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Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 93
ifferences in attitudes towards rural land in the level of prosperity
and in technology have produced changes in emphasis which are
only gradually coming to be appreciated although in the long run their
effects on both landscape and land use studies are likely to be far-reaching
(Coppock, 1964) perhaps the most revolutionary change are those brought
by extension and expansion of irrigation and introduce of modern farm
technology to the farm of this district. But the natural quadruplet of
physiography, climate, soil and water resources will always continue to exert
recognizable influence on the agricultural land use. Rainfall and physical
properties of the soil are especially significant determinants of crop
distribution or concentration and diversification.
As evident from occupational structure of population and value of net
domestic products, the agriculture in the basis of entire economy in general
and of rural economy in particular in this district. Therefore fate of rural-ties
depends on the improvement of agriculture situation. Study of present
cropping pattern is based on development block-wise obtained from district
land record office. Changes in tribal and non-tribal agricultural condition are
elaborated on district level as well as block level.
The people have been engaged in agriculture since centuries back in
this district as in the rest of state. They have so far used the land, most
valuable natural resources, at their disposal according to their level of
knowledge and attitude towards life. The Cropping Pattern in Dhar district is
typical of unless developed agricultural economy. Most of the cultivated area
is devoted to subsistence food crops, mainly for domestic consumption and
local market, where the surpluses are traded immediately for domestic and
farm necessities. Cashcrops receive negligible of the cropped area.
Factors Affecting Cropping Patterns
The cropping pattern is the product of the interplay of several factors.
These factors can be grouped into two classes viz. natural factors and
cultural factors. The later group of factors consists of economic, social and personal factors while the natural factors stand for climate, soil, terrain and
underground moisture condition. These are stable factors. But certain culturable factors particularly economic factors are dynamic. Therefore, their
significance changes with time. Technical factors also influence the cropping
D
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Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 94
pattern. Technical factors consist of agricultural implements, machines, high-yielding varieties of seeds and fertilizers etc. Such social factors as
ownership of land and size and distribution of operational holding go long
way in influencing the agriculture. Cropping pattern of a particular place is very much influenced by the nature of soil and climatic conditions.
Particularly the selection of crops and season of cultivation both depend on climatic condition and characteristics of soil. But within a physically suitable
area, cultural factors play dominant role in the selection of crops, processes
of cropping and technology, employed, therefore with the changing
technology, cropping pattern is bound to change.
Government policy, prices, exports, taxes, subsidies, supplies of inputs, availability of credit etc can also affect cropping pattern in a
significant way. Many time social goals set before itself induced government to follow policies with respect to prices subsidies and technologies which
directly affected cropping pattern and change it from time to time with the socio-economic policies of the government. Crops are the principal indicators of agriculture typology are an area and they are helpful in interpreting and analyzing some aspects of socio-economic condition of the district. With this
view, cropping pattern and condition of agricultural performance are the thrust area of immediate discussion.
Contemporary Agriculture Condition
Agriculture provides employment for workers and contributes of the total
value of domestic Products. In 2008-09, net sown area was 5,02,004 hectares, which is 61.25 per cent of the total geographical area. Nearly 2,37,464 hectares of net sown area are cropped more than once, bringing the intensity of cropping to 147.30 per cent. Thus in respect of proportion of net sown area. This district is
above the state average (47.76 per cent in 2001-02). More than 57.05 per cent household are engaged in farming in 2008-09.
Thus average size of holding is 3.00 hectares, but per capita cultivable
lands is only 2.52 hectare. With small per capita area, productivity is comparatively low. Yield of all food grain per hectare is 1475 kg (2008-09) in
this district as against the state average of 1227 kg. in 2000-01. For instance, only 53.44 per cent in (2008-09) of net cropped area in irrigated as against the state average of 28.20 per cent in 2000-01. The use of high
yielding variety of seeds are very unlimited. Out of the total area under crops, 93.96 per cent is sown, by high yielding variety in 2008-09, which is
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Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 95
very high in comparison to the state average, further only 27.95 kg of all types of fertilizers are used per hectares of gross cropped area in the district.
Present Cropping Pattern
Food crop, occupying as much as 47.21 per cent of gross cropped area, in this group major share was of cereals which occupy more than 30.33 per cent of cropped area is 2008-09. Pulses have only 14.39 per cent
of total cropped area under them. Among the food grains, wheat, grown on 19.10 per cent of total cropped area, is at the top, followed by gram (11.41
per cent) and maize (8.27 per cent). Among other crops are such drought resistant crops as jowar and several small millets. Urad (0.90 per cent) and
tur (0.40 per cent) are major pulse crops. Only a small fraction (2.50 per cent) of cropped area is under fruits, spices, vegetables and sugarcane.
Non-food crops occupy more than half (52.78 per cent) of the total
cropped area and most of it (35.78 per cent) is under oilseeds, headed by soyabean (35.18 per cent). Groundnut (0.53 per cent) and sesame (0.03 per
cent) are other oilseeds of regional significance. Cotton (14.92 per cent) is
another important non-food crop it is presented in Table 4.1.
Table No. 4.1 Dhar District : Cropping Pattern, 2008-09
(Area in Hectares) Crops Area Percent
Total Cropped Area 739468 100.00 Wheat 141211 19.10 Rice 1365 0.18 Maize 61146 8.27 Jowar 15785 2.13 Other cereals 4772 0.65 Total Cereals 224279 30.33 Gram 84422 11.41 Tur 2982 0.40 Urad 6687 0.90 other Pulse 12339 1.67 Total Pulse 106430 14.39 Fruits 944 0.13 Vegetables 5819 0.79 Spices 10551 1.43 sugar cane 1096 0.15 Total Food Crops 349119 47.21 Soyabean 260142 35.18 Ground nut 3908 0.53 Sesame 235 0.03 Total oilseed 264593 35.78 Cotton 110362 14.92 Total non-Food crops 390344 52.78
Source: District Land Record Dhar. District Statistical Hand Book, Dhar, 2008-09.
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Cereals
All cereals occupy 224249 hectares, which is 30.33 per cent of total
cropped area and more than 64.24 per cent of the area under food crops in
the district. It is clear from table no. 4.2. The Proportion of cereals Dahi
block ranks first with 51.12 per cent followed by Umarban, Bagh,
Gandhawani, Kukshi, Dharampuri and Manawar blocks with 50.85, 49.04,
41.36, 40.93, 39.09 and 37.05 per cent respectively. In the other hand
Nalchha and Nisarpur blocks have the medium proportion with 26.0 to 29.0
per cent while the remaining four blocks have minimum proportion of the
cereals. Blocks with higher proportion than the district average are
distributed in the southern part of the district (Plate 4.1).
Table No. 4.2
Dhar District : Area Under Cereal Crops in 2008-09
(Area In Heaters)
Block TCA Cereals % Rice % Wheat % Jowar % Maize % Dhar 91606 22151 24.18 3 0.03 21746 23.74 8 0.01 394 0.43
Tirla 40009 9286 23.21 24 0.06 7465 18.66 91 0.23 1705 4.26
Nalchha 73033 20979 28.72 124 0.17 17717 24.26 271 0.37 2867 3.92
Badnawar 139651 27100 19.04 35 0.02 21700 15.54 33 0.02 5319 3.81
Kukshi 26706 10932 40.93 37 0.14 2863 10.72 2274 8.51 4936 18.48
Bagh 28971 14209 49.04 171 0.59 2868 9.89 4112 14.19 6688 23.08
Nisarpur 28893 7745 26.80 0 0 4621 15.99 753 2.61 2199 7.61
Dahi 23427 11976 51.12 4 0.02 3001 12.81 2581 11.02 3159 13.48
Manawar 57221 21203 37.05 30 0.05 14829 25.91 1029 1.80 5295 9.25
Bankaner 39820 20143 50.85 149 0.37 6597 16.57 839 2.11 12558 31.54
Sardarpur 110191 26326 23.89 497 0.45 20152 18.29 323 0.29 5325 4.83
Gandhwani 43287 17902 41.36 276 0.64 7648 17.67 3175 7.33 6690 15.45
Dharmpuri 36653 14327 39.09 15 0.04 10004 27.29 296 0.81 4011 10.93
District 739468 224279 30.33 1365 0.18 141211 19.10 15785 2.13 61146 8.27
TCA=Total Cropped Area Source: District Land Record Dhar. District Statistical Hand Book, Dhar, 2008-09.
Wheat
At present wheat is the first ranking cereal and millet crops, covering
19.10 per cent of total cropped area. It is followed by maize, jawar and rice.
