UNIT 2 LAND UTILISATION AND

CROPPING PATTERN
Structure
2.0 Objectives
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Profiles of Land Utilisation
2.2.1 Classification of Land by Type of Use
2.2.2 Trends in Land Utilisation Pattern in India

2.3 Soils and their Variability

2.3.1 Types of Soil
2.3.2 Factors Influencing Soil Erosion

2.4 Cropping Pattern in India

2.4.1 Types of Cropping Pattern
2.4.2 Reasons Why Cropping Pattern Differ
2.4.3 Factors Influencing Cropping Pattern
2.4.4 Emerging Trends in Cropping Pattern
2.4.5 Long-Run Effects of Current Trends in Cropping Pattern

2.5 India’s Position in World

2.6 Let Us Sum Up
2.7 Key Words
2.8 Some Useful Books
2.9 Answers/Hints to Check Your Progress Exercises

2.0 OBJECTIVES
After going through this unit, you will be able to:
 explain why it is important to study the trends in land utilisation;
 identify the factors influencing land utilisation trends in India;
 distinguish between gross/net cropped area and cropping intensity;
 discuss the factors contributing to changes in cropping pattern in a region;
and
 critique the long-run effects of the trends in the cropping pattern of India.

2.1 INTRODUCTION
The availability of land in a country is constant limited by its geographical
boundaries. Given the need for meeting the needs of land requirement by competing
sectors (e.g. industry, town/city development) which quite often needs to be done
by reducing the land used for agricultural purposes, there is little scope to expand
the available land for cultivation. The requirement of food grains, on the other
22
hand, is ever increasing owing to increasing population, changing tastes and
preferences due to improved income levels, and factors dominating the globalised Land Utilisation and
Cropping Pattern
economic scenario. While it might be argued that producing agricultural products
within a country is not so important in a globalised world, in a developing country
like India where large majority of population depends on subsistence agriculture
as a means of sustenance for their very livelihood, agricultural production needs
to be supported by policy measures (e.g. credit supply, extension services). The
commercial viability of an agricultural activity has assumed critical significance in
the context of globalised economy. Many factors, therefore, underscore the
importance of studying the underlying factors responsible for influencing the land
utilisation pattern in general, and within it, the pattern of crop production in particular.
The present unit seeks to address the twin themes of land utilisation and cropping
pattern in the Indian context.

2.2 PROFILES OF LAND UTILISATION

It is a fact that various parts of land meant for agriculture also cannot be used
effectively for cultivation. This will become clear when we take a look at the
alternative uses to which land is generally put into. Further, as said before, a large
portion of available land is used for non-agricultural purposes. In effect, therefore,
actual land available for cultivation (called ‘gross cropped area’) is always limited.
We begin by first of all familiarising ourselves about the classification of land by
their ‘type of use’. Subsequently, we take a look at the profile of the distribution
of land in India by their ‘type of use’ with a focus on what changes have taken
place in their pattern of usage over a period of time. For this, we will take the two
points of time for comparison: the point near to the time of independence (1950)
and the latest year for which data are available (2008). We will see that the total
area under cultivation, despite increased land usage for non-agricultural purposes
has, in fact, increased over time. How has this become possible? What has
contributed to this achievement? These are the aspects on which we will be able
to know in this section.

