LAND USE AND CROPPING PATTERN

Dr.T.Vijayalakshmi M.A. (Eng), M.A.(Eco), M.Phil, Ph.D.,D.C.A, SET. Assistant Professor and H.O.D., Department of Economics, S.T.E.T. Women‟s College, Mannargudi, Thiruvarur District, Tamil nadu, India. ...................................................................................................................... Manuscript Info Abstract ......................... ........................................................................ Manuscript History


(5), 1710-1716
1711 Statement of the Problem:-Agricultural development is multidimensional in nature. It includes a variety of aspects like agricultural land utilization, intensity of cropping, crop productivity, crop concentration, crop diversification, crop combination, commercialization of agriculture, nature of agrarian relationship, and maintenance of ecological balance and so on. Agriculture plays an essential role in the process of economic development of less developed countries like India. Besides providing food to nation, agriculture provides employment and savings, contributes to market economy and earns foreign exchange. Agricultural development is an integral part of overall economic development. In India, agriculture is the main source of national income and occupation. It will be helpful to study the agricultural land use pattern and cultivation pattern of different crops on the same land.
Objectives of the Study:- To know the socio-demographic characteristics of the farmers  To understand the land use pattern in the study area  To analyze the different categories of land  To analyze the cultivating pattern of the farmers in Moovanallur village  To explain about the cropping pattern in the study area  To analyze the marketing problems faced by the farmers  To study the income and expenditure pattern of the farmers  To suggest solutions to the problems of farmers

Research Methodology:-
The study is based upon the primary data. The data were collected through personal interview with the help of well structured interview schedule. To study the land use pattern 75 sample respondents were selected from Moovanallur village by adopting simple random sampling method. The collected data were categorized, analyzed and presented in the form of tables and diagrams at suitable places.
Literature Review:-Narendra Kumar I and Chandrasekar Rao G (2007) have analyzed in the title on "Impact of Irrigation on Employment" on the basis of micro study that irrigation reduces the risk and uncertainty inherent in the rain fed cropping. They conclude that there is no significant difference between canal and bore well irrigation within the human labor and bullock labor. The important suggestions are as follows: (i) The main canals up to farm lands are to be lined cement can be avoid leakage of water (ii) Ground water potentiality will be increased by different methods like check dams, watersheds and percolation tanks and (iii) Micro irrigation at every village level to save the previous water.
Borges (2008) pointed that LP models are effective tools to support initial or periodic planning of agricultural enterprises, requiring, however, technical coefficients that can be determined using computer simulation models. Constraints on monthly water availability, labor, land and production were critical in the optimal solution.
Periasamy, G and Dharmalingam S (2010) in their article on "Erratic Monsoon and Indian Economy" pointed out that erratic monsoon has impacted in Indian Economy in the form of distress to farmers and their families, commodity trading and price movement and food inflation. The important suggestion advocated by them is to promote through Gram Sabhas community food and water security systems. They should involve establishing at the village level seed, grain and water banks. Seed banks will help to introduce alternative cropping strategies and contingency plans to suit different rainfall patterns. Also they have hoped that the recommendations of the Punchhi Commission would enable the central government to take proactive decisions on the issue facing the water sector.
Singh, and Vivek Kumar (2011) viewed tribal regions are experiencing agricultural intensification, the market forced one also influencing the cropping system and crop specialization as result of ecological economic changes as well as impact of public policy of technology transfer and resource use demand.

Profile of the Study Area:-
Moovanallur panchayat is located in Mannargudi taluk of Thiruvarur district at a distance of 3km from Mannargudi and 20 km from Thiruvarur. According to 2011 census, the total population is1927 consist of 993 males, 974 females and 165 children. The majority of farmers cultivate by the conventional farming methods because chemical fertilizer and pesticides are easily available, Even though they are willing to use organic methods they are not easily 1712 available. The crops cultivated in Moovanallur village are Paddy, Ground nut, Black gram, Green gram, Coconut and Sugar cane. The sources of irrigation are 177 bore wells, 3 tanks, I lake and a canal.

Results and Discussion:-
Social Profile:-53% of the respondents belong to the age group of 31-40 years, 40% of them are above 40 years and 7% of the respondents are under the age group 21-30 years. 99% of respondents are from backward community. Remaining 1% respondent is from most backward community. The caste group of 99% of respondents is kallar. Only 1% of the respondent is barber. 93% of the respondents are married and the remaining 7% of the respondents are unmarried.
47% of the respondents are qualified with primary education. 24% of respondents are illiterates, 16% of the respondents are qualified with secondary education and only 13% are the respondents are degree holders.

Economic Profile:-
The size of the family is less than 5 for 81% of the respondents. There are 5-10 members in 19% of the respondent"s families. 88% of the respondents live in nuclear family, whereas 12% of the respondents live in joint family.
34% of the respondents earn income half yearly, 27% of them earn income quarterly, 24% of them earning monthly income, and remaining 15% of the respondents earn the income annually.
71% of the respondents spend the monthly expenditure from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 10000, 19% of the respondents spend the monthly expenditure between Rs. 10000 to Rs. 15000, 9% of the respondents spend less than Rs.5000 for monthly only 1% of the respondents spend more than Rs. 15000 per month. All the land for cultivation in study area belongs to the category "current fallow land". Lands that are kept fallow out of the net area sown during the previous year are classified as current fallow for the reporting year.