Wheat occupies first place among cereals and second place among all crops
in the district. It is generally sown during the period of mid September to
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November and harvested from middle of March to May. Wheat is raised in a
variety of soils and climatic conditions. It thrives well on all types of soils
except alkaline and water logged ones. But medium loams with good
drainage and crumby of structures are considered to be the best. Cool and
moist weather at the time of sowing, light showers when the plant is
sprouting and a well distributed rainfall or alternatively availability of
supplementary irrigation during its period of growth and finally high
temperature at ripening stage are the optimum condition for wheat
cultivation. This district for the most part offers a well balanced combination
of these ecological conditions. It is grown on 141211 hectares, which is
19.10 per cent of total cropped area in the district and 3.00 per cent of the
total wheat cropped area in the state. In wheat crop highest proportion has
been recorded in Dharampuri block with 27.29 per cent followed by
Manawar, Nalchha, Dhar, Tirla, Sardarpur, Gandhawani and Umarban
blocks with 25.91, 24.26, 23.74, 18.66, 18.29, 17.67 and 16.57 per cent
respectively. While Nisarpur, Badnawar, Dahi, Kuskhi and Bagh blocks have
the minimum proportion of wheat crop and it ranges from 9.00 to 16.00 per
cent (Plate 4.2). Wheat is grown is almost every block however, core of the
concentration is in the southern part of the district. From this southern part
proportion of wheat cropped area decreases in all direction. The decreasing
trends may be explained by the occurrence of soil, low rainfall and short
winter season. Distribution of wheat cultivation is very uneven. Wheat is
first ranking crops in two blocks (Dharampuri 27.29 per cent and Manawar
25.91 per cent). It is shows in Table 4.2. Very high concentration is due to
fertile black soils, level land, high net sown area, large holding facilitating
the use of yield raising inputs.
Maize
Maize occupies second place among cereals and fifth place among all
crops in the district. It is grown of 61146 hectares which constitute 8.27 per
cent of total cropped area in the district. It is clear in Table 4.2. It is grown
in the west central part of this district. It is normally grown as a garden crop
in the hilly areas, where other important crops could not be grown, mainly
because of rugged relief. It grows well on light sandy soils if sufficient water
is received regularly. The poor peasantry of this part from starvation
proportion of cropped area under maize Umarban block rank first with 31.54
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Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 98
per cent followed by Bagh, Kuskhi, Gandhawani, Dahi and Dharampuri
blocks with 23.08, 18.48, 15.45 13.48 and 10.93 per cent respectively. In
the other hand Manawar, Nisarpur, Sardarpur, Tirla, Nalchha and Badnawar
blocks have the medium proportion with 9.25 7.61, 4.83, 4.26 3.92 and 3.81
per cent respectively. While Dhar block has a minimum proportion with 0.43
per cent of the maize. There are one well marked belt of maize cultivation in
the district. It is depicted in Plate no. 4.3. Most important among them is
the south and south western part of the district. Lower concentration of
maize is in the north eastern part of the district. These crops plays very
important role in Scheduled tribe people. Tribal people are used maize as a
chapatti in food. The crop is known as 'Garibo ka gehun' in the tribals.
Jowar
Jowar is mostly taken as a Kharif crop is a food-grain of poor class
people and its ability to with stand even low rainfall and considerable
drought has made. It is an important crop in such areas of the district. It is
a drought resistant crop and can be grown on lighter and poorer soil where
other superior food grains cannot thrive. There are 15785 hectares of
cropped area under jowar in 2008-09. Which constitutes only 2.13 per cent
of the cropped area in the district and 2.53 per cent of the jowar cropped
area in the state. According to the table no. 4.2 proportion of jowar Bagh
block rank first with 14.19 per cent followed by Dahi, Kuskhi and
Gandhawani blocks with 11.02, 8.51 and 7.33 per cent respectively (Plate
no. 4.4). There are one well marked belt of jowar cultivations in the district.
South-western part of the district is most important belt. In the other hand
Nisarpur, Bankaner and Manawar blocks have medium proportion with
2.61, 2.11 and 1.80 per cent. While remaining blocks Dharmpuri, Nalchha,
Sardarpur, Tirla, Badnawar and Dhar blocks have the minor proportion of
jowar with 0.81, 0.37, 0.29, 0.23, 0.02 and 0.01 per cent respectively.
Lower concentration of jowar found in the north and north-eastern
part of the district. jowar is less significant is this area. Therefore, cotton,
soyabean and wheat replace jowar. Jowar cultivation is insignificant in the
part of north and eastern part the district. In the Kharif season, this area are
busy in cultivation of cotton and soyabean and several small millets.
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Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 99
Rice
Rice occupies fourth place among cereals in the district. There are
1365 hectares of cropped area under rice in 2008-09 which is 0.18 per cent
of the cropped area in the district. Rice grows well in low lying areas of heavy
clays or clay loam soil. The cultivation of rice essentially reflects its close
relationship with soil and water which are limiting factors. The district gets
average rainfall of 75-100 cm, nearly 95.00 per cent of which is received
form the southwest monsoon from June to October which is also the growing
season of the rice crop. In rice crop highest proportion has been recorded in
Gandhwani block with 0.64 per cent followed by Bagh, Sardarpur and
Bankaner blocks with 0.59, 0.45 and 0.37 per cent respectively. These
blocks are distributed in western part of the district (Table 4.2). In the other
hands Nalchha and Kukshi blocks have the medium proportion with 0.17
and 0.14 per cent while remaining seven blocks have minor proportion of the
rice. Main reason for declines production of rice is directly related with the
amount of rainfall and characteristics of soil. Porous and permeable sandy
soil also facilitate the forming of rice, while black soil of Dhar with high
water retentive capacity and highly sticky when they are not suitable for rice
cultivation.
Pulses
All pulses occupy 106430 hectares, which is 14.39 per cent of the
total cropped area and more than one fourth 30.48 per cent of the area
under food crops in the district (2008-09). Proportion of cropped area under
pulses ranks first in Badnawar block with 26.34 per cent followed by Dhar,
Bagh, Tirla and Dahi blocks with 21.94, 17.69, 16.64 and 16.08 per cent
respectively. Badnawar block with higher proportion than the district
average (i.e. 14.39 per cent) are concentrated in the north-western part of
the district (Plate 4.5). In the otherhand Nalchha, Sardarpur and
Gandhawani blocks have the medium proportion with 12.40, 10.70 and
10.25 per cent while Kukshi, Bankaner, Nisarpur, Manawar and
Dharampuri blocks have minimum proportion with 8.63, 5.74, 3.90, 3.72
and 2.33 per cent (Table no. 4.3). Gram is the first ranking pulse crop which
occupies 84,222 hectares (11.42 per cent) of total area under all pulses. It is
followed by urad (0.90 per cent) and tur (0.40 per cent). only one fourths of
the area is under pulses grown in Kharif season and more than three forth
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Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 100
under pulses of rabi season. 'Urad' and 'Tur' are important in former and
gram in later season. Other pulses crops, in order of significance, are Moong
and along with season these crops have regionality also.
Table No. 4.3 Dhar District : Area Under Pulses Crops in 2008-09
(Area In Heaters) Block TCA Pulses % Gram % Tur % Urd %
Dhar 91606 20095 21.94 19625 21.42 34 0.04 12 0.01
Tirla 40009 6658 16.64 5894 14.75 12 0.03 33 0.08
Nalchha 73033 9060 12.4 8478 11.61 84 0.11 121 0.16
Badnawar 139651 36788 26.34 35995 25.77 51 0.04 50 0.03
Kukshi 26706 2305 8.63 209 0.78 165 0.62 538 2.01
Bagh 28971 5125 17.69 774 2.67 218 0.75 1986 6.85
Nisarpur 28893 1126 3.9 123 0.42 175 0.60 66 0.23
Dahi 23427 3769 16.08 166 0.70 103 0.44 1655 7.06
Manawar 57221 2132 3.72 385 0.67 430 0.75 187 0.33
Bankaner 39820 2286 5.74 595 1.49 540 1.36 175 0.44
Sardarpur 110191 11796 10.7 10771 9.77 112 0.10 477 0.43
Gandhwani 43287 4436 10.25 1249 2.88 593 1.36 1361 0.14
Dharmpuri 36653 854 2.33 158 0.83 465 1.27 26 0.07
District 739468 106430 14.39 84422 11.42 2982 0.40 6687 0.90
TCA=Total Cropped Area.