2.2.1 Classification of Land by Type of Use

The total land area is broadly classified by their ‘type of use’ into the following:
(i) cultivated land (i.e. net sown area); (ii) fallow land (area ploughed but left
without being sown); (iii) area under non-agricultural use; (iv) barren and uncultivable
land; (v) permanent pasture and other grazing land; (vi) land under miscellaneous
tree and crops (outside of ‘net sown area’); (vii) area under ‘forest’; and (viii)
area classified under ‘cultivable waste’. An example of area under non-agricultural
use is land used for industries. Land under forest and permanent pasture/grazing
is needed for maintaining ecological balance in terms of the need of animals and
other organisms in the universe. The classification of land by their broad profile of
use, therefore, suggest that the agricultural output by crop cultivation can only be
increased by better practices and application of technological advances. Better
and innovative practices of agriculture are, thus, imperative from the point of view
of meeting the concerns of food security in general and poor farmers in particular.
There are some important issues related to land utilisation in the context of
developing economies like India whose large share of population is dependent on
agriculture. First and foremost is the presence of large number of fragmented
holdings. While agriculture continues to dominate the employment-income profiles
of families dependent on such small holdings, the scope for implementing new 23
Agriculture and methods of cultivation is limited in such cases. Many factors like capital constraint,
Economic Development
low literacy level, etc. hinders from pursuing a path of innovative practices. Along
side, there are issues of poor/mis-utilisation of land and its impact/effect on
environmental degradation. Secondly, making available land for industrialisation is
always a major thrust of developmental policy. This is owing to a trend that is
prevalent the world over where, the developmental path is leading to a structural
shift from a higher dependence on agriculture to that in industry. This trend, besides
underscoring the competing claims on land by industry, also points out to the
policy dimension of dealing with disturbed livelihood, relocation and environmental
concerns. In recent years, under the policy of rehabilitation and resettlement
(R and R), there have been measures under which, job assurance, in addition to
financial compensation for the acquired land, is guaranteed by legislative provisions.
Initiatives like afforestation measures, aimed at increasing the share of forest land
and address environmental concerns, have been among the policy thrust of the
government.

2.2.2 Trends in Land Utilisation Pattern in India

The trend in land utilisation pattern over the period 1950 to 2008 is presented in
Table 2.1. Major features of land utilisation profile flowing from the data in the
Table are as follows:
 Gross cropped area has increased by 63.94 million hectares (mha) [from
131.89 mha in 1950 to 195.83 mha in 2008] over the period of 1950-2008.
Further, close to 70 percent of total land area (68.9 percent in 2008 as
compared to 56 percent in 1950) is covered by the net cropped area and
area under ‘forests’.
 The net sown area (i.e. land actually used for cultivation) has increased by
22.1 mha from 41.8 to 46.1 percent of ‘total reported area on land utilisation’
over the period 1950-2008.
 Area under non-agricultural use, which mainly includes land used for industrial
and town/city development, has increased from 3.3 percent in 1950 to 8.4
percent in 2008. This is an indication of increasing urbanisation and
industrialisation in the country.
Table 2.1: Land Utilisation Pattern (in mha)
Land by Type/Use 1950 2008
Area % Area %
A Total geographical area 328.73 328.73
(i) Net sown/cropped area 118.75 41.8 140.86 46.1
(ii) Fallow land 28.12 9.9 25.15 8.23
(iii) Area under non-agricultural use 9.36 3.3 25.54 8.4
(iv) Barren uncultivable land 38.16 13.4 17.3 5.7
(v) Permanent pasture/grazing land 6.68 2.3 10.4 3.4
(vi) Land under miscellaneous trees/crops/groves 19.8 6.96 3.3 1.1
(vii) Areas under ‘forest’ 40.5 14.2 69.7 22.8
(viii) Area under ‘cultivable waste’ 23.0 8.1 13.1 4.3
B Reporting area for land utilisation 284.37 100.0 305.35 100.0
C Gross cropped area 131.89 195.83
Cropping Intensity (%) [percentage of C to A (i)] 110.1 139.0
Note: Percentage indicated in columns 3 and 4 are to total reported area on land utilisation
which is addition of figures indicated under (i) to (viii).
24
Source: Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), 2010.
 Proportion of barren/uncultivable land has decreased from 13.4 percent in Land Utilisation and
Cropping Pattern
1950 to 5.7 percent in 2008. This is an indication of the progress made in
the area of waste land development.
 Area under permanent pasture/grazing land has increased from 2.3 percent to
3.4 percent over the period 1950-2008.
 Area under forest has increased from 14.2 percent to 22.8 percent over
1950-2008.
 Area under cultivable waste has decreased from 8.1 percent to 4.3 percent
over 1950-2008.
The net effect of improvement in land utilisation pattern is indicated by ‘cropping
intensity’. In simple terms, cropping intensity indicates the number of times a field
is used for growing crops in a year. This is expressed as a percentage of ‘gross
cropped area’ to ‘net cropped area’. Interestingly, this has increased from 110
percent to 139 percent over the period 1950-2008. Evidently, as the above
analysis reveals, this achievement has been possible by a reduction in the proportion
of barren/uncultivable land and area under cultivable waste, both of which
have been steeply reduced (i.e. improved) indicating more efficient use of land
over time. What is equally important to note is that this has been achieved by a
simultaneous steep increase in the area under ‘forest’ and land under ‘permanent
pasture/grazing’ both of which are important from the point of view of maintaining
the larger ecological balance.

