehsils, where all PHC regions are having more than 4 percent area under

wheat. Other PHC regions like Kingaon, Sakli, Padalse and Bhalod from

Yawal tehsil, Anturli and Ruikheda from Muktainager, Shirsode from

Parola, Umberkhed from Chalisgaon have more than 4 percent area under

wheat.

All PHC regions of Jamner tehsil have recorded very low area

under wheat, which is less than 1 percent in all PHC regions. Maximum

area under wheat is observed in Chinawal PHC region (17.30 %)

followed by Ainpur (15.15 %) and Nimbhora (11.69%) PHC regions of

Raver tehsil.

5.3.2 Other Food Crops:

As discussed above cereals have occupied large area of the

agricultural land grown on around 26.92 percent of gross cropped area in

the study region. There are other food crops like pulses, oilseeds and

vegetables grown in the district. These crops also have an important

position in daily diet of the population.

5.3.2.1 Pulses:

In our predominantly starchy vegetarian diet, pulses form a very

important part as they provide us vegetable protein. Out of the total

cultivated area in the country, about 15 percent is utilized for the

cultivation of variety of pulses. Pulses are grown on 22.37 million

hectares area of the country. The proportion of area under pulses in

Maharashtra is 13.80 percent, whereas in the study region it is 11.44

percent during the reference period. Variety of pulses are grown in all

parts of Maharashtra as well in the study region. Tur (red gram), moog

(green gram), udid (black gram), chana (bengal gram) etc. are the major

pulses cultivated in varying proportions in all parts of the study region.

117

Pulses require less moisture and are the rain fed crops. Pulses like tur,

moog, udid are cultivated in kharip season while chana is cultivated in

rabi season. Pulses have the ability to fix nitrogen in the soil from the

atmosphere.

Pulses rank second after cereals among the food crops of the

district and occupied 85673 hectares of area which is 11.43 percent to the

gross cropped area during the study period. The spatial distribution of

pulses is shown in the map No. 5.6. Less than 5 percent area under

pulses is found in all PHC regions of Bhadgaon tehsil, Tamaswadi and

Mangrul PHC regions of Parola, Londhe and Waghli of Chalisgaon,

Salve of Dharangaon, Hingona of Yawal, Chinawal, Ainpur and

Nimbhora of Raver tehsil. The lowest proportion of area under pulses is

found in Kajgaon PHC region (0.68 percent) of Bhadgaon tehsil.

Out of ten, in seven PHC regions of Chalisgaon tehsil area under

pulses is ranging between 5 and 10 percent. Area under pulses between 5

and 10 percent is also observed in Lohara, Lohtar, and Varkhedi PHC

regions of Pachora tehsil, Wakod, Wakli PHC regions from Jamner tehsil.

In Parola tehsil, Shirsode and Shelave PHC region, Mandal from

Amalner, Sonwad and Chandsar PHC regions from Dharangaon, Vaijapur

form Yawal, Anturli from Muktainager and four PHC regions out Seven

in Raver tehsil shown area under pulses between 5 and10 percent.

PHC regions located along the eastern border of the district have

area under pulses between 10 and 15 percent. Mhasavad and Kanalda

PHC regions from Jalgaon tehsil, Nandra from Pachora, Nagardeola and

Patonda from Chalisgaon, four PHC regions except Mandal from

Amalner and four PHC regions from Chopda tehsil have area under

pulses between 10 and 15 percent.

118

Table 5.3 - Jalgaon District: PHC Wise Area under Other Food Crops (2011-12)

Sr.

No.

Name of the Gross

Cropped

Area (Ha.)

Other Food Crops (%)