Source: District Land Record Dhar. District Statistical Hand Book, Dhar, 2008-09. Gram
Gram is one of the important pulses in the district. It is mostly grow
in the sub-tropical and sub-humid areas. Gram is the principal food pulses
grown for cash returns. It is an important source of nutritive livestock food
especially for drought force, which takes a fair proportion of the produce. Its
consumption as a human food is also significant. It is used in different forms
as food items at present therefore it is in great demand. Gram is a
leguminous pulse used by all classes of people as a vegetable is green form
and as a pulse in dry form. Gram flour is used for preparing edible food
articles, and because of this fact it has assumed commercial significance. It
is an important and cheap source of portion and being a legume. It is also of
considerable utility in enriching the soil productivity through the fixation of
atmospheric nitrogen. Gram is winter pulses and comes at second place
among the food grains after wheat. It occupies 84422 thousand hectares
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Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 101
(11.42 per cent) of total cropped area. Only 17.6 per cent of total gram
cropped area is irrigated. Gram occupies highest proportion has been
recorded in Badnawar block with 25.77 per cent followed by Dhar, Tirla and
Nalchha blocks with 21.42, 14.75 and 11.61 per cent respectively (Table
4.3). In the otherhand Sardarpur, Gandhwani, Bagh and Bankaner blocks
presented the medium proportion with 9.77, 2.88, 2.67 and 1.49 per cent,
while remaining Dharampuri (0.83), Kukshi (0.78), Dahi (0.70), Mahawar
(0.67) and Nisarpur (0.42) blocks have concentrate minor proportion of gram
(Plate 4.6).
Urad
Urad also called 'black gram' is the second ranking pulse crop in the
district. It is grown 6687 hectares (0.90 per cent of total cropped area) in the
district in 2008-09. It is mainly a Kharif crop and is also grown in rabi
season. Proportion of cropped area under Urad, Dahi block rank first with
7.06 per cent followed by Bagh, Gandhawani and Kukshi blocks with 6.85,
3.14 and 2.01 per cent respectively. These blocks are distributed in the
south-western part of the district (Plate 4.7). In the otherhand nine
remaining block Bankaner (0.44), Sardarpur (0.43), Manawar (0.33),
Nisarpur (0.23), Nachna (0.16), Tirla (0.08), Dharampuri (0.07), Badnawar
(0.03) and Dhar (0.01) have the minor proportion of urad crop and its range
from below 1.00 per cent. It is presented in table 4.3.
Tur
Tur also called 'arhar' (cajanus indicus) is an annual crop which is
sown in the kharif season and is harvested in the rabi season. It has also
assumed commercial significance. This was also of considerable utility in
enriching the soil productivity through the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen.
It is a deep rooted and soil building crop and scarcely grown alone in this
district. It is general practice to grow it with the millets jowar, maize, with
other pulses : moong, urad, with oilseeds, soyabean and till and with cotton.
In the early part of the growing season, it grows slowly specially when it is
mixed with a cereal crop but it grows rapidly in later part and covers the
entire space. It may be grown on almost all type of soils but it flourishes well
on light moist soil where its long roots may develop freely. Excessive rainfall
and even more water lagging frost harmful to the crop but it survives best in
deficient rainfall.
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Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 102
Tur is third important kharif pulse crop in district. It is usually grown
mixed with other kharif crops. This crop occupies 2982 hectares of cropped
area in 2008-09 which constitute only 0.40 per cent of the cropped area in
the district. It is also evident from the Table 4.3. Proportion of tur Bankaner
and Gandhawani both blocks are ranks first with 1.36 per cent followed by
Dharmpuri block with 1.27 per cent. These blocks are located in the central
and south-eastern part of the district. In otherhand, Manawar, Bagh,
Kukshi. Nisarpur, Dahi, Nalchha, Sardarpur, Dhar, Badnawar and Tirla
blocks have minimum proportion of tur with 0.75, 0.62, 0.60, 0.44, 0.11,
0.10, 0.04, 0.04 and 0.03 per cent.
As every farmer tries to grow cereals and pulses to meet his food
requirement, similarly every farmer grows some vegetables and spices
particularly only in rainy season. Similarly, plantation of mango, guava,
banana, lemon etc. are universal. Consequently, these food crops occupy
some cropped area in every block. But their production above bare
subsistence level mostly depends on economic factors especially market
factor. Since most of these crops are perishable and their production cost is
usually high they are grown near big towns and cities where they confetch
extensive market. Besides market, cultivation of these crops depends upon
availability of irrigation and facility of cheap and easy means of transport.
Fruits
Total area under fruits is 944 hectares in this district. Thus only 0.13
per cent of total cropped area is under these important crops. Fruits
occupies highest proportion has been recorded in Nisarpur Block with 1.33
per cent followed by Dharmpuri, Manawar, Bankaner, Dhar, Badnawar,
Sardarpur, Tirla, Nalchha and Bagh blocks with 0.68, 0.30, 0.08, 0.04, 0.02,
0.02, 0.01, 0.01 and 0.01 per cent respectively. There are three blocks
Nisarpur (1.33 per cent), Dharampuri (0.68 per cent) and Manawar (0.30 per
cent) with higher proportion of area under fruits than the district average
(0.13 per cent). These blocks are concentrated is in the southern part of the
district. Total fruits cropped area in five block is 846 hectares which is more
than 89.62 per cent of total fruits cropped area of the district. Low and very
low concentration of fruits is in the north and central part of the district.
While three remaining blocks Kukshi, Gandhawani and Dahi have been
negligible proportion of fruit crops (Table 4.4).
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Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 103
Table No. 4.4 Dhar District : Area Under Total Fruit Crops in 2008-09
(Area In Heaters) Block TCA Total Fruits Vegetables Spices
Area % Area % Area %
Dhar 91606 35 0.04 655 0.71 503 0.55
Tirla 40009 6 0.01 49 0.12 155 0.39
Nalchha 73033 11 0.01 1771 2.42 922 1.26
Badnawar 139651 25 0.02 1690 1.21 2053 1.47
Kukshi 26706 0 0 35 0.13 287 1.07
Bagh 28971 3 0.01 9 0.03 99 0.34
Nisarpur 28893 386 1.33 25 0.09 1779 6.16
Dahi 23427 0 0 17 0.07 474 2.02
Manawar 57221 172 0.3 113 0.20 638 1.11
Bankaner 39820 34 0.08 98 0.25 673 1.69
Sardarpur 110191 21 0.02 1161 1.05 1054 0.96
Gandhwani 43287 0 0 42 0.09 533 1.23
Dharampuri 36653 251 0.68 154 0.42 381 1.04
District 739468 944 0.13 5819 0.79 10551 1.43
TCA=Total Cropped Area. Source: District Land Record Dhar, District Statistical Hand Book, Dhar, 2008-09. Vegetables
Vegetables is grown on 5819 hectares which constitute 0.79 per cent
of total cropped area in the district. According to the Table 4.4, proportion of
vegetables Nalchha block ranks first with 2.42 per cent followed by
Badnawar and Sardarpur with 1.21 and 1.05 per cent. There are three
blocks Nalchha (2.42 per cent), Badnawar (1.21 per cent) and Sardarpur
(1.05 per cent) with higher proportion of area under vegetables than the
district average (0.79 per cent). These blocks are distributed is in the east
and northern part of the district. Total vegetables cropped area in five block
is 5326 hectares, which is more than 91.53 per cent of total vegetable
cropped area of the district. Lower concentration of vegetables is in the
southern part of the district. In the otherhand Dhar, Dharampuri,
Bankaner, Manawar, Kukshi and Tirla block have been medium proportion
with 0.71, 0.42, 0.25, 0.20, 0.13 and 0.12 per cent respectively. While
Nisarpur, Sardarpur, Dahi and Bagh blocks have minor proportion of
vegetables with 0.09, 0.09, 0.07 and 0.03 per cent respectively.
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Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 104
Spices
It is grown on 10551 hectares, which is 1.43 per cent of total cropped
area is the district and 4.62 per cent of total spices cropped area in the
state. According to the Table 4.4, production of spices Nisarpur block rank
first with 6.16 per cent followed by Dahi, Bankaner, Badnawar, Nalchha,
Gandhawani, Manawar, Kukshi and Dharampuri blocks with 2.02, 1.69,
1.47, 1.26, 1.23, 1.11, 1.07 and 1.04 per cent respectively. There are four
blocks Nisarpur (6.16 per cent), Dahi (2.02 per cent) Bankaner (1.69 per
cent) and Badnawar (1.47 per cent) with higher proportion of area under
spices than the district average (1.43 per cent). The blocks are concentrated
is in the north and southern part of the district. Total spices cropped area in
eight blocks is 7057 hectares, which is 66.37 per cent of total spices cropped
area of the district. Lower concentration of spices is in the central and
eastern part of the district. In the otherhand Sardarpur, Dhar, Tirla and
Bagh blocks have been minimum proportion of spices with 0.96, 0.55, 0.39
and 0.34 per cent respectively.