2.3 SOILS AND THEIR VARIABILITY

The type and quality of soil greatly determines the type of crops that can be grown
in a region. It is an important input to plant growth and a natural material found
everywhere but with differing type/quality. The type of soil benefits different type
of crops through their unique physical, chemical and biological properties. For
instance, ‘alluvial soil’ is rich in potassium and is well suited for crops like paddy,
sugarcane and plantain. Likewise, ‘red soil’ has high iron content and is well suited
for growing different type of grams (e.g. red, bengal, green), groundnut and caster
seed. High yields and good produce can be achieved only when the right type of
soil is used for crops to which it is most well suited. The quality of soil available
in an area can be tested at soil testing laboratories. For areas in which suitable soil
is not available, nutrients in the form of fertilizers can be added to enrich it. This
is where scientific testing of soil is useful. Soil also gets depleted of its fertility if
a particular crop is cultivated repeatedly in the area. Soil is also susceptible to
erosion by natural factors like wind and rain, besides others. The depth/quality of
soil therefore varies across regions. In this section, we shall briefly familiarise
ourselves with the types of soil prevalent in different parts of India and the factors
contributing to its erosion.

2.3.1 Types of Soil

The classification of soil depends upon the region/factor of its influence. Depending
on the regional and the natural factor endowments (e.g. mountainous area, desert
area, soil near to sea coast, etc.), the colour of the soil and their fertility levels
vary. While some soil are distinguished for their colour (e.g. red soil, black soil,
etc.), certain others (e.g. laterite, alluvial, etc.) are identified for their properties
based on their chemical/geographical characteristics. A profile of types of soil and 25
Agriculture and the regions in the country where they can be found can be broadly stated as
Economic Development
follows.
i) Red Soil: These are soil that is reddish in colour due to the presence of
various iron oxides. Soils of this kind are deficient in organic content which
are important in keeping the fertility characteristic of soil high. Nearly 2/3rd
of the cultivated area in Tamil Nadu consist of this type of soil. Other parts
of southern India (viz. Karnataka, Goa, Daman and Diu, Andhra Pradesh),
South Eastern Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkand, parts of Bihar
and West Bengal (i.e. south-western belt touching up to the Eastern Indian
frontier) are also abundant with red soil.
ii) Black Soil: These are soil derived from the deccan plateau. They vary in
colour from dark brown to deep black. Soil of this kind are rich in organic
matter and is well suited for growing cotton. They are also rich in useful
chemicals like calcium, potassium and magnesium. Crops like cotton, tobacco,
chilly, oil seeds, jowar, ragi and maize grow well in this type of soil. These
are found in large parts of Mahrashtra and parts of western M. P., Gujarat
and Tamil Nadu. Black soil found in uplands are relatively less productive
than those in the lower reaches.
iii) Brown Soil: This is the third type of soil distinguished by its colour with its
surface being brownish in colour. This is the normal soil found in most parts
of the country and are moderately rich in organic content.
iv) Laterite Soil: Laterite soils are found in the hills of Karnataka, Kerala, M.P.,
eastern ghats of Orissa, W. B. and T. N. They are rich in organic matter in
the lower elevations and are suitable for growing paddy. In the higher elevations,
they are suitable for growing tea, cinchona, coffee and rubber. These soils
prevail in those regions where there is an intermittently moist climate.
v) Alluvial Soil: This is the largest and most important soil group in India
contributing to the highest share of soil variety in agriculture. Formed by the
depositions of Ganges and Bramhaputra rivers in the North and East (i.e. the
regions of U. P., W. B. and Assam) and by the deltaic/coastal regions of
West/South (i.e. Gujarat, T. N. and Kerala), these are rich in lime but is also
considerably saline and alkaline.
vi) Desert Soil: These are sandy soil low in organic content. They are found in
western Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab. Influenced by the Indus rivers and
the Aravalli range of hills, these soils are also alkaline to saline. In spite of
many water soluble minerals, they are low in nutrient content. They are,
however, suitable for growing coconut, cashew and casuarinas in areas where
there is high rainfall.
vii) Terai Soil: Terai soil are found in the hills of Himalayan region spanning the
states of J and K, U. P., Bihar and W. B. They are formed by the downward
movement of materials from the lower Himalayan regions.
viii) Saline and Alkaline Soils: These contain high amounts of soluble salts
rendering an estimated 7 million hectares of land in India unsuitable for
cultivation.

