CHAPTER V

AGRICULTURAL LAND USE AND LAND COVER

5.1 Introduction
5.2 General Land use
5.2.1 Area Under Forest
5.2.2 Land Not Available for Cultivation
5.2.3 Grazing and Cultivable Waste Land
5.2.4 Fallow Land
5.2.5 Net Sown Area
5.3 Spatial Distribution of Food Crops
5.3.1 Cereals
5.3.1.1 Jowar
5.3.1.2 Bajra
5.3.1.3 Corn
5.3.1.4 Wheat
5.3.2 Other Food Crops
5.3.2.1 Pulses
5.3.2.2 Oilseeds
5.3.2.3 Vegetables

97
5.1 Introduction:
The land utilization pattern in any geographical region is the result
of the continued interplay of physical elements like topography, climate
and soils. It is also the result of interaction between human and
surrounding environment. People make the land suitable for agriculture.
They also make the land more productive and convert the single crop land
to double crop or multi crops. The fundamental utility of land is
satisfying human need of food, habitation and housing material.
Agriculture is being practiced in India since ancient times. Even today the
economy of India is largely dependent on agriculture. Out of the total
population, about 70 percent people directly or indirectly depend on this
occupation. Agriculture of India has witnessed revolutionary changes
after mid sixties when Green Revolution was introduced.
Day by day population pressure is increasing along with an
increasing variety of demand on land resources has brought additional
pressure on available resources. In order to deal with these and to plan
for optimum utilization of land, it is necessary to have accurate and up to
date information in all possible details on landuse. It is therefore
necessary to understand the classification of landuse pattern in the present
study region which is one the important objective in terms of food
security in the study region of the present research work.

5.2 General Land Use:

The concept of land use is related to the use to which land is put
in a certain region at a given period of time. The use of land by man
depends on the qualities of land that he lives on. If the land contains
minerals, the occupation selected is mining. In areas where the land is
fertile and flat and the climate is favourable for cultivation of crops,
agriculture is followed. The occupation of grazing is carried on in areas

98
 of good pastures. Land use studies aim at explaining the constant
interaction between available land resources on the one hand and human
needs and efforts on the other hand.
Jalgaon district has an area of 11638.98 Sq. Km. and with regard to
its size it is the 8th largest district in the Maharashtra state. Its area is 3.82
percent of the total land area of Maharashtra state. Considering the
characteristics of land utilization in the district, the land use is classified
into five major categories. It is to mention that village wise sufficient data
for land use categories is not available; therefore tehsilwise analysis has
been made. Following table No. 5.1 shows tehsil wise area under
different land use categories.
Table 5.1 - Jalgaon District: Tehsil wise Land Utilization, 2012
Land Use Category (figures in %)
Total Land not Grazing
Sr. Name of the Area Net
Geographical available and Fallow
No. tehsil Under Sown
Area (ha.) for Cultivable land
Forest Area
cultivation waste land
1 Chopda 95436 22.88 2.94 8.67 0.47 65.03
2 Yawal 95438 34.88 0.97 7.53 0.53 56.08
3 Raver 93570 27.80 4.05 2.01 0.88 65.26
4 Muktainager 64611 18.80 15.33 4.87 0.25 60.75
5 Bodwad 35545 18.22 1.51 3.78 1.55 74.94
6 Bhusawal 47470 28.47 6.93 1.34 6.43 56.84
7 Jalgaon 82507 20.62 6.78 3.65 4.01 64.93
8 Erondol 49442 7.61 8.90 7.43 3.50 72.55
9 Dharangaon 48014 4.85 3.81 0.79 0.87 89.68
10 Amalner 84415 2.26 11.86 5.41 2.11 78.37
11 Parola 79121 13.45 6.91 11.38 1.35 66.91
12 Bhadgaon 48453 20.64 4.36 12.76 1.01 61.23
13 Chalisgaon 121763 13.91 6.44 2.53 3.72 73.40
14 Pachora 82041 13.83 4.61 2.73 2.92 75.91
15 Jamner 136072 22.84 1.06 1.56 0.81 73.73
Dist. Total 1163898 18.76 5.48 4.87 1.92 68.97
Source: Jalgaon District Statistical Abstract. 2012

99
5.2.1 Area under Forests:
Under this category area under all types of forests is included.
About 18.76 percent of the total geographical area of the district is under
forest cover. Forest is dense in the higher altitude mountainous regions,
and areas of heavy rainfall. In other places, the area under forest varies
according to the amount of rainfall.
The proportion of the forest area varies from 34.88 percent in
Yawal tehsil to 2.26 percent in Amalner tehsil. Besides Yawal tehsil,
Bhusawal also have a high proportion of the area under forest, 28.47
percent followed by Raver tehsil 27.80 percent. Area under forest ranging
between 20 and 25 percent is observed in Chopda, Jamner, Bhadgaon and
Jalgaon tehsils. In Muktainager, Bodwad, Parola, Chalisgaon and Pachora
tehsils percentage of area under forest varying from 10-20 percent. Less
than 10 percent area under forest is reported in Amalner (2.26%),
Dharangaon (4.85%) and Erondol tehsil (7.61%).
High proportion of forest cover is observed in northern tehsils of
the district viz. Yawal, Raver, Chopda etc. Major proportion of these
tehsils is occupied by the Satpuda mountain therefore large areas are
under forest cover.

5.2.2 Land Not Available for Cultivation:

The land under roads, railways, settlements, water bodies etc. are
included in this category. Similarly barren, rugged and land not suitable
for cultivation also come in this category.
About 5.48 percent of the area of the Jalgaon district is included in
this type of land use. It is observed from above table No. 5.1, that very
high proportion of land not available for cultivation is found at
Muktainager (15.33 %) and followed by Amalner tehsil (11.80%).
Whereas, the least proportion is found at Yawal tehsil where only 0.97

100
percent area of land is not available for cultivation. In Chopda, Raver,
Bodwad, Dharangaon, Bhadgaon, Pachora and Jamner tehsils, area under
this category found below 5 percent. While Bhusawal, Jalgaon, Erondol,
Parola, Chalisgaon have proportions between 5 and 10 percent. The use
of land for roads and urban settlements is increasing continuously due to
industrial development. Therefore, proportion of this category is
increasing day by day.