Expectation from Agricultural Department and Government
To increase loans &subsidies 11 15 To provide right kind of education which will breed poultry farmers 28 37 Change National poultry policy which will favour small scale units 21 28 To  37% of the respondents expect to provide right kind of education which will bread poultry farmers, 28% of the respondents expect the change in National poultry policy which will favour small scale units, 20% of the respondent expect to increase the range of market, remaining 15% of the respondent expect to increase loans & subsidies.
43% of the respondents avail loan facility from Government organization, 38% of the respondents avail loan facility from Cooperative society, and remaining 19% of the respondents avail loan facility from Private sector.73% of the respondents received loan from Commercial banks and remaining 27% of the respondents have not received loan from Commercial banks.35% of the respondents feel that the processing of application takes more time. 30% of them are unable to get loans from commercial banks because they have to give heavy security. 25% of them give reasons that credit amount is very low. 10% of the respondents give reasons as the high rate of interest.
64% of the respondents received no subsidies. Remaining 36% of the respondents received the subsidies from government.34% of the respondents expect the efficient marketing facilities from government, 32% of them expect financial assistance; 17% of them expect the facilities of new technology and remaining 17% of them expect low cost of raw material.88% of the respondents have land for cultivation within the village; remaining 12% of the respondents are cultivated outside the village.40% of the respondents faced natural problems like flood at the time of cultivation. 37% of them have finance shortage and the remaining 23% of them face the problem of labour scarcity.
A majority 29% of the respondents get the information form Agricultural officers, 27% of the respondents avail information from Private dealers, 24% of the respondents avail from advertisement in news papers, and other 3% of the respondents from Fertilizer company. A majority of the respondents (29%) used FACT brand of fertilizer, 28% of them used Madras fertilizers, 15% of the respondents are used SPIC brand of fertilizer, 15% are used Kothari company fertilizers and only 13% of the respondents used Parry India company fertilizer.
A majority of the respondents (43%) used CR1009 brand of paddy for cultivation, 29% use ATT 45 varieties of seed, 17% of the respondents use Ponni varieties of seed and the remaining 11% of the respondents use IR36 varieties of paddy seed.70% of the respondents are not aware of bio fertilizers. Remaining 30% of the respondents aware of bio-fertilizers in paddy crop.42% of the respondents buy the fertilizers in Cooperative societies, 32% of the 1715 respondents buy the bio-fertilizers in Government agricultural department, and remaining 26% of the respondents purchase the bio-fertilizers in Private retail shops.37% of the respondents prefer the specific brand because of Credit facility, 25% of the respondents prefer for Good quality, 16% of the respondents prefer for Services, 8% of the respondents prefer for Nearness, 7% of the respondents prefer for Fair price and remaining, 7% of them for Other reason like relatives.
A majority 38% of the respondents viewed that swarming caterpillar pest mostly attack the crops, 28% of the respondents opined that fungal disease is the main problem of crop cultivation, 19% of the respondents viewed that yellow stem borer pest attack, remaining 15% of the respondents said that green bug is the main problem of crop cultivation. 42% of the respondents answered that they cultivated paddy 3 times per year. 34% of respondents cultivate for 1 time and the remaining 24% cultivate twice a year. 56% of the respondents use electricity in agricultural activities, 44% of the respondents are not using electricity in agricultural activities.
Suggestions:- In order to improve water use efficiency the farmers have to plan their cropping pattern well in advance on the basis of water availability. This necessitates selection of appropriate variety of crops especially in Paddy. Farmers can go for short duration and High Yielding Varieties in the tail-end regions to optimally use the water available to them.  The farm mechanization and type of irrigation must be modernized. Instead of flooding which is a popular method of irrigation farmers can switch on to sprinkler irrigation for Paddy and drip irrigation for Sugar cane and Vegetables.  The cropping pattern presents a mono cropping of paddy in all the regions. Instead of Paddy if the farmers opt for Groundnut and Vegetables it will improve their income and employment.  The conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purpose and conversion of paddy fields into coconut cultivation is enormously taking place in the study area. It will certainly result in food scarcity. The government should take steps to control land conversion. Unless land conversion is controlled forthwith, there will be absolutely no paddy cultivation at all in the district in the near future.  Financing of farm ponds is required to facilitate water and recharge of ground water.  Waste land development program and micro irrigation system has to be implemented for increasing the agricultural produces by way of more food and income per drop of water in view of the limited water resources in the districts.  Evaluate physical, chemical and biological effects of in stream mining on a river basin scale, so that cumulative effects of extraction on the aquatic and riparian resources can be recognized and addressed at various levels for proper remedial measures.  There is an urgent need for strengthening multidisciplinary studies on the rivers for providing adequate scientific information to river restoration and management activities.  A new appropriate cropping pattern should be suggested according to nature of soil, availability of water supply, topography and other local situation

Conclusion:-
Land is one of the important factors of production, which provides food and raw materials for industries. This way land forms the most important wealth of a country. The appropriate use of land is a matter of utmost concern to its people. The land utilization as per its capability ensures good result in production of a country. The improper and limited use of it can lead to economic deterioration. Hence, it is necessary to utilize land in an efficient and significant way. For this purpose, a country must have a proper land use pattern which may avoid the malcombination of factors of production.
It is very clear from the discussion that intensive use of land have been increased. The significant changes have been observed in cropping intensity and intensity of area sown more than once. This shows that in Moovanallur village, the process of maximum utilization of land has been increased. But at the same time, the cropping pattern is changed from irrigated crop to un-irrigated crops such as paddy to black-gram.