Sugarcane
Sugarcane grows best on well drained alluvium and black cotton soil
areas in the district, where irrigation facilities are available. It is an
important cash crop and is cultivated 1096 hectares (0.15 per cent of total
cropped area) cane is used as raw material of sugarcane is concentrated in a
few area, which have attracted sugar factories. The importance of irrigation
to sugarcane crop is so great, nearly 99.0 per cent of the total sugarcane
area is irrigated (2008-09). Distribution of sugarcane cultivation is very
uneven. There are four block Dharampuri (1.29 per cent), Bankaner (0.62
per cent), Manawar (0.45 per cent) and Nisarpur (0.35 per cent) with higher
proportion of area under sugarcane than the district average (0.15 per cent).
These blocks are distributed is in the southern part of the district. Total
sugarcane cropped area in these blocks is 983 hectares, which is 89.68 per
cent of total sugarcane cropped area of the district. In these areas good
alluvial and black soil and irrigation facilities are available. Low
concentration of sugarcane is in the northern and central part of the district.
According to the Table 4.5 proportion of sugarcane Dharmpuri block ranks
first with 1.29 per cent followed by Bankaner, Manawar, Nisarpur and
Sardarpur blocks with 0.62, 0.45, 0.35 and 0.01 per cent respectively. While
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 105
seven remaining blocks have negligible proportion of sugarcane. Tribal
farmers are not cultivate the sugarcane due to the lack of irrigational
facilities, capital and fertile soil.
Oilseeds
Traditionally oilseeds are classed as cash crops of course farmer sells
oilseeds as he dose other commodities also; but it is hard to accept that
trade is sole motive behind the production of oilseeds. Oil is an important
ingredient of food and is used for several purposes. Therefore oilseed is
produced in every part of the district. However there is regionalism in
distribution of different oilseeds due to the variation in relief, edaphic and
climatic conditions. Economic conditions also have affected this situation.
Consequently, in favorable areas comparatively larger areas is devoted to
oilseeds, which has led to industrialization. Among non food crops, oilseeds
dominate in this district. All oilseeds occupy 2,64,593 hectares, which is
35.78 per cent of the total cropped area. It is more than two third 67.78 of
the area under non-food crops in the district. Thus 4.79 per cent of oilseed
cropped area of the state, is in this district, which contribute per cent of
production of oilseeds. There are five blocks Tirla (56.40 per cent), Nalchha
(51.78 per cent), Sardarpur (50.30 per cent), Dhar (49.87 per cent) and
Badnawar (43.80 per cent) with higher proportion of oilseeds cropped area
than the district average (35.78 per cent). These blocks are distributed is in
the north-eastern part of the district. Total oilseeds cropped areas in these
five blocks are 2,22,665 hectares, which is 84.13 per cent of total cropped
area of the district. Proportion of oilseed Tirla block rank first with 56.40
per cent followed by Nalchha, Sardarpur, Dhar and Badnawar blocks with
51.78, 50.30, 49.87 and 43.80 per cent respectively. In the otherhand
Gandhawani, Bagh, Dharampuri and Bankaner blocks have been medium
proportion with 27.43, 22.86, 16.81 and 13.45 per cent respectively. While
Manawar, Kukshi, Nisarpur and Dahi blocks have lower proportion of
oilseeds with 10.90, 8.08, 7.14 and 6.49 per cent respectively (Table 4.5).
Very lower concentration of oilseeds is found in the west-southern part of
the district. Soyabean is the first ranking oilseeds out of other crops 98.32
per cent of total area under all oilseeds. It is followed by groundnut (0.53 per
cent) and sesame (0.03 per cent). All these crops are cultivate in specific
region (Plate 4.8).
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 106
Table No. 4.5 Dhar District : Area Under Oilseed Crops in 2008-09
(Area in Heaters)
Block TCA Oilseeds Soyabean Groundnut Sesame Sugarcane Cotton
Area % Area % Area % Area % Area % Area %
Dhar 91606 45682 49.87 45608 49.79 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0
Tirla 40009 22567 56.4 22529 56.31 24 0.06 2 0 1 0 388 0.97
Nalchha 73033 37820 51.78 37795 51.75 20 0.03 1 0 1 0 97 0.13
Badnawar 139651 61168 43.8 61070 43.73 76 0.05 2 0 1 0 8095 5.79
Kukshi 26706 2158 8.08 1181 4.42 973 3.64 4 0.01 2 0 10294 38.54
Bagh 28971 6622 22.86 3232 21.51 275 0.95 23 0.08 0 0 2829 9.76
Nisarpur 28893 2063 7.14 1792 6.2 267 0.92 3 0.01 100 0.35 14777 51.14
Dahi 23427 1520 6.49 865 3.69 650 2.77 5 0.02 0 0 5378 22.96
Manawar 57221 3235 10.09 5833 10.19 288 0.5 90 0.12 260 0.45 24623 43.03
Bankaner 39820 5358 13.45 4970 12.48 336 0.84 39 0.1 248 0.62 10606 26.63
Sardarpur 110191 55428 50.3 55097 50 302 0.27 9 0.01 6 0.01 11325 10.28
Gandhwani 43287 11872 27.43 11134 25.72 637 1.47 56 0.13 0 0 8256 19.07
Dharmpuri 36653 6160 16.81 6090 16.61 59 0.16 0 0 475 1.29 13694 37.36
District 739468 264593 35.78 260142 35.18 3908 0.05 235 0.03 1096 0.15 110362 14.92
TCA=Total Cropped Area. Source: District Land Record Dhar. District Statistical Hand Book, Dhar, 2008-09.
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 107
Soyabean
Soyabean is the most important cash crop in the district. It is taken
as a kharif crop. It is concentration is on the medium to deep black and good
soils with high fertility. Soyabean is comparatively a new market oriented
crop. Soyabean occupies first place among all oilseed crops in the district.
There are 260142 hectare of cropped area under soyabean in 2008-09,
which constitutes 35.18 per cent of total cropped area in the district. It is
98.29 per cent of the area under oilseeds crops in the district. Thus 5.83 per
cent of total cropped area of the state existed in the district. Proportion of
soyabean rank first in Tirla block with 56.31 per cent followed by Nalchha,
Sardarpur, Dhar and Badnawar blocks with 51.75, 50.00, 49.79 and 43.73
per cent respectively. There are five blocks Tirla (56.31 per cent), Nalchha
(51.75 per cent), Sardarpur (50.00 per cent), Dhar (49.79 per cent),
Badnawar (43.73 per cent) with higher proportion of soyabean cropped area
than the district average (35.18 per cent). These blocks form a compact zone
in northern part of the district (Plate no.4.9). Soyabean is first ranking crop
in four tehsil (Dhar, Sardarpur, Badnawar and Gandhwani) of the district.
Total soyabean cropped area in these five blocks are 2,22,099 hectares,
which is more than 85.38 per cent of total soyabean cropped area of the
district. In other parts it could not be popular though introduced in every
block by 2008-09. It can be ascribed to heavy pressure of rural population
processing for food grain production, distance from urban markets, absence
of the culture of commercial farming and socio-economic backwardness. In
the otherhand Gandhawani, Bagh, Dharmpuri, Umarban and Manawar
blocks have been medium proportion with 25.72, 21.51, 16.61 12.48 and
10.19 per cent respectively. While Three remaining blocks have minimum
proportion of soyabean ranges 3.00 to 7.00 per cent (Table 4.5, Plate 4.9).
Groundnut
Groundnut is an important kharif oilseed crop. It occupies 3908
hectares (0.53 per cent) of total cropped area in the district in 2008-09. It is
only 1.80 per cent of the area under oilseed crops in the state. It is
essentially a tropical plant and needs long and warm growing season. Warm
dry weather is essential during ripening period and frost is injurious to the
crop. It is chiefly grown in region having a rainfall between 50cm to 90 cm
per annum. The plant prefers light soils but is grown widely on black soils
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 108
and red soils. According to the table no. 4.5 proportion of groundnut Kukshi
block rank first with 3.64 per cent followed by Dahi and Gandhawani blocks
with 2.77 and 1.47 per cent. There are six blocks Kukshi (3.64 per cent),
Dahi (2.77 per cent), Gandhwani (1.47 per cent), Bagh (0.95 per cent),
Nisarpur (0.92 per cent), Bankaner (0.84 per cent) with higher proportion of
groundnut cropped area than the district average (0.53 per cent). These six
blocks are distributed is in the south-western part of the district. Total area
under groundnut in these six block is 3138 hectares which more than 80.30
per cent of total groundnut cropped area of the district. In the otherhand
Bagh, Nisarpur, Bankaner, Manawar, Sardarpur and Dharampuri blocks
have medium proportion of groundnut with 0.95, 0.92, 0.84, 0.50, 0.27 and
0.16 per cent respectively. While four remaining blocks have minor
proportion of groundnut.