5.2.3 Grazing and Cultivable Waste Land:

The permanent pastures, the area under miscellaneous trees and the
cultivable waste are included in this category. Cultivable waste is a land
which is not cultivated at present but can be brought under cultivation.
About 4.87 percent of the area of the district is included under
grazing and cultivable waste land. High proportion of such land is
observed in Bhadgaon and Parola tehsils. The proportion of area occupied
by these tehsils is 12.76 and 11.38 percent respectively. Chopda, Yawal,
Erondol and Amalner tehsils have a medium proportion of area under
grazing and cultivable waste land varying between 5 and 10 percent. Less
than 5 percent proportion of reporting area under this category is
observed in tehsils namely Raver, Muktainager, Bodwad, Bhusawal,
Jalgaon, Dharangaon, Chalisgaon, Pachora and Jamner. Dharangaon
tehsil has shown this least proportion under grazing and cultivable waste
land, which is 0.79 percent only.

5.2.4 Fallow Land:

The land which was under cultivation but presently is not being
cultivated is known as fallow land. Some farmers keep the land fallow for
a year or two to maintain the fertility of soil. The area under fallow land
is about 1.92 percent in the study region.

101
Map No. 5.1

102
The proportion of fallow land is higher in the tehsils Bhusawal (6.43%)
and Jalgaon (4.01%). In Bodwad, Erondol, Amalner, Parola, Bhadgaon,
Pachora, Chalisgaon tehsils area under fallow land is ranging between 1
and 4 percent. Reporting area under fallow land is less than 1 percent in
tehsils viz. Chopda, Yawal, Raver, Muktainager, Dharangaon and
Jamner. The least proportion of area under fallow land is reported in
Muktainager tehsil which is only 0.25 percent.

5.2.5 Net Sown Area:

This category includes the area of cropped land in any region.
Spatial distribution of net sown area to a large extent is influenced by
variations in relief, river valleys, flood plains, low lands and low plateaus
with gentle slopes exhibit a high proportion of land under cultivation. The
study area is occupied by some big river valleys like Tapi, Girna etc. and
the region is covered by Deccan plateau which is suitable for agricultural
purpose. As a result about 68.97 percent of the total area of the district is
under cultivation.
The net sown area occupies the highest proportion in Dharangaon
tehsil have 89.68 percent of the reporting area. It is the lowest in the
Yawal tehsil of the district i. e. 56.08 percent only. In Bodwad, Erondol,
Amalner, Chalisgaon, Pachora, and Jamner tehsils have above 70 percent
of area under this category. In Chopda, Raver, Muktainager, Jalgaon,
Parola and Bhadgaon tehsils have net sown area ranging between 60 and
70 percent. Two tehsils namely Yawal and Bhusawal have less than 60
percent under net sown area category.

5.3 Spatial Distribution of Food Crops:

The term Agricultural Landuse denotes the extent of the gross
cropped area during the year under various crops. People generally eat

103
what they grow or the food they find in their surroundings. Different
geographical factors like climate, soil etc. determine the growth of crops.
It is because of the variations in the geographical conditions and
sociocultural milieu that the food habits of the people differ in the
different parts of the world. Variety of crops is cultivated by the Indian
farmers to produce different food items. Disparities are present in the
production of crops. Preponderance of food crops is the main
characteristic of the Indian agriculture. Including cereals, millets and
pulses, these crops cover 75 percent of the countrys total cropped area
and contribute over 55 percent of the total value of agricultural output.
Agriculture is the main economic activity of the study region.
Majority of farmers in the Jalgaon district are using traditional methods
of farming but the development into modern and commercial farm
gradually emerging. In this part of the study an attempts is made to
present a scenario of spatial distribution of food crops in various PHC
regions (primary health center) of the study area. The village wise area
under various crops for the reference year 2012-13 have been collected
from the tehsil office as well from agricultural office of respective tehsils
of the study region. The village wise data has been grouped in the
respective PHC regions. However, it was not possible to show the
variation in area under various food crops for the consecutive years due to
unavailability of sufficient data.
Agriculture in the district is mainly dependant on monsoon. Kharif
and Rabi are the main cropping seasons in the study region. Kharif crops
are grown during rainy season in the months from June to October.
Jowar, bajra, pulses, corn, cotton, soyabean etc. are the main crops
cultivated in kharif season. Rabi is the other cropping season in the
district. Rabi crops are grown during winter season in the months from

104
November to February. Wheat, jowar, dadar, gram etc. are the main rabi
crops in the district.
During the year 2012-13 around 749794.43 hectares area was
under gross cropped area, which accounts 64.42 percent to total
geographical area of the district. Out of which about 316815.01 hectares
area was under seven major food crops, namely jowar, bajra, wheat, corn,
pulses, vegetables and oilseeds. The proportion of area under food crops
was 42.25 percent to gross cropped area during the reference year. Table
No 5.2 and 5.3 are showing area under various food crops during the
study period.

5.3.1 Distribution of Cereals:

Jowar, bajra, corn and wheat are the major cereals grown in the
study region. Cereals altogether have occupied 201863.36 hectares of
gross cropped area, which accounts 26.92 percent to gross cropped area
during the study period.

5.3.1.1 Jowar:
Jowar is a crop which is cultivated both in kharif and rabi season in
the study region. Jowar thrives well in areas of high temperature and
moderate rainfall well distributed upto 50 cm. is enough for this crop. It
grows well in the regur soils. Such ideal condition is available in large
area of the Jalgaon district. Therefore, jowar is an important crop and
rank first among the food crops of the study region. Jowar is one of the
most important food crop of the population of Jalgaon district. It is also
grown as fodder crop in the district.
Jowar occupied 108743.51 hectares of area which is 14.50 percent
to the gross cropped area of the district during the study period. Jowar
occupies more area than any other cereal crop in the study region.