2.3.2 Factors Influencing Soil Erosion

Soil gets eroded by factors like rain, wind, overgrazing of animals and human
26
activities like construction. Erosion by water is the most serious problem in India
particularly in the eastern parts which experience serious problem of flooding Land Utilisation and
Cropping Pattern
during rainy seasons. Soil erosion by water is estimated to affect about 5334
million tonnes of soil per year. Of this, close to 30 percent is permanently lost out
to sea. Next to water, wind is a major factor contributing to soil erosion. This is
a serious problem in ‘arid (i.e. dry having no rain) and semi-arid’ regions of
Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat and Punjab. Erosion by wind is also prevalent in
coastal areas where sandy soil predominates. Besides these natural factors, human
induced factors like excessive removal of natural vegetative cover (by extension
of agriculture to marginal areas and excessive grazing) also contribute to higher
soil erosion by wind.
Another major cause of soil erosion and degradation is water logging. Due to
floods during rainy season (a natural factor) and excessive application of water in
irrigated areas and canal seepage (a man made factor) the problem of water
logging persists affecting large parts of cultivated land in India. Besides hampering
crop growth, water logging has the potential of reducing/degrading soil productivity.
The adverse effect of water logging is estimated to have exposed close to 8 million
hectares of land in India. An yet another factor of soil quality degradation, which
is but a form of erosion of soil quality, is salinization. Due to increased application
of canal irrigation by drawing on water from deep inside the ground level, the
distance between ground water level and the upper layer of soil is increased. This
is also what is referred to as falling ground water table levels. By a process of
evaporation of water from the soil surface, the shifting water level causes ‘soil
salinization’. This process further leads to a chemical reaction called ‘alkalization’
whereby the quality of soil gets deeply eroded. In other words, disturbing the
natural factors by drawing water excessively from deep within the earth’s interiors
has the potential of reducing the quality of soil by salinization/alkalization. This is
also a man-made process of disturbing the ecological balance for which many
socio-political factors have contributed in India.
Check Your Progress 1 (Answer in about 50 words in the space given below)
1) Mention the different uses of land into which the total land area is classified?
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
2) Does the available trends on land utilisation in India indicate a decline in the
total land area used for crop cultivation? Do you see any indication of progress
in waste land development?
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
27
Agriculture and 3) Which type of soil is well suited for growing: (a) tea, coffee and rubber; and
Economic Development
(b) coconut and cashew nuts? In which state(s) are these type of soils found?
Are saline/alkaline soils good for crop cultivation?
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
4) Mention the four factors which contribute to soil erosion indicating any two
of them which are man-made.
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................

2.4 CROPPING PATTERN IN INDIA

Cropping pattern has many dimensions. We shall specify two of its main types
here. In one of its first dimension, it could be viewed in terms of number of crops
grown in an area/field. From this perspective, it refers to the type of cropping
system pursued (e.g. mono-cropping, multiple cropping, etc.). We shall elaborate
more on this in section 2.4.1. In another one of its profiles, it is indicated by the
type of crops grown (e.g. rice based cropping pattern, maize based cropping
pattern, etc.). This is also linked to the two popular cropping seasons commonly
heard about in India as rabi season cropping pattern (post-monsoon crops) and
khariff season cropping pattern (monsoon crops). Under this, the crop occupying
the highest percentage of the sown area of the region is taken as the base crop
with all other crops sown considered as substitute crops. Under this base-
substitute referencing, the rabi season cropping pattern is distinguished for ‘wheat/
gram-based’ and ‘jowar-based’ cropping patterns. On the other hand, under the
khariff season cropping pattern, the base crops grown/sown are many viz. rice-
based, cereal-based, maize-based, jowar-based, bajra-based, groundnut-based,
cotton-based, etc.