Tehsil PHC Pulses Oilseeds Vegetable

1

Chopda

Adawad 10144.82 14.66 2.81 1.75

2 Lasur 10551.87 10.61 0.76 1.33

3 Chahardi 9267.09 12.93 1.96 0.37

4 Gorgawle 8486.07 14.37 3.21 0.13

5 Hated 11855.58 32.82 1.83 0.37

6 Vaijapur 10895.70 7.46 3.44 0.93

7 Dhanora 10284.49 19.77 0.32 10.85

8

Yawal

Bhalod 7542.03 14.10 7.01 0.22

9 Hingone 5103.44 2.61 0.58 0.96

10 Kingaon 8530.14 15.67 2.49 3.54

11 Padalse 6913.44 14.79 1.88 0.39

12 Sakli 10347.11 21.36 2.03 0.60

13 Savkhedasim 6293.21 26.63 5.51 0.73

14

Raver

Ainpur 9065.09 4.76 0.78 0.02

15 Chinawal 6608.23 2.16 0.83 0.15

16 Khiroda 7152.54 6.67 6.34 0.08

17 Lohara 5916.73 7.20 5.43 0.05

18 Nimbhora 6175.09 2.48 0.50 0.11

19 Thorgavan 7543.24 8.78 2.30 0.04

20 Waghoda 11486.2 8.37 0.44 0.00

21

Muktainager

Anturli 6419.29 6.50 1.00 1.24

22 Kurha 5140.46 20.00 0.61 0.13

23 Ruikhede 7264.18 13.54 5.49 3.47

24 Uchande 6454.95 19.09 5.38 3.17

25 Bodwad

Yengaon 10517.10 13.20 1.06 0.33

26 Yevati 15045.03 11.98 2.75 0.38

27

Bhusawal

Kinhi 1543.99 22.55 5.06 0.51

28 Pimpalgaon 3343.32 13.76 3.73 0.34

29 Varadsim 4605.31 19.97 5.11 0.18

30 Varangaon 3413.34 25.60 5.34 0.35

31

Jalgaon

Bhadli 7853.58 34.18 9.40 0.04

32 Dhamangaon 4805.12 17.19 17.23 0.34

33 Kanalda 11005.97 14.03 8.89 0.02

34 Mhasawad 13744.82 11.35 2.17 0.76

35 Nashirabad 12058.02 35.02 12.89 0.46

36

Erondol

Ringangaon 17542.00 19.58 5.25 2.19

37 Kasoda 12481.31 13.81 1.36 3.73

38 Talai 11961.00 15.66 1.15 1.00

119

39

Dharangaon

Chandsar 12130.22 8.94 2.63 0.00

40 Nanded 6781.07 15.38 5.10 0.16

41 Salve 9589.86 4.94 1.09 0.00

42 Sonvad 9378.97 7.58 2.75 0.00

43

Amalner

Dheku 15469.49 12.75 8.37 0.38

44 Janve 9745.11 11.34 7.74 0.22

45 Mandal 10465.01 8.70 6.45 0.39

46 Marwad 15788.50 12.32 5.97 0.13

47 Patonda 17382.29 11.78 9.07 0.13

48

Parola

Mangrul 16365.21 3.84 0.27 0.00

49 Shelave 11087.83 7.79 0.28 0.00

50 Shirsode 14989.25 6.65 0.55 0.00

51 Tamaswadi 11391.51 4.52 1.16 0.00

52

Bhadgaon

Girad 3937.31 0.51 0.97 0.31

53 Gudhe 8307.63 0.48 0.25 0.11

54 Kajgaon 8224.81 0.20 0.16 0.09

55 Pimparkhede 12276.78 1.26 0.55 0.02

56

Chalisgaon

Dahiwad 11595.45 6.19 1.01 0.11

57 Khedgaon 7506.53 8.66 0.62 0.11

58 Londhe 6046.59 2.96 0.41 0.00

59 Patonda 8591.89 10.27 1.73 0.08

60 Ranjangaon 9744.82 5.60 1.58 0.17

61 Shirasgaon 15202.77 6.83 3.56 1.30

62 Talegaon 15826.31 8.55 1.30 0.02

63 Tarwade 9983.8 7.98 2.60 0.32

64 Umbarkhed 5751.24 6.60 6.68 0.76

65 Waghli 9359.15 4.20 1.43 0.11

66

Pachora

Lohara 12529.85 6.13 3.06 1.14

67 Lohtar 8602.62 7.96 2.87 0.30

68 Nandra 6271.15 11.85 3.43 2.62

69 Nagerdeola 9302.83 10.75 1.38 0.33

70 Varkhedi 13155.2 5.31 3.34 0.00

71

Jamner

Betawad 13962.93 11.53 0.64 0.00

72 Garkhede 3297.18 33.05 2.51 0.80

73 Neri Bk. 10077.11 27.54 3.04 1.06

74 Phattepur 11631.13 10.13 0.82 0.29

75 Shendurni 3660.91 19.05 15.14 1.73

76 Wakadi 17596.26 6.64 1.18 1.22

77 Wakod 21426.96 9.43 2.87 0.83

PHC Total 749794.43 11.42 3.17 0.73

Source: Tehsil Office and Agricultural Office, 2011-12.

120

0 10 20 km5km N

SCALE

> 15

10 - 15

05 - 10

< 05

% Area under Pulses

P.H.C. WISE AREA UNDER PULSESBoundary

Tehsil PHC

Town

21

°00'

N2

0°4

5'

20

°30'

74°55'E. 75°10' 75°25' 75°40' 75°55' 76°10' 76°25' 76°28' E.

20

°15'

INDEX

JALGAON DISTRICT

TO GROSS CROPPED AREA (2012)

Tapi River

Satpuda Mountai

n

Satpuda Mountain

20

°00'

N.

