Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

GROWTH AND INSTABILITY IN AGRICULTURE: WESTERN VIDARBHA OF MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

Jagannath , Shende, N.V , Tayade, P.M , Nandeshwar. N.S , Hasan Khan and S.N. Vinodakumar

Abstract

Present investigation was undertaken to study the growth rate and instability of area, production and productivity of three major crops viz.,jowar, cotton, soybean. The study was based on secondary data for the period of 23 years (1984-85 to 2006-07) for the districts viz.,Buldana, Yavatmal, Akola, Amravati and Amravati division as a whole of western Vidarbha of Maharashtra. The study revealed that overall period the compound growth rate for all most all the district in Ambravati division were declined by 3 % per annum in area as well as production for the Jowar crops. The growth rate of cotton in all most all districts of Ambravati division and also division as a whole was found to be drastically decline in period-II as compared to period-I, except Akola district. The growth rate were also worked out and found to be positive and significant in all districts of Ambravati division in area, production and productivity of soybean. The co-efficient of variation (CV) and Coppock’s instability index (CII) with regard to both area (8.43 and 10.49 per cent) and productivity (20.29 and 12.40 per cent) were lowest in Yavatmal district among Ambravati division.