2.4.1 Types of Cropping Pattern

Mono-cropping and Multiple-cropping: If a single crop is grown on a piece of
land year after year it is refereed to as monoculture or mono-cropping. Such a
practice may be followed either because of extreme suitability of climate or due
to the socio-economic condition of the farmer involved. It also can be due to the
specialisation of the farmer in growing that particular type of crop. For instance,
in canal irrigated areas, under waterlogged conditions, only rice is grown because
no other crop is possible to be grown in such conditions. Growing more than one
crop on the same piece of land in one calendar year is known as multiple-
cropping. Multiple-cropping therefore implies intensification of cropping in time
and space dimension i.e. more crops at one time and more crops on same amount
28 of land at any given period. Three other types of cropping pattern (discussed
below) viz. inter-cropping, mixed-cropping and sequence-cropping are all variants Land Utilisation and
Cropping Pattern
of this particular type of multiple-cropping system practiced.
Inter-cropping: Inter-cropping refers to growing more than one crop simultaneously
on a single piece of land with a definite row pattern. The practice can be followed
with a certain defined ratio like 5 : 1 in which after every five rows of a particular
crop the sixth row would be of a different crop. The system affords cropping
intensity to be achieved over space dimension. Initially, the system of inter-cropping
was practiced as an insurance against crop failure. More recently, the objective
of inter-cropping has changed to achieving higher productivity besides stability in
production. For successful inter-cropping, certain conditions are required to be
ideally fulfilled. These are: (i) competition for light should be minimum among the
different crops sown; (ii) complementarity must exist between crops sown; (iii) the
time of peak nutrient demand of component crops should not overlap; and (iv) the
difference in maturity of component crops should be at least 30 days.
Mixed-cropping: Mixed-cropping refers to growing two or more crops
simultaneously without any definite row pattern. This practice is most commonly
followed in dry land tracts. Under this system, seeds of different crops are mixed
in certain proportion and sown. The objective is to meet family requirement of
cereals, pulses and vegetables.
Sequence-cropping: Sequence-cropping refers to growing more than one crop in
a sequence on the same piece of land in a farming year. Depending on the number
of crops grown, the system may be called as double, triple, quadruple cropping
pattern for crops involving two, three and four crops respectively.
Relay/Ratoon-cropping: A system of cropping in which the next crop is sown
before harvesting the produce of the earlier crop is known as relay-cropping.
Ratoon-cropping (or ratooning) refers to raising a crop with re-growth coming out
of roots or stalks of previously harvested crop.
Integrated Farming System: This refers to following different types of cropping
systems besides pursuing other allied areas of animal husbandry like dairying,
poultry, fishery, bee-keeping, etc. The emphasis is on following a holistic method
in a harmonious manner so as to maximise returns with efficient utilisation of
resources subject to least damage to soil and environment.

2.4.2 Reasons Why Cropping Patterns Differ

The basic reason why cropping patterns differ over regions is that the amount of
rainfall received varies widely from place to place. Based on the average amount
of rainfall received in a season, the cultivated area in the country is broadly
classified into three categories viz. (i) area receiving rainfall above 1150 milli meter
(mm), (ii) area receiving rainfall within the range of 750-1150 mm and (iii) area
where rainfall is below 750 mm. Most areas of Assam, Kerala, Orissa and West
Bengal come under the first group. Basic problem in these area is limited irrigation
and poor drainage. The major crop grown in these areas is rice. The states of
T.N., U.P. and Andhra Pradesh come under the second category. These areas
provide ample potential for setting up minor and major irrigation facilities. Areas
coming under the third category, which offer little scope for improving cropping
intensity due to relatively less rainfall, include parts of A. P., Karnataka, Maharashtra
and Rajasthan. Besides the factor of variation in rainfall and irrigation facilities in
a region, other reasons which contribute to differences in cropping pattern are: 29
Agriculture and  traditional social practices and dietary habits;
Economic Development
 crops with practicable disease/pest control management suitable to local
ecological environment;
 crops which are most profitable or high yielding i.e. considerations of
commercial viability; and
 combination of crops which ensure stability and risk coverage yielding profit
maximisation and cost minimisation.