105
7455'E. 7510' 7525' 7540' 7555' 7610' 7625' 7628' E.
2100' N

in
Mounta
Satpuda Satpuda Mountain
204 5'

Tapi River
2030'

INDEX
% Area Under Jowar
> 20
10 - 20
20 15 '

< 10

SCALE
km 5 0 10 20 km N
Town
JALGAON DISTRICT Boundary
Tehsil
P.H.C. WISE AREA UNDER JOWAR
2000' N.

PHC
TO GROSS CROPPED AREA (2012)
Map No. 5.2

106
The spatial distribution of jowar is shown in the map No. 5.2. It is
observed from the map that, most of the PHC regions in the central part
of the district are having area under jowar less than 10 percent. Less than
10 percent area under jowar to gross cropped area is found in all PHC
regions of Pachora, Jalgaon and Erondol tehsils. Wakdi PHC region of
Jamner tehsil occupies only 0.68 percent area under jowar during the
reference period. Very few PHC regions located to the north of river Tapi
have less than 10 percent area under jowar. It includes the tribal PHC
Lohara and Chahardi PHC region of Chopda tehsil, and Nimbhora and
Ainpur PHC regions from Raver tehsil.
In the northern part of district, i. e. to the north of river Tapi in
most of the PHC regions area under jowar have occupied between 10 and
20 percent to gross cropped area. Few PHC regions located in the
southern part of river Tapi are Marwad and Mandal PHC regions of
Amalner tehsil, Nanded and Sonwad PHC regions of Dharangaon tehsil,
Girad PHC region of Bhadgaon, Umbarkhed, Shirasgaon and Patonda
PHC regions from Chalisgaon tehsil are having area under jowar ranging
between 10 and 20 percent.
Maximum area under jowar is recorded in the Varadsim PHC
region (65.23%) of Bhusawal tehsil followed by Shendurni PHC region
(50.22%) of Jamner tehsil. All PHC regions of the eastern tehsils
Muktainager, Bhusawal and Bodwad occupy more than 20 percent area
under jowar. Out of ten PHC regions of Chalisgaon tehsil seven have
more than 20 percent area under jowar.
5.3.1.2 Bajra:
Bajra is one of the most important millet crop in the study region. It is
known as drought resistant crop and mainly grown in kharif season in the
Jalgaon district. This crop is also called as the food crop of the poor People.

107
 Table No. 5.2- Jalgaon District: PHC Wise Area under Cereals (2011-12)
Name of the Gross Cereals
Sr. Area under Cereals (%)
Cropped Total
No. Tehsil PHC Area (Ha.) Jowar Bajra Wheat Corn (%)
1 Adawad 10144.82 10.02 0.47 1.02 7.60 19.11
2 Lasur 10551.87 16.53 5.17 1.11 3.43 26.24
3 Chahardi 9267.09 7.69 0.45 3.36 5.01 16.52
4 Chopda Gorgawle 8486.070 10.94 0.51 2.94 4.47 18.86
5 Hated 11855.58 13.97 6.35 3.71 3.05 27.08
6 Vaijapur 10895.70 5.34 0.58 0.50 2.77 9.19
7 Dhanora 10284.49 12.89 0.44 0.63 0.85 14.80
8 Bhalod 7542.03 15.93 0.17 4.06 3.36 23.51
9 Hingone 5103.44 19.84 0.00 1.83 1.03 22.70
10 Kingaon 8530.14 15.25 0.48 6.37 3.56 25.65
Yawal
11 Padalse 6913.44 17.07 0.21 5.16 0.82 23.26
12 Sakli 10347.11 17.42 0.43 4.65 2.70 25.20
13 Savkhedasim 6293.21 16.86 1.38 1.49 2.10 21.83
14 Ainpur 9065.09 4.65 0.00 15.15 1.90 21.69
15 Chinawal 6608.23 13.04 0.00 17.30 0.84 31.18
16 Khiroda 7152.54 23.39 0.00 6.00 0.37 29.75
17 Raver Lohara 5916.73 17.89 0.00 6.62 0.08 24.58
18 Nimbhora 6175.09 4.64 0.00 11.69 2.17 18.49
19 Thorgavan 7543.24 14.01 0.00 8.35 1.03 23.39
20 Waghoda 11486.2 19.99 0.00 7.46 3.43 30.88
21 Anturli 6419.29 29.34 3.85 9.89 4.22 47.30
22 Kurha 5140.46 33.43 6.64 2.37 0.14 42.57
Muktainager
23 Ruikhede 7264.18 29.66 2.51 4.42 2.71 39.30
24 Uchande 6454.95 24.15 9.98 0.00 8.36 42.50
25 Yengaon 10517.10 34.24 1.20 2.01 0.18 37.63
Bodwad
26 Yevati 15045.03 23.97 0.99 1.83 0.14 26.93
27 Kinhi 1543.99 41.32 0.65 2.51 15.33 59.82
28 Pimpalgaon 3343.32 48.37 0.00 3.05 11.54 62.96
Bhusawal
29 Varadsim 4605.31 65.23 0.41 2.19 2.15 69.98
30 Varangaon 3413.34 38.64 0.15 2.42 4.91 46.12
31 Bhadli 7853.58 3.41 1.08 1.09 0.39 5.97
32 Dhamangaon 4805.12 6.31 0.23 2.61 1.49 10.64
33 Jalgaon Kanalde 11005.97 5.64 1.21 0.80 2.57 10.22
34 Mhasawad 13744.82 9.95 0.43 0.57 2.17 13.12
35 Nashirabad 12058.02 5.20 0.39 0.85 0.93 7.37
36 Ringangaon 17542.00 5.14 1.28 7.33 18.69 32.44
37 Erondol Kasoda 12481.31 7.27 1.01 7.01 24.33 39.63
38 Talai 11961.00 8.65 1.22 5.39 16.47 31.74