Sesame
Sesame is grown on 235 hectares, which constitute only 0.03 per cent
of total cropped area in the district. Proportion of sesame Gandhawani block
rank first with 0.13 per cent followed by Manawar, Bankaner, Bagh, Dahi,
Nisarpur and Kukshi blocks with 0.12, 0.10, 0.08, 0.02, 0.01 and 0.01 per
cent respectively. There are four blocks Gandhwani (0.13), Manawar (0.12),
Bankaner (0.10) and Bagh (0.08 per cent) with higher proportion of area
under sesame than the district average (0.03 per cent). It is shown in Table
4.5. It is significant crop in the south-central part of the district. In the
otherhand five remaining blocks have negligible proportion of sesame.
Cotton
Cotton has significant place among commercial crops of the district.
But it is being displaced by soyabean. It is an important cash crop cultivated
an 110362 hectares in 2008-09. It is only 14.92 per cent of total cropped
area in the district and 22.92 per cent of the total cotton cropped area in the
state. According to the table no 4.4 proportion of cotton Nisarpur block rank
first with 51.14 per cent followed by Manawar, Kukshi, Dharampuri,
Bankaner, Dahi and Gandhawani blocks with 43.03, 38.54, 37.36, 26.63,
22.96 and 19.07 per cent respectively. In the otherhand Sardarpur, Bagh
and Badnawar blocks have medium proportion of cotton with 10.28, 9.76
and 5.79 per cent respectively. There are seven blocks Nisarpur (51.14 per
cent), Manawar (43.3 per cent), Kukshi (38.54 per cent) Dharampuri (37.36
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 109
per cent), Bankaner (26.63 per cent), Dahi (22.96 per cent) and Gandhawani
(19.07 per cent) with higher proportion of area under cotton than the district
average (14.92 per cent). In the district cotton is cultivated in all seven
tahsils. Total area under cotton is above seven block is 82,201 hectares,
which is more than 74.48 per cent of total cotton cropped area of the
district. While Tirla and Nalchha blocks have minimum proportion with 0.97
and 0.13 per cent and Dhar block has negligible proportion of cotton.
Generally very few tribal farmers cultivate the cotton. But now days in some
bocks increased the cotton cultivated area. It is clear from Table 4.5 and
Plate 4.10.
Changes in Cropping Pattern
Along with other sector of the economy agricultural also made great
strides forward during the plan periods. These have been made possible
through the organized efforts of improving the physical base and also socio-
economic infrastructure of agricultural production.
Since the commencement of the First Five Years plan herculean
efforts have been made in the name of agricultural development. It was
desired to extend supplies of inputs, services, finance and technical know-
how to ruralties. Provision of infrastructure has induced certain changes in
cropping pattern of the district. Further, such factors as rapid growth of
population, industrialization, urbanization, development of means of
transport and marketing facilities also have caused changes in crop
structure. This is clear from the analysis of the changes that occurred in the
cropland use during 1990-91 to 2009-10 (Table 4.6).
Changes in the areal extent of the crops
During last twenty years, gross cultivated area increased from
6,10,677 hectares in 1990-91 to 7,67,589 hectares in 2009-10, thus
annexing 1,56,912 hectares to it. Out of this 98,881 hectares are added to
non-food crops and 58,031 hectares to food crops. This addition works an
increase of 34.58 per cent and 17.87 per cent respectively. Even among
nonfood crops, highest increase has been recorded by the pulses 62.51 per
cent. Differential rates of growth are clear from Table 4.6.
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 110
Table No. 4.6 Dhar District : Change in Area of Crops 1990-91 to 2009-10
(Area in hectares)
Crop Area 1990-91
Per cent
Area 2009-10
Per cent
Change in area
per cent
growth
Net change
Wheat 65710 10.76 158890 20.70 93180 141.80 9.94
Maize 85513 14.00 52557 6.48 -32956 -38-54 -7.52
Jowar 50599 8.29 14629 1.90 -35970 -71.09 -6.39
Rice 6748 1.10 1208 0.16 -5540 -82.10 -0.94
Other cereals & millets
29930 4.90 14772 1.92 -15158 -50.64 -2.98
Total cereals & Millets
238500 39.05 242056 31.53 3556 1.49 -7.52
Gram 27554 4.50 97725 12.73 70171 254.68 8-23
Tur 8764 1.40 3011 0.39 -5753 -65.64 -1.01
Urad 18506 3.03 7264 0.95 -11242 -60.75 -2.08
Other pulses 21129 3.4 15425 2.01 -5704 -26.99 -1.39
Total pulses 75947 12.44 123425 16.08 47478 62.51 3.64 Fruits 971 0.16 940 0.12 -31 -3.20 -0.04
vegetables 1781 0.30 6519 0.85 4738 266.03 -0.55
Spices 6325 1.03 8650 1.13 2325 36.78 0.10
Sugarcane 1231 0.20 1196 0.15 -35 -2.84 -0.05
Total food crop 324755 53.18 382786 49.87 58031 11.78 -3.31 Soyabean 177734 29.10 268058 34.92 90324 50.82 5.82
Groundnut 16701 2.73 3681 0.48 -13020 -77.96 -2.25
Sesame 792 0.13 200 0.03 -592 -74.75 -0.10
Other oilseeds 1918 0.31 1308 0.20 -610 -31.80 -0.11
Total oilseeds 197145 32.28 273247 35.60 76102 38.60 3.32 Cotton 88777 14.54 111556 14.53 22779 25.66 -0.01
Total non food crops
285922 46.82 384803 50.13 98881 34.58 3.31
Total cropped area
610677 - 767589 - 156912 - -
Source : District Land Record, Dhar (M.P.). District Statistical Hand Book, Dhar, 1991, 2009.
Among cereals highest increase occurred in areas under wheat
(141.80 per cent). It is observed that the area under rice (-82.10), Jowar (-
71.09), cereals and millets (-50.64) and maize has decreased and their
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 111
proportion in total cropped area decreased (-0.94, -2.98, -6.39 and -7.52 per
cent respectively). Total 3556 hectares were added in area of cereals and
millets added during 1990-91 to 2009-10 but per centage share decreased
by 7.52 points.
On the otherhand, considerable increase has been recorded in area
under pulses. The area under various pulses went up to 62.51 per cent. Area
of gram consisting increased 254.68 per cent during this period. Because of
high market value, area under vegetable and spices recorded an increase but
area under and share in cropped area fruits and sugarcane is also decreased
(-0.04 and 0.05 per cent respectively). Considerable increase has been
recorded in area under oilseeds. Area under all oilseed crops went up to
38.60 per cent. Such rapid growth occurred due to the expansion of area
under soyabean. Soyabean was unknown in 1950-51 and only few hectares
were devoted to this crop in 1970-71. Now a day it has largest share among
all crops of the district. Sesame, Groundnut and other oilseeds also gained
significance but share of declined this period.
Net Changes in proportion of crops
Differential growth rate of crops have also caused shift in their significance in total area of crops of the district. Analysis of changes in the
proportion of crops is another way of expression of overall change in cropping pattern (Weaver, 1954, 34-35). Since 1990-91, proportion of cereals
and millets reduced from 39.05 per cent to 31.53 per cent of total cropped
area. This reduction was caused due to decrease in the proportion of maize (-
7.52), jowar (-6.39), other cereals and millets (-2.98) and rice (0.94). Wheat recorded increase in area under and their proportion in total cropped area.
Most of the loss of cereals and millets is compensated by pulses. Per
centage area under all pulses increased from 12.44 in 1990-91 to 16.08 per cent in 2009-10 net addition being 3.64 per cent. But urad (-2.08), other
pulses (-1.39 and tur (-1.01) per cent lost their proportion in total cropped
area. Among all pulse crops important gainer is gram 8.00 per cent.
Non food crops acquired 34.58 per cent of total area during this period. Major gainers are oilseeds, which added more than 3.0 per cent in
their share of total cropped area. Soyabean is the only crop under which area increased phenomenally. But traditional oilseeds as groundnut, sesame
and other oilseeds declined their proportionate area. Spatial trend of
important crops is described below.