2.4.3 Factors Influencing Cropping Pattern

Various factors like socio-economic conditions of farmers, cultural factors, climatic
conditions, etc. determine or influence the cropping pattern in a region. Major
factors in this respect can be stated as follows.
i) Size of the Land Holding: As stated in the introduction to the unit, in India
small and marginal farmers constitute the majority of farming community. Due
to this reason, mono-cropping pattern has been highly prevalent as it fulfils
the food requirement of the farmers’ household. The situation is characteristic
of subsistence farming offering little scope for commercial crop husbandry.
ii) Literacy: Practicing better cropping methods require a certain level of
educational level. This is hindered in the Indian context due to prevalence of
high illiteracy among the small and marginal farmer community who dominate
the sector. The application of scientific methods involved in mixed/mono-
cropping patterns requiring technological inputs is hindered due to this factor.
iii) Financial Requirement/Stability: Owing to poor economic condition of
large number of farmers, cropping patterns involving medium to high capital
requirements cannot be practiced by farmers. They are compelled to adopt
low cost cropping pattern which will also yield low output and income.
iv) Disease and Pest Management/Control: This is linked to factors of poor
financial and educational status of small farmers mentioned above. Owing to
this, farmers cannot adopt modern disease/pest control measures.
v) Ecological Suitability: The cropping pattern of a region highly depends on
ecological suitability to crops. Adoption of cropping pattern suitable to the
local ecological factors require application of soil testing and usage of inputs
required for the prevailing conditions. Once again, socio-economic status
become the hindering factor in coping with this type of natural endowment
condition.
vi) Moisture Availability: This is linked to climatic factor vis-à-vis amount of
rainfall in the region. To counter this, modern irrigation facilities are needed.
Besides, adoption of dry land farming techniques also could be required. All
this requires a certain level of knowledge and economic base which is not
supportive of adopting best farming practices in India.
The various factors enumerated above are essentially inter linked with counter
influencing effects of one with the other. Emerging trends, however, indicate
improvement in these ground realities in spite of large sections continuing to suffer
from similar disabilities. We shall now take a look at these trends in the next
30
section.
2.4.4 Emerging Trends in Cropping Pattern Land Utilisation and
Cropping Pattern
India leads world in agricultural production enjoying the second position in the
world with regard to overall agricultural production. Nonetheless, there are some
disturbing trends continuing to dominate the cropping pattern in India. These may
be stated as follows:
 Of all the types of agricultural production (viz. food grains, cereals, pulses,
fruits and vegetables, etc.), there is a dominance of cereal crops. Since
cereals indicate the basic needs of poor people, the trend is suggestive of
large number of poor people engaged in subsistence farming. Since majority
of farming community comprise of ‘small and marginal farmers’ (i.e. whose
average holding is between 0-5 acres: see ‘key words’ at the end of the unit),
the trend is one of dominance of poor people engaged in agricultural activities
for self-consumption. The same fact also conveys that their inability to divert
to non-food cash crops which require higher level of inputs. Although there
has been an increase in the supply of farm loans and grants, the basic trend
continues to be still disturbing.
 Second, despite improvement in agricultural productivity over time, it is still
much lower when compared to global productivity levels. Worldwide evaluation
studies reveal that the mean agricultural output in India is just 30-50 percent
of the maximum average output in the world.
 The low productivity levels is also underscored by the ratio of employment
to GDP. While more than 50 percent of an estimated total labour force of
close to 500 million persons continue to remain in agriculture, the net
contribution to agricultural production (i.e. GDP) is about 15 percent. While
it is significant that the dependence of people in agriculture has come down
from the level of close to 70 percent at the time of independence to about
50 percent now, it is still far higher than the corresponding level in developed
countries (where about less than 5 percent of workforce produce far higher
than India’s average production levels). The trend is signifying of lower usage
of scientific advances owing to the low level of socio-economic status of
small farmers.
 There is a distinct shift from food grains production to cash crops like fruits
and vegetables (with about 10 percent of global production of fruits today
being from India and holding the first position in the world in respect of some
fruits like papaya, mangoes, sapota, banana, etc.). In spite of this, the shift
towards high valued commercial crops, in terms of global commercial
standards, is still very small. The result is an insignificant impact on the global
crop output and India’s overall share therein.
 The population of India is increasing at a faster pace than its capacity to
produce wheat and rice. This trend needs to be reversed and improved if the
import of these commodities from other countries needs to be curtailed.