108
39 Chandsar 12130.22 9.21 0.74 0.38 1.66 11.99
40 Nanded 6781.07 11.70 0.21 0.10 3.23 15.25
Dharangaon
41 Salve 9589.86 8.00 0.96 0.30 5.05 14.29
42 Sonvad 9378.97 11.45 0.06 0.05 5.01 16.57
43 Dheku 15469.49 27.33 9.76 2.05 0.19 39.33
44 Janave 9745.11 26.70 18.49 1.56 0.01 46.76
45 Amalner Mandal 10465.01 19.61 17.32 1.27 0.10 38.31
46 Marwad 15788.50 16.30 8.76 1.11 0.03 26.19
47 Patonda 17382.29 32.75 7.45 0.72 0.01 40.94
48 Mangrul 16365.21 6.51 3.55 1.94 3.28 15.28
49 Shelave 11087.83 13.43 4.37 2.60 3.34 23.74
Parola
50 Shirsode 14989.25 8.73 6.72 5.19 3.88 24.52
51 Tamaswadi 11391.51 4.92 3.56 1.99 2.88 13.34
52 Girad 3937.31 10.76 0.92 0.41 3.88 15.98
53 Gudhe 8307.63 9.16 3.37 1.27 1.02 14.82
Bhadgaon
54 Kajgaon 8224.81 7.84 3.18 1.12 3.60 15.73
55 Pimparkhede 12276.78 7.02 2.02 1.03 3.12 13.19
56 Dahiwad 11595.45 25.02 19.90 3.16 0.33 48.41
57 Khedgaon 7506.53 22.85 17.29 1.30 0.09 41.53
58 Londhe 6046.59 26.94 18.50 2.49 0.31 48.23
59 Patonda 8591.89 19.48 20.65 0.91 0.11 41.14
60 Ranjangaon 9744.82 23.68 17.20 2.13 0.31 43.32
Chalisgaon
61 Shirasgaon 15202.77 10.82 18.93 2.78 4.22 36.76
62 Talegaon 15826.31 21.45 27.44 0.62 0.03 49.53
63 Tarwade 9983.80 29.43 26.06 1.99 1.19 58.67
64 Umbarkhed 5751.24 13.77 19.24 5.02 1.40 39.43
65 Waghli 9359.15 20.08 24.74 2.01 0.40 47.23
66 Lohara 12529.85 3.59 2.60 0.98 16.42 23.59
67 Lohtar 8602.62 9.97 2.10 0.88 15.38 28.34
68 Pachora Nandra 6271.15 2.38 1.93 1.05 18.53 23.89
69 Nagerdeola 9302.83 8.04 4.34 1.10 9.09 22.58
70 Varkhedi 13155.20 6.84 0.85 0.37 20.38 28.45
71 Betawad 13962.93 9.93 0.94 0.33 2.71 13.92
72 Garkhede 3297.18 8.28 1.43 0.75 23.43 33.90
73 Neri Bk. 10077.11 7.01 0.94 0.87 20.52 29.34
74 Jamner Phattepur 11631.13 5.48 0.95 0.54 4.03 11.00
75 Shendurni 3660.91 50.22 5.11 0.95 2.51 58.79
76 Wakadi 17596.26 0.68 0.42 0.69 3.73 5.52
77 Wakod 21426.96 6.88 1.17 0.92 3.55 12.52
PHC Average 749794.43 14.50 5.21 2.66 4.55 26.92
Source: Tehsil and Agricultural Office, 2011-12.

109
7455'E. 7510' 7525' 7540' 7555' 7610' 7625' 7628' E.
2100' N

in
Mounta
Satpuda Satpuda Mountai
n
204 5'

Tapi River
2030'

INDEX
% Area Under Bajra
> 06
03 - 06
20 15 '

< 03
SCALE
km 5 0 10 20 km N
Town
JALGAON DISTRICT Boundary
PHC WISE AREA UNDER BAJRA Tehsil
2000' N.

PHC
TO GROSS CROPPED AREA (2012)

Map No. 5.3

110
Among the cereals, bajra stands second and grown on 39061.13 hectares
area of the district. About 5.21 percent of the total gross cropped area is
under bajra.

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

map No. 5.3. It is clear from the map that less than 3 percent area under
bajra is observed in all PHC regions, except the western tehsils like
Amalner, Parola and Chalisgaon. On the eastern part except Muktainager
tehsil all PHC regions are having less than 3 percent area under bajra.
In very few PHC regions like Lasur from Chopda, Tamaswadi,
Mangrul from Parola, Kajgaon, Gudhe from Bhadgaon, Nagardeola from
Pachora, Anturli from Muktainager and Shendurni from Jamner tehsil
have grown bajra on 3 to 6 percent area to gross cropped area.
In the western parts of the district, PHC regions like Hated from
Chopda tehsil, all PHC regions from Amalner and Chalisgaon tehsil,
Shirsode from Parola, and two PHC regions Kurha and Uchanda from
Muktainager tehsil have recorded more than 6 percent area under bajra.
Area under bajra is negligible in all PHC regions of Raver tehsil,
while maximum area under bajra is recorded in Talegaon PHC region
(27.44%) followed by Tarwade (26.06%) of Chalisgaon tehsil.

5.3.1.3 Corn:
Corn is an important food crop in the hilly and sub mountain tracts
where mainly tribal people are inhabited. Corn is cultivated during kharif
as well as Rabi seasons in the district. Corn thrives well on fertile and
well drained alluvial or red loams soils. Considering the area after bajra,
corn is the third ranking cereal crop in the study region, grown on
34099.46 hectares area. Out of gross cropped area of the district about
4.55 percent is under corn cultivation in the district.