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 112
Wheat
Wheat occupies first place among all food crops and second place
among all crops in the district. It is growth on 1,58,890 hectares, which
constitute 20.70 per cent of total cropped area of all food crops in the
district. Area under wheat increased from the average of 65,710 hectares in
1990-91 to 1,58,890 hectares in 2009-10. Net change is of 93,180 hectares,
which works to be 141.81 per cent. This growth is slightly higher lower as
compared to be state average of 301 per cent during this period. Block-wise
variation in area under wheat is given in Table 4.7.
Table No. 4.7 Dhar District : Block-wise Change in Wheat Cropped Area Over 1990-91
to 2009-10
(Area in Hectares)
Block Area 1990-91 Percent Area
2009-10 Percent Change during
1990-2009
Area Percen-tage
Dhar 10978 16.71 20460 12.88 9482 86.37
Tirla 3612 5.50 6900 4.34 3288 89.54
Nalchha 5918 9.01 21838 13.74 15920 269.00
Badnawar 16720 25.44 20581 12.92 3861 23.09
Kukshi 1549 2.36 4737 2.98 3188 205.81
Bagh 1038 1.58 2901 1.82 1863 179.47
Dahi 1322 2.01 2114 1.33 792 59.90
Nisarpur 2552 3.88 6518 4.10 3966 155.40
Manawar 3195 4.86 16247 10.22 13052 408.51
Bankaner 4176 6.35 10245 6.45 6069 145.33
Sardarpur 8236 12.53 24419 15.37 16183 196.49
Gandhwani 2199 3.35 10273 6.46 8074 367.16
Dharampuri 4205 6.40 16657 7.36 7452 177.21
District 65710 100.00 158890 100.00 93180 141.80
Source : District Land Record, Dhar (M.P.). District Statistical Hand Book, Dhar, 1991, 2009.
During last twenty years high growth (408.51 per cent) in wheat
cropped area occurred in Manawar block followed by Gandhwani (367.16 per
cent), Nalchha (269.00 per cent), Kukshi (205.81 per cent) and Sardarpur
(196.49 per cent). Contrary to them, two blocks Dahi (59.90 per cent) and
Badnawar (23.09 per cent) recorded very low increase wheat cropped area.
There is wide intra regional variation in change. In Manawar and Gandhwani
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 113
blocks the region behind the increase of wheat grown area is the
development of irrigation facilities. Here due to man project on Man River
near Jirabad very much increase in with production in noticed.
Besides this, other causes of declining share of wheat are irrigational
facilities and towering of level of groundwater. Contrary to them, increasing
irrigation facilities and use of yield raising inputs, particularly HYV and
fertilizers, facilitated the addition in proportion of wheat in the Manawar and
Gandhwani blocks. Reduction in rice area is also responsible for increasing
share of wheat (Table 4.6 and 4.7).
Maize
Maize is one of the major crops grown in the district. It is ranks
second among cereals and millets and occupies 52,557 hectares or 6.48 per
cent of cropped area in 2009-10. During last twenty years since 1990-91
total area under maize decreased from 85,513 hectares to 52,557 hectares in
2009-10. Consequently, proportion of maize cropped area declined by -7.52
per cent, from 14.00 per cent in 1990-91 to 6.48 per cent in 2009-10 in the
district. This decline varies very widely (plate no. 4.3). Block wise variation in
the area under maize is given in Table 4.8 below.
Table No. 4.8 Dhar District : Block-wise Change in Maize Cropped Area Over 1990-91
to 2009-10 (Area in Hectares)
Block Area 1990-91 Percent Area
2009-10 Percent Change during
1990-2009 Area Percentage
Dhar 1253 1.50 367 0.70 -886 -70.71 Tirla 3504 4.19 1413 2.69 -2091 -59.67 Nalchha 4829 5.78 2800 5.33 -2029 -42.02 Badnawar 5268 6.31 4239 8.06 -1029 -19.53 Kukshi 5904 7.07 4946 9.41 -958 -16.23 Bagh 7813 9.35 6719 12.78 -1094 -14.00 Dahi 3295 3.94 3146 5.98 -149 -4.50 Nisarpur 4517 5.41 2503 4.76 -2014 -44.59 Manawar 8667 10.38 5014 9.54 -3653 -42.15 Bankaner 13411 16.06 6230 11.85 -7181 -53.54 Sardarpur 9735 11.66 4440 8.45 -5295 -54.39 Gandhwani 9508 11.38 6999 13.32 -2509 -26.39 Dharampuri 5809 6.95 3741 7.12 -2068 -35.60 District 83513 100.00 52557 100.00 -30956 -37.07
Source : District Land Record, Dhar (M.P.). District Statistical Hand Book, Dhar, 1991, 2009.
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 114
In spite of this, total blocks witnessed decline in proportionate area
under this crop and these all blocks recorded negative growth. In the whole
district maize last its significance. However, declined was witnessed in Dahi
block in -4.50 per cent to Dhar block have -70.71 per cent in area under
maize. Its main cause is the rapid growth of soyabean, which replaced
maize.
Rice
Area under rice decreased to 1208 hectares in 2009-10 from 6748
hectares in 1990-91. Consequently, proportion of rice cropped area declined
by -0.94 per cent from 1.10 per cent in 1990-91 to 0.16 per cent in 2009-10
in the district. This decline varies very widely (Table 4.9) block wise variation
in the area under rice is given Table 4.5 above.
Table 4.9 Dhar District : Block-wise Change in Rice Cropped Area Over
1990-91 to 2009-10 (Area in Hectares)
Block Area 1990-91
Percent Area 2009-10
Percent Change during 1990-2009
Area Percentage Dhar 16 0.24 2 0.20 -14 -87.50 Tirla 296 4.39 18 1.50 -278 -93.91 Nalchha 355 5.26 75 6.21 -280 -78.87 Badnawar 125 1.85 10 0.83 -115 -92.00 Kukshi 246 3.64 35 2.90 -211 -85.77 Bagh 626 9.28 149 12.33 -477 -76.19 Dahi 14 0.21 3 0.25 -11 -78.57 Nisarpur 13 0.20 0 0.00 -13 -100.00 Manawar 462 6.85 27 2.23 -435 -94.15 Bankaner 537 7.96 125 10.35 -412 -76.72 Sardarpur 3032 44.93 500 41.39 -2532 -83.50 Gandhwani 896 13.28 248 20.53 -648 -72.32 Dharampuri 130 1.93 16 1.32 -114 -87.69 District 6748 100.00 1208 100.00 -5540 -82.09
Source : District Land Record, Dhar (M.P.). District Statistical Hand Book, Dhar, 1991, 2009.
All block have highest negative growth in rice cropped area was
recorded in Nisarpur (-100 per cent) to Manawar (-94.15 per cent) and Bagh
(-76.19 per cent) to Gandhwani (-72.32 per cent). In spite of this only one
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 115
block, out of 13 blocks have (-72.32 per cent) witnessed decline in proportion
area under this crop, and Twelve blocks recorded negative growth above -
72.32 per cent. These blocks are located in western to eastern part of the
district. In major portion of the district rice lost its significance. Its main
cause is the rapid growth of soyabean, which replaced rice.
Gram
Gram is the only important pulse grown in the district. Area under
gram increase rapidly from 27,554 hectares (4.50 per cent) in 1990-91 to
97,725 hectares (12.73 per cent) in 2009-10. Net addition was 70,171
hectares under gram in the district. It grew in all block of the district. This
caused increase in gram area cropped, is cash a crop that boosted a
production and in the given physio-climatic and administrative set up the
area and production of this crop will further increases in the district. Block
wise variation in the area under gram is given in Table 4.10.
Table No. : 4.10 Dhar District : Block-wise Change in Gram Cropped Area Over 1990-91
to 2009-10 (Area in Hectares)
Block Area
1990-91 Percent
Area 2009-10
Percent
Change during 1990-2009
Area Percen-tage
Dhar 5177 18.79 24560 25.13 19383 374.41 Tirla 950 3.45 8891 9.09 7941 835.89 Nalchha 3870 14.04 8244 8.43 4374 113.02 Badnawar 10237 37.15 36687 37.54 26450 258.37 Kukshi 243 0.88 320 0.33 77 31.69 Bagh 496 1.80 929 0.95 433 87.30 Dahi 111 0.40 142 0.14 31 27.93 Nisarpur 296 1.07 287 0.29 -9 -3.04 Manawar 509 1.85 771 0.79 262 51.47 Bankaner 431 1.56 690 0.71 259 60.09 Sardarpur 4834 17.54 14784 15.13 9950 205.83 Gandhwani 215 0.78 1214 1.24 999 464.65 Dharampuri 185 0.67 203 0.21 18 9.73 District 27554 100.00 97725 100.00 70171 254.66
Source : District Land Record, Dhar (M.P.). District Statistical Hand Book, Dhar, 1991, 2009.