2.4.5 Long Run Effects of Current Trends in Cropping

Pattern
The long run effects of current cropping pattern can be stated in terms of the
following. 31
Agriculture and Increased Use of Fertilisers and Pesticides: Increased use of inorganic fertilisers
Economic Development
and pesticides has led to increased toxicity in the agricultural produce. Heavy use
of chemical fertilisers and pesticides have also caused extensive water and
environmental pollution. This has led to many health problems in the community.
Along side, there has been an immunity among pests leading to pesticides used
becoming ineffective.
Use of Hybrid and High Yielding Varieties: Increased use of hybrid and high
yielding varieties have resulted in the extinction of local varieties which were
known for their higher nutritional levels. This has led to awareness on the importance
of adopting natural and organic farming techniques. However, the scale in which
such practices are operated needs to be enhanced in order to make a real dent
into the system. It must be noted that these very methods were also the ones
which contributed to the realisation of green revolution benefits. A balance between
the traditional practices and the modern methods needs to be established.
Increased Water Demand: The agricultural sector is estimated to take up close
to 70 percent of total water used. Further, with increased cropping intensity the
requirement of water for agriculture would increase. This has deprived the demand
for water from other competing sectors. The higher requirement of water has
depleted the ground water levels. Consequent to increased irrigation facilities,
many minor and major irrigation projects have had to be launched. Quite often,
these projects have created social and environmental disturbance. The trend has
been one of increased acquiring of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes.
While this trend in itself cannot be questioned, as the labour absorptive and the
productivity levels of agriculture cannot match with that of industry, it has required
the adopting of water conservation methods and practices.
Depletion of Forest Areas: One of the feared long run effects of higher cropping
intensity was reduced forest area which is important for maintaining ecological
balance. However, we noted in section 2.2.2 that measures of afforestation has
contributed to not only maintaining but improving the overall forest cover in the
country in general. Nonetheless, in specific areas and pockets local disturbance of
ecological standards is a reality due to increased crop production and other non-
agricultural activities. This is a matter of concern which needs to be tackled at the
local levels.
In short, each of the factors identified above as areas of long term concern, is also
a two-edge potent tool having both the beneficial and harmful effects. Striking a
balance to get the benefits of a practice/method without undermining the
consequential ill impacts is the developmental challenge that needs to be faced
effectively.

2.5 INDIA’S POSITION IN WORLD

India ranks first in the production of buffalo milk in the world. There are a number
of other products in which India ranks first in the world for its production (e.g.
fresh fruits, coriander, jute, spices, pulses, castor oil seed, millets, safflower seeds,
limes, lemons, cashew nuts, dry chillies and pepper, ginger, turmeric, goat milk,
etc.). We rank second in the world in the production of paddy rice with an overall
production of close to 148 million tonnes (mt) in 2008. Other items in which India
32
ranks second as the biggest producer in the world are: wheat, cow milk, fresh Land Utilisation and
Cropping Pattern
vegetables, sugar cane and ground nuts, cabbages, fresh vegetables, cotton seed,
brinjal, garlic, silk, cardamom, wheat, onions, sugarcane, dry beans, tea, groundnut,
cauliflower, green peas, pumpkins, potatoes, inland fish, etc. The number of products
in which India ranks third in the global market include: sorghum, tobacco, coconuts,
rapeseed, tomatoes, hen’s egg, etc. In coffee production, India ranks sixth in the
world. Thus, having noted in the earlier sections the various profiles of Indian
agriculture together acting as challenges confronting the sector in general, it is
equally important to know that we are also among the world leaders in many
products of agriculture.
Check Your Progress 2 (answer in about 50 words in the space given below)
1) In the context of cropping pattern, how is a ‘base’ crop distinguished from
a ‘substitute’ crop?
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
2) Mention the three variants of ‘multiple cropping’? What is meant by ‘integrated
farming system’?
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
3) Besides rainfall, which other factors contribute to differences in cropping
pattern over regions?
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
4) Mention any five factors that influence the cropping pattern in India? Which
is a factor influencing the cropping pattern that can be tackled by modern
irrigation facilities?
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................
33
Agriculture and
Economic Development 2.6 LET US SUM UP
The unit has dealt with the twin themes of land utilisation and cropping pattern in
India. We began with an understanding of the broad classification of land uses.
These were grouped into 8 uses amongst which we noted that land for agricultural
usage has remained the top ranking area right from 1950 to 2008. This trend, has
not been at the expense of depleting forest reserves or the land required for
permanent pasture and grazing. In fact, land available for both these purposes,
which are important for maintaining the overall ecological balance, has increased
over time. This fact tells us that other measures initiated like afforestation, general
awareness campaign, etc. have had their positive effect on the land utilisation
pattern in the country. In crop production, while different types of cropping pattern
are practiced, there is a need to focus on some critical areas of concern like small
land holdings, low literacy levels, improving the economic ability, etc. All these are
contributing to the relative lower levels of application of scientific methods of
cropping practice. Despite the several drawbacks hampering the Indian agriculture,
in the production of many farm products India is among the world leaders.