111
7455'E. 7510' 7525' 7540' 7555' 7610' 7625' 7628' E.
2100' N

in
Mounta
Satpuda Satpuda Mountai
n
204 5'

Tapi River
2030'

INDEX
% Area Under Corn
> 06
04 - 06
02 - 04
20 1 5'

< 02
SCALE
km 5 0 10 20 km N
Town
JALGAON DISTRICT Boundary
PHC WISE AREA UNDER CORN Tehsil
2000' N.

TO GROSS CROPPED AREA (2012) PHC

Map No. 5.4

112
Map No. 5.4 is showing spatial distribution of corn in the study area.
Most PHC regions of the district have less than 2 percent area under corn
cultivation. It includes all PHC regions from Amalner tehsil, Dhanora
PHC region from Chopda, Hingona, Padalse from Yawal, except
Nimbhora and Waghoda all PHC from Raver, Chandsar from
Dharangaon tehsil, Dhamangaon, Bhadli, Nashirabad from Jalgaon tehsil,
Kurha from Muktainager, both PHC regions from Bodwad, Gudhe form
Bhadgaon and except Shirasgaon PHC region of Chalisgaon tehsil all
other nine PHC regions have less than 2 percent area under corn
cultivation. It is to note that very negligible portion under corn cultivation
is observed in Khiroda PHC region from Raver and PHC regions from
Amalner etc.
Area under corn ranging between 2 and 4 percent is found in
Hated, Lasur and Vaijapur PHC regions form Chopda tehsil, Kingaon,
Sakli, Savkhedasim, Bhalod PHC regions from Yawal, Nimbhora and
Waghoda from Raver tehsil, Nanded from Dharangaon, Kanalda and
Mhasawad from Jalgoan, Varangaon from Bhusawal, Ruikheda from
Muktainager, all PHC regions from Parola, and except Gudhe PHC
region all from Bhadgaon, Shendurni, Wakli, Wakod and Betawad from
Jamner tehsil.
Area ranging between 4 and 6 percent is observed in few PHC
regions of the district. These area includes Chahardi and Gorgawle PHC
regions from Chopda, Anturli from Muktainager, Salve and Sonwad from
Dharangaon, Varadsim from Varangaon, Shirasgaon from Chalisgaon
and Fattepur from Jamner tehsil. More than 6 percent area under corn is
observed in Adawad PHC region of Chopda, Kinhi, Pimpalgaon from
Bhusawal, Uchande from Muktainager, Neri Bk. and Garkhede from
Jamner tehsil. All PHC regions from Erondol and Pachora tehsils have

113
more than 6 percent area under corn. It is to note that maximum area
under corn is observed in Kasoda (24.33%), Garkheda (23.43%) from
Erondol and Jamner tehsils respectively.

5.3.1.4 Wheat:
Since it is a crop of cool climate, it is cultivated as a Rabi crop in
the study region and sown in the month of October-November. It thrives
well in cool, dry, clear weather and required alluvial and organically rich
black soils. Considering the area, after corn, wheat is rank fourth crop
among the cereals in the study region. Out of the gross cropped area of
the district, about 19959.26 hectares (2.66%) is devoted to the wheat.
Wheat is grown in all PHC regions of the district. However, it is
observed that wheat is not cultivated on extensive areas of the district due
to varying physical conditions in different parts of the district (Map 5.5).
To the north of river Tapi, very few regions have less than 2
percent area under wheat. These PHCs includes Lasur, Vaijapur,
Adawad and Dhanora from Chopda tehsil, Savkhedasim and Hingona
PHC regions from Yawal tehsil. To the south of river Tapi most of PHC
regions have less than 2 percent area under wheat. All PHC regions from
Amalner, Dharangaon, Jamner, Pachora and Bhadgaon tehsils have less
than 2 percent area under wheat. One PHC region Dhamangaon from
Jalgaon and Uchande from Muktainager also comes under this category
including Khedgaon, Talegaon, Patonda and Tarwade PHC regions from
Chalisgaon tehsil. The lowest area under wheat is observed in all PHC
regions of Jamner tehsil, which is less than 1 percent in all PHCs.
About 2 to 4 percent area under wheat is observed in Hated,
Chahardi and Gorgawle PHC region of Chopda tehsil, Shelave from
Parola, Dahiwad, Londhe, Shirasgaon, Ranjangaon and Waghli from
Chalisgaon, Yengaon from Bodwad, Kurha from Muktainager. While, all
PHC regions of Bhusawal tehsil have area under wheat between 2 and 4
percent.

114
7455'E. 7510' 7525' 7540' 7555' 7610' 7625' 7628' E.
2100' N

in
Mounta
Satpuda Satpuda Mountai
n
204 5'

Tapi River
2030'

INDEX
% Area Under Wheat
> 04
02 - 04
20 1 5'

< 02
SCALE
km 5 0 10 20 km N
Town
JALGAON DISTRICT Boundary
P.H.C. WISE AREA UNDER WHEAT Tehsil
2000' N.

TO GROSS CROPPED AREA (2012) PHC

Map No. 5.5

115
 Extensive area under wheat is observed in Raver and Erondol
tehsils, where all PHC regions are having more than 4 percent area under
wheat. Other PHC regions like Kingaon, Sakli, Padalse and Bhalod from
Yawal tehsil, Anturli and Ruikheda from Muktainager, Shirsode from
Parola, Umberkhed from Chalisgaon have more than 4 percent area under
wheat.
All PHC regions of Jamner tehsil have recorded very low area
under wheat, which is less than 1 percent in all PHC regions. Maximum
area under wheat is observed in Chinawal PHC region (17.30 %)
followed by Ainpur (15.15 %) and Nimbhora (11.69%) PHC regions of
Raver tehsil.

5.3.2 Other Food Crops:

As discussed above cereals have occupied large area of the
agricultural land grown on around 26.92 percent of gross cropped area in
the study region. There are other food crops like pulses, oilseeds and
vegetables grown in the district. These crops also have an important
position in daily diet of the population.