Map No. 5.6

121

PHC regions located in the central parts of the district mainly from the

Yawal, Jalgaon, Bhusawal and Erandol tehsils have shown more than 15

percent area under pulses. Two PHC regions Uchande and Kurha of

Muktainager tehsil, one PHC region Hated from Chopda and PHC region

Shendurni from Jamner having more than 15 percent area under pulses.

The highest proportion of area under pulses is found in Nashirabad

(35.02%) followed by Hated PHC regions (32.82%) in Jalgaon and

Chopda tehsils respectively.

5.3.2.2 Oilseeds:

In the study region variety of oilseed crops are cultivated.

Groundnut, soyabean, sunflower, sesame etc. are some of the important

oilseed crops grown in the district. However, groundnut and soyabean are

the major oilseed crops in the study region while sunflower and sesame

are cultivated on very small area of the district. Different oilseeds are

required different type of soil condition. Light sandy loam soil which

drains water easily is favourable for the cultivation of groundnut.

Groundnut is cultivated in kharif as well in rabi season. Soyabean

required loams and alluvial soil. It is cultivated mainly in kharif season.

Among the food crops of the study region, oilseeds are cultivated

on 23791.90 hectares. Out of total cropped area of the study region

oilseeds occupied 3.17 percent area. Map No. 5.7 is showing spatial

distribution of oilseeds in Jalgaon district. It is quite clear from the map

that less than 2 percent area under oilseeds is observed in Lasur, Hated,

Chahardi and Dhanora PHC regions of Chopda tehsil. Padalse and

Hingona PHC region of Yawal tehsil, Chinawal, Nimbhora, Ainpur and

Waghoda PHC regions of Raver tehsil, Anturli and Kurha PHC region

from Muktainager, Yengaon from Bodwad, Betawad, Wakli and

122

Phattepur PHC regions from Jamner tehsil, Salve PHC region from

Dharangaon, Kasoda and Talai PHC regions from Erandol. It is observed

that in Parola and Bhadgaon tehsils, all PHC regions have less than 2

percent area under oilseeds. While out of ten PHC regions, seven are

under the category of less than 2 percent area under oilseeds of

Chalisgaon tehsil.

The proportion of oilseed crop between 2 and 4 percent is observed

in the central part of the district. Vaijapur, Adawad, Gorgawle PHC

regions from Chopda tehsil, Kingaon, Sakli, PHC regions from Yawal

tehsil, Thorgvhan from Raver, Pimpalgaon from Bhusawal, Yeoti from

Bodwad, Nashirabad from Jalgaon, Neri Bk., Garkheda and Wakod from

Jamner, Sonwad and Chandsar from Dharangaon, Tarwade and Shirsgaon

from Chalisgaon, all PHC regions from Pachora tehsil have cultivated

oilseed crops between 2 and 4 percent to gross cropped area.

It is observed that more than 4 percent area under oilseeds is

observed in all PHC regions located along the southern bank of Tapi

river. Dhamangaon, Mhasawad (Jalgaon tehsil), Ringangaon (Erandol

tehsil) having more than 4 percent area are also located on the bank of

river Girna. Some of the PHC regions located along the foot hills of

Satpuda mountain from Yawal and Raver tehsils also have area more than

4 percent.

Very negligible proportion of area under oilseed is observed in

many PHC regions of Raver, Parola and Bhadgaon tehsils where area

under oilseed is less than 0.5 percent. Whereas maximum area is

observed in Dhamangaon PHC region (17.23%) from Jalgaon tehsil

followed by Shednurni (15.14%) of Jamner tehsil.

123

0 10 20 km5km N

SCALE

> 04

02 - 04

< 02

% Area Under Oilseeds

P.H.C.WISE AREA UNDER OILSEEDS

Boundary

Tehsil PHC

Town

21

°00'

N2

0°4

5'

20

°30'

74°55'E. 75°10' 75°25' 75°40' 75°55' 76°10' 76°25' 76°28' E.

20

°15'

Tapi River

INDEX

JALGAON DISTRICT

TO GROSS CROPPED AREA (2012)

Satpuda Mountai

n

Satpuda Mountain

20

°00'

N.

Map No. 5.7

124

0 10 20 km5km N

SCALE

> 02

01 - 02

< 01

% Area Under Vegetable

P.H.C. WISE AREA UNDER VEGETABLES

Boundary

Tehsil PHC

Town

21

°00'

N2

0°4

5'

20

°30'

74°55'E. 75°10' 75°25' 75°40' 75°55' 76°10' 76°25' 76°28' E.

20

°15'

INDEX

JALGAON DISTRICT

TO GROSS CROPPED AREA (2012)

Tapi River

Satpuda Mountai

n

Satpuda Mountain

20

°00'

N.