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 116
Twelve out of 13 blocks, register addition in gram cropped area while
only one block recorded decline (plate no. 4.6). Two block record high
positive growth are Tirla (835.89 per cent) to Gandhwani (464.65 per cent) to
lowest positive growth occurred in Dharampuri (9.73 per cent) to Dahi
(27.93 per cent) block because soyabean and wheat take place.
Tur Tur, is an important kharif pulse crop, occupied 3011 hectares or
0.39 per cent of the total cropped area in 2009-10. Total area under tur was
8764 hectares in 1990-91, which was decline to 3011 hectares in 2009-10.
Thus it decreased by -65.64 per cent during this period. Net negative change
is of -1.01 per cent. Main causes of decreasing this area are increasing area
of other pulses in the district (Table 4.11). Block wise variation in the area
under tur is given below.
Table No. 4.11 Dhar District : Block-wise change in Tur Cropped Area Over
1990-91 to 2009-10
(Area in Hectares)
Block Area 1990-91 Percent Area
2009-10 Percent Change during
1990-2009 Area Percentage
Dhar 318 3.63 15 0.50 -303 -95.28
Tirla 362 4.13 42 1.39 -320 -88.39
Nalchha 628 7.16 71 2.35 -557 -88.69
Badnawar 183 2.08 93 3.09 -90 -49.18
Kukshi 391 4.46 145 4.81 -246 -0.62
Bagh 857 9.78 236 7.84 -621 -72.46
Dahi 142 1.62 106 3.52 -36 -25.35
Nisarpur 441 5.03 178 5.91 -263 -59.63
Manawar 1091 12.45 450 14.94 -641 -58.75
Bankaner 1102 12.57 566 18.80 -536 -48.72
Sardarpur 644 7.35 99 3.29 -545 -84.62
Gandhwani 857 9.78 537 17.83 -320 -37.33
Dharampuri 1748 19.94 473 15.71 -1275 -72.94
District 8764 100.00 3011 100.00 -5753 -65.64
Source : District Land Record, Dhar (M.P.). District Statistical Hand Book, Dhar, 1991, 2009.
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 117
Tur lost its relative significance in this period. Despite over all decline,
all thirteen blocks have recorded negative growth in area under this crop.
However, declined was witnessed in Kukshi block in -0.62 per cent to Dhar
block have -95.28 per cent in area under tur.
Soyabean
Growth in area under soyabean has been much lower than that of
production. Total area under soyabean was 177734 hectares (29.10 per cent)
in 1990-91, which reached to 268058 hectares (34.92 per cent) in 2009-10.
Thus area under soyabean recorded 50.82 per cent increase, during this
period. There is a wide range of variation in growth rate of area under this
crop during this period. Net addition was 90234 hectares. Block wise
variation in the area under soyabean is given (Table 4.12) below.
Table No. 4.12 Dhar District : Block-wise Change in Soyabean Cropped Area Over 1990-
91 to 2009-10
(Area in Hectares) Block Area
1990-91 Percent Area
2009-10 Percent Change during
1990-2009 Area Percentage
Dhar 39574 22.26 45794 17.08 6220 15.71
Tirla 14258 8.02 22950 8.56 8692 60.96
Nalchha 26513 14.92 38269 14.28 11756 44.34
Badnawar 49675 27.95 61719 32.02 12044 24.24
Kukshi 28 0.01 1523 0.57 1495 5339.28
Bagh 326 0.18 6814 2.54 6488 1990.18
Dahi 6 0.003 975 0.36 969 16150.0
Nisarpur 181 0.10 1821 0.68 1640 906.07
Manawar 1112 0.62 6302 2.35 5190 466.72
Bankaner 606 0.34 5259 1.96 4653 767.82
Sardarpur 31422 17.68 59005 22.01 27583 87.78
Gandhwani 1232 0.69 11746 4.36 10514 853.40
Dharampuri 1801 1.01 5881 2.19 4080 226.54
District 177734 100.00 268058 100.00 90324 50.82
Source : District Land Record, Dhar (M.P.). District Statistical Hand Book, Dhar, 1991, 2009.
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 118
The soyabean growth is recorded in all 13 blocks, out of them three
blocks have recorded very high and high proportion. These are Dahi
(16150.00 per cent), Kukshi (5339.0 per cent) and Bagh (1990.0 per cent).
Five blocks have recorded comparatively medium change. At the same period
five blocks have (Dhar 15.71, Badnawar 24.24, Nalchha 44.34, Tirla 60.96
and Sardarpur 87.78 per cent) low change under soyabean crop (Table no.
4.12, Plate no. 4.9). Whole Malwa tract also recorded very slow growth in
soyabean area in the district during this period.
Better yield, possibility of crop rotation for sustaining successive rabi
crops, augmentation in soil fertility factors for popularity and adoption of
soyabean in this district. Again, soyabean processing plants have bean
established in the study region.
Crop-combination
Planned efforts is the introduction of new innovation to revitalize farm
enterprises should adhere to regionalism in the agro-climatic and socio-
economic controls rather than to the practices under specific policies laid
down for the state as well as whole for stepping up production. The survey of
each region would help the planners to plan and to merry potentials with
performances effectively, with lastingly good results (Singh, 1974, 299).
Agriculture is by far an important single use of land in most of the
countries of the world, and the description and analysis of various problems
have, however, confined themselves to the description of dominant individual
crops rather than complex agricultural system, with the result that they
usually suffer from over generalizations, because the individual crops, except
relatively rare circumstances of extreme monoculture are not grown alone
but characteristically they appear in combinations (Weaver, 1954, 2). A
general understanding of the particular combination of the crops and the
relative importance of each in an area can be very helpful in interpreting
some aspects of social and economic geography of the region (Majeed, 1972,
424). Thus, the study of crop combinations reflects the variable position of
the individual crop within themselves as their integral complex for the
analysis and synthesis of the crop land use pattern discussed above.
There are several methods of defining the crop-combination. Weaver's
(1954, p.2) minimum deviation method is pioneer one. It takes into
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Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 119
consideration the percentage of crop average to total cropped area. He
defined a theoretical curve based on the area of crop land being equally
divided between the individual crops in the combination. It means if there is
only one crop then 100.0 per cent of cropped area should be under that
crop, if there are two crops then each should occupy 50.0 per cent of the
cropped area. Similarly, if there are ten crops then each should occupy 10.0
per cent of cropped area. He then measured actual crop percentage in the
combination against this theoretical curve. The crop-combination that
showed least deviation from the expected curve was accepted as the crop
combination that particular unit of area.
Weaver's method appear to be quite simple, but in practice, it requires
much calculation. Occasionally, it also tends to produce highly generalized
results in areas of large number of variants or as admitted by Weaver
himself, in areas where the first ranking crop is very large, although not
large enough to justify the combination as mono-culture, and the remaining
crops are comparatively small.
Other methods for determining the crop-combination region are
suggested by several scholars. Most often used weaver's method after some
modifications. With Doi's (1957) method, it was found that the result is more
realistic in comparison to other method discussed earlier and that the
results are not more generalizations. Thus, the modified minimum deviation
method is a better method for deriving meaningful crop-combination within
no time. Therefore, this method has been used in the present analysis. He
used weaver's formula after following modification.
σ = εd2
He did not divide the sum of squares of differences by the number of
crops involved as Weaver did. The combination having the smallest sum of
squares of differences will be crop-combination of concerned areal unit.
Assumptions
1. Only those crops have been taken into consideration which occupy
atleast 1.0 per cent of the total cropped area.
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 120
2. Crops are arranged in order of descending magnitude and the
differences between the actual and theoretical percentage are
calculated, using Weaver's method.
3. Since individual crops have been considered for determination of
crop combination, groups of crops such as other cereals, other
pulses, other oilseeds and fodder crops have not been taken into
account.
4. The block is the basic unit for the study and analysis.
BLOCK WISE CROP COMBINATION
The crop associations determined in the above fashion for all thirteen
blocks are as follows :
On the basis of areal strength of individual crops, the crop, the crop
combination regions are formed by using Doi (1957) "Modified minimum
deviation method". A large number of crops have come in combination but in
five combinations have been identified which, in fact, from 10 contiguous
units (Plate 4.11).
Table No. 4.13
Dhar District : Block-wise Crop Combination S.