5.3.2.1 Pulses:
In our predominantly starchy vegetarian diet, pulses form a very
important part as they provide us vegetable protein. Out of the total
cultivated area in the country, about 15 percent is utilized for the
cultivation of variety of pulses. Pulses are grown on 22.37 million
hectares area of the country. The proportion of area under pulses in
Maharashtra is 13.80 percent, whereas in the study region it is 11.44
percent during the reference period. Variety of pulses are grown in all
parts of Maharashtra as well in the study region. Tur (red gram), moog
(green gram), udid (black gram), chana (bengal gram) etc. are the major
pulses cultivated in varying proportions in all parts of the study region.

116
Pulses require less moisture and are the rain fed crops. Pulses like tur,
moog, udid are cultivated in kharip season while chana is cultivated in
rabi season. Pulses have the ability to fix nitrogen in the soil from the
atmosphere.

Pulses rank second after cereals among the food crops of the
district and occupied 85673 hectares of area which is 11.43 percent to the
gross cropped area during the study period. The spatial distribution of
pulses is shown in the map No. 5.6. Less than 5 percent area under
pulses is found in all PHC regions of Bhadgaon tehsil, Tamaswadi and
Mangrul PHC regions of Parola, Londhe and Waghli of Chalisgaon,
Salve of Dharangaon, Hingona of Yawal, Chinawal, Ainpur and
Nimbhora of Raver tehsil. The lowest proportion of area under pulses is
found in Kajgaon PHC region (0.68 percent) of Bhadgaon tehsil.

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

pulses is ranging between 5 and 10 percent. Area under pulses between 5
and 10 percent is also observed in Lohara, Lohtar, and Varkhedi PHC
regions of Pachora tehsil, Wakod, Wakli PHC regions from Jamner tehsil.
In Parola tehsil, Shirsode and Shelave PHC region, Mandal from
Amalner, Sonwad and Chandsar PHC regions from Dharangaon, Vaijapur
form Yawal, Anturli from Muktainager and four PHC regions out Seven
in Raver tehsil shown area under pulses between 5 and10 percent.

PHC regions located along the eastern border of the district have
area under pulses between 10 and 15 percent. Mhasavad and Kanalda
PHC regions from Jalgaon tehsil, Nandra from Pachora, Nagardeola and
Patonda from Chalisgaon, four PHC regions except Mandal from
Amalner and four PHC regions from Chopda tehsil have area under
pulses between 10 and 15 percent.

117
Table 5.3 - Jalgaon District: PHC Wise Area under Other Food Crops (2011-12)
Name of the Gross
Sr. Other Food Crops (%)
Cropped
No. Tehsil PHC Area (Ha.) Pulses Oilseeds Vegetable
1 Adawad 10144.82 14.66 2.81 1.75
2 Lasur 10551.87 10.61 0.76 1.33
3 Chahardi 9267.09 12.93 1.96 0.37
4 Chopda Gorgawle 8486.07 14.37 3.21 0.13
5 Hated 11855.58 32.82 1.83 0.37
6 Vaijapur 10895.70 7.46 3.44 0.93
7 Dhanora 10284.49 19.77 0.32 10.85
8 Bhalod 7542.03 14.10 7.01 0.22
9 Hingone 5103.44 2.61 0.58 0.96
10 Kingaon 8530.14 15.67 2.49 3.54
Yawal
11 Padalse 6913.44 14.79 1.88 0.39
12 Sakli 10347.11 21.36 2.03 0.60
13 Savkhedasim 6293.21 26.63 5.51 0.73
14 Ainpur 9065.09 4.76 0.78 0.02
15 Chinawal 6608.23 2.16 0.83 0.15
16 Khiroda 7152.54 6.67 6.34 0.08
17 Raver Lohara 5916.73 7.20 5.43 0.05
18 Nimbhora 6175.09 2.48 0.50 0.11
19 Thorgavan 7543.24 8.78 2.30 0.04
20 Waghoda 11486.2 8.37 0.44 0.00
21 Anturli 6419.29 6.50 1.00 1.24
22 Kurha 5140.46 20.00 0.61 0.13
Muktainager
23 Ruikhede 7264.18 13.54 5.49 3.47
24 Uchande 6454.95 19.09 5.38 3.17
25 Yengaon 10517.10 13.20 1.06 0.33
Bodwad
26 Yevati 15045.03 11.98 2.75 0.38
27 Kinhi 1543.99 22.55 5.06 0.51
28 Pimpalgaon 3343.32 13.76 3.73 0.34
Bhusawal
29 Varadsim 4605.31 19.97 5.11 0.18
30 Varangaon 3413.34 25.60 5.34 0.35
31 Bhadli 7853.58 34.18 9.40 0.04
32 Dhamangaon 4805.12 17.19 17.23 0.34
33 Jalgaon Kanalda 11005.97 14.03 8.89 0.02
34 Mhasawad 13744.82 11.35 2.17 0.76
35 Nashirabad 12058.02 35.02 12.89 0.46
36 Ringangaon 17542.00 19.58 5.25 2.19
37 Erondol Kasoda 12481.31 13.81 1.36 3.73
38 Talai 11961.00 15.66 1.15 1.00