2.7 KEY WORDS

Cropping Intensity : Ratio of Gross Cropped Area to Net Cropped
Area
Net Sown Area : Same as Net Cropped Area. This can be
expressed in the form of an equation as
follows:Net Sown Area = Gross Sown Area
– {fallow land + cultivable waste} + K times
(area cropped more than once); where K is
the number of times a piece of land is used
for cultivation.
Small/Marginal Farmers : A term commonly used in the Indian context.
It refers to farmers with land holding of less
than 2.5 hectares (1 hectare = 2.5 acres) of
land. A small farmer is defined as one with
less than 2 hectares of land while a marginal
farmer is defined as one with less than 1
hectare of land. RBI, for the purpose of
priority lending [under ‘weaker sections within
the priority sector’], defines ‘small and
marginal farmers’ as those with “land less than
5 acres of non-irrigated land or 2.5 acres of
irrigated land” and land-less labourers, tenant
farmers, and share croppers’. They are
characterised by having to remain compulsorily
on their farming work having no other option
suitable to their situation. Being poor, they
use the land to grow crops for self-
consumption; hence the word ‘subsistence
farming or farmers’ also. Since they are large
in number, and their ability to adopt modern
34
 methods of cultivation is low (because of Land Utilisation and
Cropping Pattern
factors like low level of literacy and lack of
input required for practicing modern methods),
raising their productivity and income levels is
a major policy challenge. Changing the archaic
land laws in a major way, called as land
reforms, is advocated as much needed in this
regard.
Salinity/Alkalinity : Refers to the content of salt making the water/
soil saline. When such soil comes into contact
with hot sun rays it results in a chemical
reaction rendering the soil ‘alkaline’ in nature.
Such soil is most ill-suited for farming
purposes.

2.8 SOME USEFUL BOOKS

Chadha G K , S. Sen and H. R. Sharma (2004), Land Resources , State of
Indian Farmer: A Millennium Study, Vol. 2, Academic Publishers, New Delhi.
Govt. of India (2001), Report of the Working Group on Agricultural Statistics (for
the X Five Year Plan), Planning Commission, New Delhi.
(http://planningcommission.nic.in/aboutus/committee/wrkgrp/wgagristat.pdf)
Rajiv Ranjan Shrivastava (2007), Emerging Trends of Cropping Pattern in
India, DK Publishers, New Delhi.

2.9 ANSWERS/HINTS TO CHECK YOUR

PROGRESS EXERCISES
Check Your Progress 1
1) See section 2.2.2 and answer.
2) See section 2.2.2 and answer.
3) See section 2.3.1 and answer.
4) See section 2.3.2 and answer.
Check Your Progress 2
1) See section 2.4 and answer.
2) See section 2.4.1 and answer.
3) See section 2.4.2 and answer.
4) See section 2.4.3 and answer.

35