No. Block Crops in combination
Name of the crop
1 Dhar 03 SWG 2 Tirla 02 SW 3 Nalchha 02 SW 4 Badnawar 03 SGW 5 Kukshi 04 CMWJ 6 Bagh 06 MSJWCU 7 Nisarpur 02 CW 8 Dahi 05 CMWJU 9 Manawar 02 CW
10 Bankaner 04 MCWS 11 Sardarpur 02 SW 12 Gandhwani 04 SCWM 13 Dharampuri 03 CWS
Keywords = S = Sugarcane, W = Wheat, G = Gram, C = Cotton, M = Maize, J = Jowar, U = Urd
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 121
There is a total absent of monoculture in this district, which clearly
indicate the heterogeneity and complexity of crops in the region.
There are two crops soyabean and wheat or cotton and wheat, which
make combination. There are five blocks of two-crop combination. The first
compact area consist of Sardarpur, Tirla and Nalchha, where soyabean and
wheat and second is Nisarpur and Manawar, where cotton and wheat
compact area.
There are four crops viz. soyabean, gram, wheat and cotton which
make combination. Three blocks of three-crop combination in this group.
One compact area consist of Badnawar and Dhar and Second is Dharampuri
block. First area spread on the Malwa plateau and second is Narmada valley.
Soyabean, gram and wheat from combination existing in two blocks and
cotton wheat and soyabean in only one block.
There are five crops wheat, cotton, soyabean, maize and jowar, which
make combination with one or the other. Such areas where four crops
dominate together are quite compact. The major area is in the south-central
part of the district, which comprises three blocks Bankaner, Gandhwani and
Kukshi are isolated four crop-combination, blocks.
Other are five crops viz. cotton, maize, wheat, jowar and urad which
make combination. There are only one block, which have five-crop
combination.
There are six-crops maize, soyabean, jowar, wheat, cotton and urad,
which make six crop combination. There is only one block Bagh in this
combination, which is western part of the district. In this area out of total
population 90.16 per cent is scheduled tribe caste, who use all type of food
grains, cereals as food items for their family according to need they produce
all the items in small quantity. Here people used to stock food items for
whole the year and excess items sold by them to fulfill all other
requirements. In this block commercial crops are produced in very less
quantity. Due to which in the study region six crops crop-combination is
found.
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 122
Cropping pattern on farms of Scheduled Tribe and Non-Scheduled Tribe
Value, orientation, awareness and priorities vary with the
communities. These characteristics influence the selection of crops, even if
ecological conditions are uniform. Differences in environmental conditions of
the habitat of different communities also influence the relative significance of
crops. Since all farmers take decisions in uncertainty, they all follow the
principles of the 'game theory'. It means they select crops considering
adversities of the environment. Under such circumstances, they grow many
crops with the hope to get a minimum outturn even in worst conditions.
Nevertheless farmers of non-scheduled tribes can take risk and grow
commercial crops. It is clear from the Table 4.14 and 4.16 presenting area
under different crops on farms of different society.
It is shown from the table scheduled tribes concentrate on cultivation
of food grains. Farmers of non-scheduled tribes also grow these crops but
they prefer superior corps. Moreover, they devote comparative higher
proportion to commercial crops. For instance, soyabean and cotton is
important commercial crop popular in the study area. Higher proportion of
area than the district average is on farms of non-scheduled tribes society.
Similar is the case with wheat and major pulse crops. Only groundnut is
popular among scheduled tribes along with non-tribes. Thus, farming is
simply 'way of life' for scheduled tribe farmers but it is becoming and other
society. Such orientation of farming is likely to influence deeply the pattern
of modernization of agricultural a change in established methods.
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 123
Table No. 4.14
Dhar District : Area Under Crops on Holdings of Scheduled Tribe and Non-scheduled Tribe
Community Wheat Maize Jowar Rice Gram Tur Urad Soyabean Groundnut Cotton Sugarcane
area % area % area % area % area % area % area % area % area % area % area %
Scheduled
Tribe 79.7 14.79 160.8 29.84 107.5 19.95 13.5 2.50 51.9 9.63 27.8 5.16 15.6 2.89 67.6 12.55 35.6 6.61 25.8 4.79 7.6 1.41
Non-
scheduled
tribe
187.5 26.36 15.6 2.19 97.7 13.75 9.8 1.37 55.6 7.81 16.7 2.34 10.9 1.53 156.3 21.97 86.5 12.16 17.00 2.39 23.6 3.31
Source : Based on Sample Survey of 640 Households
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 124
Corp Structure and Size of Holdings
The crop-structure of different size-classes of holdings also presents
vertical difference in significance of crops. No doubt, the primary objectives
of farming is the production of food crops other than food grains are grown
on surplus area only. Such lands are available at medium and large holding
(Table 4.15).
Table 4.15
Dhar District : Number of Respondents Under Food Grain Crop Rise by Community
Corp Scheduled Tribe Non-Scheduled Tribe
No. Percent No. Percent Wheat 308 96.25 315 98.44
Maize 300 93.75 187 58.44
Jowar 58 18.12 15 4.69
Rice 208 65.00 181 56.56
Gram 211 65.94 110 34.37
Tur 207 64.69 190 59.37
Urad 235 73.44 142 44.37
Soyabean 309 96.56 317 99.06
Groundnut 260 81.25 175 54.69
Cotton 125 39.06 93 29.09
Sugarcane 56 17.50 65 20.31
Source : Based on Sample Survey of 640 Households
It is evident, that soyabean, wheat, maize, jowar, gram and groundnut
emerge as major crops grown by these households. At the same time, rice,
urad, tur, sugarcane, cotton and vegetables are the secondary importance.
On the basis of certain field survey can be made. On the outset, it can be
said that no size-specific cropping pattern emerges in this district. Almost all
referred crops are grown on all size classes of holding. It is because all
farmers, big or small wish to obtain, secondly, in most cases, difference in
proportion area devoted to a certain crop is not very high in different sizes.
However, maize, jowar, rice, urad as well as cotton, groundnut and
vegetables occupy comparatively higher percentage area upto semi-medium
holdings. It means these holdings prefer certain food grains and a few
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 125
commercial crops. Which require intensive care and are capable of giving
good returns. Contrary to it, those commercial crop which require
comparatively low labour such as wheat, gram, tur and soyabean or millets
which can be produced with least efforts, predominate medium and large
farms. Despite this, certain crops, such as soyabean, wheat, rice and gram
present very low size-class difference in percentage area devoted to them.
Community and Crop Groups
During survey it has been found that 100.0 per cent Scheduled Tribal
population is usual in food grain crop production. To fulfill other
requirements they produce pulses (62.0 per cent) and oilseeds (1.25 per
cent), while less than 1.0 per cent farmers produces vegetables or other
crops. In the other hand in case of non-Scheduled Tribal population 98.75
per cent farmers produce food grain crops, while 1.86 per cent produce
pulses and 3.75 per cent produce oilseeds, 1.59 per cent produce vegetable
crops and 2.19 per cent produces other commercial crops. From Table 4.16
it is clear that maximum Scheduled Tribe population farmers are engaged in
food grain crops while non-Scheduled Tribal population is interested in other
commercial crops along with food grain crops.
Table 4.16
Dhar District : Crop Groups-wise Classification of Respondent
Community Cereals Pulses Oilseeds Vegetables Other No. % No. % No. % No. % No. %
Scheduled
Tribe 320 100.00 18 5.62 04 1.25 01 0.31 3 0.94
Non-
Scheduled
Tribe
316 98.75 06 1.86 12 3.75 05 1.56 7 2.19
Total 636 99.37 24 3.75 16 2.50 06 0.94 10 1.56
Source : Based on Sample Survey of 640 Households
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 126
CONCLUSION
Crop structure is outcome of the changing relationship between active
man and his surrounding natural environment. Natural environment
provides a wide range of possibilities and potentialities, man select some of
them according to his ability or capacity and needs. At present, nearly 47.21
per cent of total cropped area is under foodgrains. But it is fact that fine
cereals such as wheat, maize, jowar and rice occupy only 30.33 per cent of
total cropped area. Kharif crop and maize, jowar predominate in the district.
Maize and jowar occupy 10.40 per cent of the total cropped area. In place of
these inferior crops, other remunerative crops can be grown provided
irrigational facilities are created. Nearly 35.78 per cent of total cropped area
is under oilseeds. It means, cash crops are significant in this district, which
enhance the saving capacity of farmers. This situation may help in adoption
of agricultural innovations.
Spatial pattern of crops reflect the pattern of adoption behaviour of
farmers. Discussion of the crop association patterns reveal some definite
facts. Dominance of superior crops in Malwa plateau and near Narmada
valley results in high productivity due to the higher adoption of yield raising
technologies. Contrary to them, Vindhayan range and Nimar track areas are
dominated by inferior millets. This situation reduces the adoption as well as
productivity of land and people.
hapter-4 Cropping Pattern
Department of General & Applied Geography, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 127
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