118
39 Chandsar 12130.22 8.94 2.63 0.00
40 Nanded 6781.07 15.38 5.10 0.16
Dharangaon
41 Salve 9589.86 4.94 1.09 0.00
42 Sonvad 9378.97 7.58 2.75 0.00
43 Dheku 15469.49 12.75 8.37 0.38
44 Janve 9745.11 11.34 7.74 0.22
45 Amalner Mandal 10465.01 8.70 6.45 0.39
46 Marwad 15788.50 12.32 5.97 0.13
47 Patonda 17382.29 11.78 9.07 0.13
48 Mangrul 16365.21 3.84 0.27 0.00
49 Shelave 11087.83 7.79 0.28 0.00
Parola
50 Shirsode 14989.25 6.65 0.55 0.00
51 Tamaswadi 11391.51 4.52 1.16 0.00
52 Girad 3937.31 0.51 0.97 0.31
53 Gudhe 8307.63 0.48 0.25 0.11
Bhadgaon
54 Kajgaon 8224.81 0.20 0.16 0.09
55 Pimparkhede 12276.78 1.26 0.55 0.02
56 Dahiwad 11595.45 6.19 1.01 0.11
57 Khedgaon 7506.53 8.66 0.62 0.11
58 Londhe 6046.59 2.96 0.41 0.00
59 Patonda 8591.89 10.27 1.73 0.08
60 Ranjangaon 9744.82 5.60 1.58 0.17
Chalisgaon
61 Shirasgaon 15202.77 6.83 3.56 1.30
62 Talegaon 15826.31 8.55 1.30 0.02
63 Tarwade 9983.8 7.98 2.60 0.32
64 Umbarkhed 5751.24 6.60 6.68 0.76
65 Waghli 9359.15 4.20 1.43 0.11
66 Lohara 12529.85 6.13 3.06 1.14
67 Lohtar 8602.62 7.96 2.87 0.30
68 Pachora Nandra 6271.15 11.85 3.43 2.62
69 Nagerdeola 9302.83 10.75 1.38 0.33
70 Varkhedi 13155.2 5.31 3.34 0.00
71 Betawad 13962.93 11.53 0.64 0.00
72 Garkhede 3297.18 33.05 2.51 0.80
73 Neri Bk. 10077.11 27.54 3.04 1.06
74 Jamner Phattepur 11631.13 10.13 0.82 0.29
75 Shendurni 3660.91 19.05 15.14 1.73
76 Wakadi 17596.26 6.64 1.18 1.22
77 Wakod 21426.96 9.43 2.87 0.83
PHC Total 749794.43 11.42 3.17 0.73
Source: Tehsil Office and Agricultural Office, 2011-12.

119
7455'E. 7510' 7525' 7540' 7555' 7610' 7625' 7628' E.
2100' N

in
Mounta
Satpuda Satpuda Mountain
204 5'

Tapi River
2030'

INDEX
% Area under Pulses
> 15
10 - 15
05 - 10
20 1 5'

< 05
SCALE
km 5 0 10 20 km N
Town
JALGAON DISTRICT Boundary
P.H.C. WISE AREA UNDER PULSES Tehsil
2000' N.

TO GROSS CROPPED AREA (2012) PHC

Map No. 5.6

120
PHC regions located in the central parts of the district mainly from the
Yawal, Jalgaon, Bhusawal and Erandol tehsils have shown more than 15
percent area under pulses. Two PHC regions Uchande and Kurha of
Muktainager tehsil, one PHC region Hated from Chopda and PHC region
Shendurni from Jamner having more than 15 percent area under pulses.
The highest proportion of area under pulses is found in Nashirabad
(35.02%) followed by Hated PHC regions (32.82%) in Jalgaon and
Chopda tehsils respectively.

5.3.2.2 Oilseeds:
In the study region variety of oilseed crops are cultivated.
Groundnut, soyabean, sunflower, sesame etc. are some of the important
oilseed crops grown in the district. However, groundnut and soyabean are
the major oilseed crops in the study region while sunflower and sesame
are cultivated on very small area of the district. Different oilseeds are
required different type of soil condition. Light sandy loam soil which
drains water easily is favourable for the cultivation of groundnut.
Groundnut is cultivated in kharif as well in rabi season. Soyabean
required loams and alluvial soil. It is cultivated mainly in kharif season.
Among the food crops of the study region, oilseeds are cultivated
on 23791.90 hectares. Out of total cropped area of the study region
oilseeds occupied 3.17 percent area. Map No. 5.7 is showing spatial
distribution of oilseeds in Jalgaon district. It is quite clear from the map
that less than 2 percent area under oilseeds is observed in Lasur, Hated,
Chahardi and Dhanora PHC regions of Chopda tehsil. Padalse and
Hingona PHC region of Yawal tehsil, Chinawal, Nimbhora, Ainpur and
Waghoda PHC regions of Raver tehsil, Anturli and Kurha PHC region
from Muktainager, Yengaon from Bodwad, Betawad, Wakli and

121
Phattepur PHC regions from Jamner tehsil, Salve PHC region from
Dharangaon, Kasoda and Talai PHC regions from Erandol. It is observed
that in Parola and Bhadgaon tehsils, all PHC regions have less than 2
percent area under oilseeds. While out of ten PHC regions, seven are
under the category of less than 2 percent area under oilseeds of
Chalisgaon tehsil.
The proportion of oilseed crop between 2 and 4 percent is observed
in the central part of the district. Vaijapur, Adawad, Gorgawle PHC
regions from Chopda tehsil, Kingaon, Sakli, PHC regions from Yawal
tehsil, Thorgvhan from Raver, Pimpalgaon from Bhusawal, Yeoti from
Bodwad, Nashirabad from Jalgaon, Neri Bk., Garkheda and Wakod from
Jamner, Sonwad and Chandsar from Dharangaon, Tarwade and Shirsgaon
from Chalisgaon, all PHC regions from Pachora tehsil have cultivated
oilseed crops between 2 and 4 percent to gross cropped area.
It is observed that more than 4 percent area under oilseeds is
observed in all PHC regions located along the southern bank of Tapi
river. Dhamangaon, Mhasawad (Jalgaon tehsil), Ringangaon (Erandol
tehsil) having more than 4 percent area are also located on the bank of
river Girna. Some of the PHC regions located along the foot hills of
Satpuda mountain from Yawal and Raver tehsils also have area more than
4 percent.
Very negligible proportion of area under oilseed is observed in
many PHC regions of Raver, Parola and Bhadgaon tehsils where area
under oilseed is less than 0.5 percent. Whereas maximum area is
observed in Dhamangaon PHC region (17.23%) from Jalgaon tehsil
followed by Shednurni (15.14%) of Jamner tehsil.