Map No. 5.8

125

5.3.2.3 Vegetables:

Very few patches of agricultural land are used by the farmers for

the cultivation of vegetables. There was 5486.75 hectares of land under

cultivation of vegetable during the reference period in the district. It

accounts for 0.73 percent to gross cropped area of the district. The main

vegetables grown in the district are onion, brinjal, fenugreek, lady‟s

finger, cabbage, cauliflower, tomato etc. The spatial distribution of

vegetables is shown in the map No. 5.8.

In most of the PHC regions of the district, less than one percent

area is under vegetables. PHC regions Lasur and Adawad from Chopda,

Anturli form Muktainager, Neri Bk., Betawd and Shendurni from Jamner,

Lohara form Pachora, Talai and Shirasgaon PHC regions from Erandol

and Chalisgaon tehsil respectively have an area under vegetables ranging

between 1 and 2 percent to gross cropped area.

More than 2 percent area under vegetable is observed in the PHC

region Dhanora from Chopda tehsil, Kingaon from Yawal, Uchande and

Ruikheda PHC regions from Muktainager, Nandra from Pachora and

Ringangaon and Kasoda PHC regions from Erandol tehsil. It is to note

that more than 10 percent area under vegetables is observed in Dhanora

PHC region of Chopda tehsil.

Resume:

The general landuse and spatial distribution of food crops like

Jowar, Bajra, Wheat, Corn, Pulses, Oilseeds and Vegetables have been

studied in this chapter. Large area under forest cover is occupied in the

northern tehsils of the district namely Yawal, Raver, Bhusawal, Chopda.

As the result, net sown area in the Yawal and Bhusawal tehsils is low as

compared to other tehsils of the district. The proportion of the forest area

varies from 34.88 percent in Yawal tehsil to 2.26 percent in Amalner

126

tehsil. About 5.48 percent of the area of the Jalgaon district is not

available for cultivation. It is observed that very high proportion of land

not available for cultivation is found at Muktainager (15.33 %) and the

least proportion is found at Yawal tehsil only 0.97 percent. About 4.87

percent of the area of the district is included under grazing and cultivable

waste land. High proportion of this land is observed in Bhadgaon tehsil

(12.76%) while Dharangaon tehsil has shown the least proportion which

is 0.79 percent only. The area under fallow land is about 1.92 percent in

the study region. The proportion of fallow land is higher in the Bhusawal

tehsil (6.43%) and the least proportion is reported in Muktainager tehsil

which is only 0.25 percent. About 68.97 percent of the total area of the

district is under cultivation. The net sown area occupies the the highest

proportion in Dharangaon tehsil which has 89.68 percent of the reporting

area. It is the lowest in the Yawal tehsil of the district which has 56.08

percent only. Spatial variations among different categories of land use are

mainly attributed to the variations in physiographic characteristics

particularly relief and rainfall.

Jowar, bajra, corn and wheat are the major cereals grown in the

study region. Cereals altogether occupied 216202.72 hectares of gross

cropped area, which accounts 27.58 percent during the study period.

Jowar occupied 117905.51 hectares of area which is 15.04 percent to the

gross cropped area of the district during the study period. Jowar occupies

more area than any other cereal crop in the study region. Among the

cereals, bajra stands second and grown on 44061.13 hectares area of the

district. About 5.62 percent of the total gross cropped area is under bajra.

Considering the area after bajra corn is the third ranking cereal crop in the

study region, grown on 34048.10 hectares area. Out of gross cropped area

of the district about 4.34 percent is under corn cultivation in the district.

127

Out of the gross cropped area of the district, about 20187.98 hectares

(2.58%) is devoted to the wheat. Pulses rank second after cereals among

the food crops of the district and occupied 89673 hectares of area which

is 11.44 percent to the gross cropped area during the study period.

Oilseeds cultivated on 25591.90 hectares. Out of total cropped area of the

study region oilseeds occupied 3.27 percent area. There was 5586.75

hectares of land was under cultivation of vegetables during the reference

period in the district. It accounts for 0.71 percent to gross cropped area of

the district.

128

REFERENCES:

1. Gavakare R. B. (2010): “Geographical Perspectives on Population

and Food System in Solapur District” unpublished Ph. D. thesis

submitted to the, Shivaji University Kolhapur.

2. Husain M. (1996): “Systematic Agricultural Geography”, Rawat

Publication, Jaipur.

3. Sharma T. C. and Coutinho O. (1978): “Economic and

Commercial Geography of Indian” Vikas Publishing House Pvt.

Ltd. New Delhi.

4. V. S. Datye and S. C. Gupte (1984): “ Association Between

Agricultural Landuse and Physico-Socio-Economic Phenomena”,

A Multivariate Approach, Transactions of the Institute of Indian

Geographers Vol. 6, No. 2, July 1984, pp. 61-71.

5. Vyalij P. Y. (2011): “Agricultural Landuse in Nashik District”

unpublished Ph. D. thesis submitted to the, Tilak Maharashtra

Vidyapeeth, Pune.