122
7455'E. 7510' 7525' 7540' 7555' 7610' 7625' 7628' E.
2100' N

M ountain
Satpuda Satpuda Mountain
204 5'

Tapi River
2030'

INDEX
% Area Under Oilseeds
> 04
02 - 04
20 1 5'

< 02
SCALE
km 5 0 10 20 km N
Town
JALGAON DISTRICT Boundary
P.H.C.WISE AREA UNDER OILSEEDS Tehsil
2000' N.

TO GROSS CROPPED AREA (2012) PHC

Map No. 5.7

123
7455'E. 7510' 7525' 7540' 7555' 7610' 7625' 7628' E.
2100' N

in
Mounta
Satpuda Satpuda Mountai
n
204 5'

Tapi River
2030'

INDEX
% Area Under Vegetable
> 02
01 - 02
20 1 5'

< 01
SCALE
km 5 0 10 20 km N
Town
JALGAON DISTRICT Boundary
P.H.C. WISE AREA UNDER VEGETABLES Tehsil
2000' N.

TO GROSS CROPPED AREA (2012) PHC

Map No. 5.8

124
5.3.2.3 Vegetables:
Very few patches of agricultural land are used by the farmers for
the cultivation of vegetables. There was 5486.75 hectares of land under
cultivation of vegetable during the reference period in the district. It
accounts for 0.73 percent to gross cropped area of the district. The main
vegetables grown in the district are onion, brinjal, fenugreek, ladys
finger, cabbage, cauliflower, tomato etc. The spatial distribution of
vegetables is shown in the map No. 5.8.
In most of the PHC regions of the district, less than one percent
area is under vegetables. PHC regions Lasur and Adawad from Chopda,
Anturli form Muktainager, Neri Bk., Betawd and Shendurni from Jamner,
Lohara form Pachora, Talai and Shirasgaon PHC regions from Erandol
and Chalisgaon tehsil respectively have an area under vegetables ranging
between 1 and 2 percent to gross cropped area.
More than 2 percent area under vegetable is observed in the PHC
region Dhanora from Chopda tehsil, Kingaon from Yawal, Uchande and
Ruikheda PHC regions from Muktainager, Nandra from Pachora and
Ringangaon and Kasoda PHC regions from Erandol tehsil. It is to note
that more than 10 percent area under vegetables is observed in Dhanora
PHC region of Chopda tehsil.

Resume:
The general landuse and spatial distribution of food crops like
Jowar, Bajra, Wheat, Corn, Pulses, Oilseeds and Vegetables have been
studied in this chapter. Large area under forest cover is occupied in the
northern tehsils of the district namely Yawal, Raver, Bhusawal, Chopda.
As the result, net sown area in the Yawal and Bhusawal tehsils is low as
compared to other tehsils of the district. The proportion of the forest area
varies from 34.88 percent in Yawal tehsil to 2.26 percent in Amalner

125
tehsil. About 5.48 percent of the area of the Jalgaon district is not
available for cultivation. It is observed that very high proportion of land
not available for cultivation is found at Muktainager (15.33 %) and the
least proportion is found at Yawal tehsil only 0.97 percent. About 4.87
percent of the area of the district is included under grazing and cultivable
waste land. High proportion of this land is observed in Bhadgaon tehsil
(12.76%) while Dharangaon tehsil has shown the least proportion which
is 0.79 percent only. The area under fallow land is about 1.92 percent in
the study region. The proportion of fallow land is higher in the Bhusawal
tehsil (6.43%) and the least proportion is reported in Muktainager tehsil
which is only 0.25 percent. About 68.97 percent of the total area of the
district is under cultivation. The net sown area occupies the the highest
proportion in Dharangaon tehsil which has 89.68 percent of the reporting
area. It is the lowest in the Yawal tehsil of the district which has 56.08
percent only. Spatial variations among different categories of land use are
mainly attributed to the variations in physiographic characteristics
particularly relief and rainfall.
Jowar, bajra, corn and wheat are the major cereals grown in the
study region. Cereals altogether occupied 216202.72 hectares of gross
cropped area, which accounts 27.58 percent during the study period.
Jowar occupied 117905.51 hectares of area which is 15.04 percent to the
gross cropped area of the district during the study period. Jowar occupies
more area than any other cereal crop in the study region. Among the
cereals, bajra stands second and grown on 44061.13 hectares area of the
district. About 5.62 percent of the total gross cropped area is under bajra.
Considering the area after bajra corn is the third ranking cereal crop in the
study region, grown on 34048.10 hectares area. Out of gross cropped area
of the district about 4.34 percent is under corn cultivation in the district.

126
Out of the gross cropped area of the district, about 20187.98 hectares
(2.58%) is devoted to the wheat. Pulses rank second after cereals among
the food crops of the district and occupied 89673 hectares of area which
is 11.44 percent to the gross cropped area during the study period.
Oilseeds cultivated on 25591.90 hectares. Out of total cropped area of the
study region oilseeds occupied 3.27 percent area. There was 5586.75
hectares of land was under cultivation of vegetables during the reference
period in the district. It accounts for 0.71 percent to gross cropped area of
the district.

127
REFERENCES:
1. Gavakare R. B. (2010): Geographical Perspectives on Population
and Food System in Solapur District unpublished Ph. D. thesis
submitted to the, Shivaji University Kolhapur.
2. Husain M. (1996): Systematic Agricultural Geography, Rawat
Publication, Jaipur.
3. Sharma T. C. and Coutinho O. (1978): Economic and
Commercial Geography of Indian Vikas Publishing House Pvt.
Ltd. New Delhi.
4. V. S. Datye and S. C. Gupte (1984): Association Between
Agricultural Landuse and Physico-Socio-Economic Phenomena,
A Multivariate Approach, Transactions of the Institute of Indian
Geographers Vol. 6, No. 2, July 1984, pp. 61-71.
5. Vyalij P. Y. (2011): Agricultural Landuse in Nashik District
unpublished Ph. D. thesis submitted to the, Tilak Maharashtra
Vidyapeeth, Pune.

128