International Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Studies
[Link]
Online ISSN: 2664-8660, Print ISSN: 2664-8652
Received: 08-09-2022, Accepted: 23-10-2022, Published: 30-10-2022
Volume 4, Issue 2, 2022, Page No. 21-23
Changing cropping pattern in Sonipat district, Haryana: A study in temporal
perspective
Dr. Naresh Kumar
Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Govt. College for Woman, Sonipat, Haryana, India
DOI: [Link]
Abstract
Agriculture plays a vital role in the economy of an area. Agriculture landscape had undergone considerable
transformation during and after Green Revolution. The most tangible expression of this transformation is found
in the shift of the cropping pattern. In the present paper an attempt has been to study the cropping patterns in
Sonipat district in Haryana during 1970-71 & 2000-01 and to analyse its changes, mainly because the green
revolution started in mid 1960’s in the country and its wave come to the study area in the early seventies. It
appears quite surprising that in early seventies in spite of higher yield of many crops, the per hectare monetary
return to the farmers in the area is very low. This is because low price level of crops grown in the area. The
present context of study is based on a combination of the land utilization and statistical approach. District level
data has been utilized to interrogate the changing cropping pattern. The principal objective of this paper is to
across the direction of changing pattern since 1970-71 to 2000-01 in the area.
Keywords: Temporal perspective, cropping pattern, Sonipat district
Introduction
Cropping pattern means the proportion of area under various crops at a point of time (Singh, 1970) [8]. Cropping
pattern is the extent to which the arable land under different crops can be put to use (Singh, 1994) [9]. The crop
statistics are used to denote cropping pattern. In any cropping pattern each crop is given its position in terms of
percentage in relation to the total cropped area of an areal unit. This may be expressed as:
Cp = (Ca/N, Cb/N, Cc/N---------------Cr/N) X 100.
Where: Cp represents the cropping pattern; Ca, Cb, Cc--------Cr-the cropped area under crops a, b, c, --------r., in
the enumeration unit and N the total cropped area in the same unit (Singh, 1994) [9].
The cropping pattern differs from macro to micro region both in space and time and governed by the physical
and non-physical factors. It is however, a dynamic concept as no cropping pattern can be good and ideal for all
times to come.
Study Area
The study area Sonipat district is a part of Yamuna Plain. It is one of the 22 districts of Haryana. It lies from 28
to 48’ 30” to 29 o 17’ 54” north of latitudes and from 76 to 28’ 30” to 77o 13’ 40” east of longitudes. The
perennial Yamuna River marks the eastern boundary of the district. National Capital Territory, Delhi lies in the
south of the study area. It is connected with Panipat district in north. To its North-West and in the west is Jind
district, and in the south-west Rohtak district is situated.
According to 2001 census the district had 1279175 persons and cover a total area 2130.81 Km 2. Out of total
74.87% population are resident of rural area. The economy of the area is primarily agricultural. From the
administrative point of view the study area is divided in seven community development blocks.
Aim and Objectives
Agriculture plays a vital role in the economy of the study area, but the agricultural income of the study area is
low due to less remunerative cropping pattern, which tends to reduce per hectare return to the farmer. It appears
quite surprising that in spite of higher yield per hectare of many crops in Haryana than the all India average and
many other Indian states, the per hectare monetary returns to the farmers in Haryana is very low as compared to
other states like Kerala, Assam, West Bengal etc. In the old Punjab including Haryana the net return per hectare
of gross cultivated area as calculated by A. G. Majumdar in 1960-61, was Rs. 400 which was lower than the all
India average i.e. a little less than one third of Kerala, a little more than one half of Assam and a little less than
one half of West Bengal. An examination of all aspects of agriculture of Haryana largely reveals that
unprofitable and low price level of different crops grown in state and inferior, poor and less rewarding cropping
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International Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Studies [Link]
pattern adopted by the farmers of Haryana. So, it is pertinent to question why this part is not agriculturally
valuable and what are the inefficiencies and bottlenecks in cropping patterns. So, the aim of the present paper is
to analyse the changing cropping pattern in the study area and providing the suitable suggestions to the farmers
to adopt the judicious cropping pattern.
The major objectives of this study area as follows: (i) To interpret and to analyse the cropping patterns of 1970-
71 and 2000-01 in the study area. (ii) To assess the change in direction of cropping pattern since 1970-71 and
2000-01 in the study area.
Data collection and methodology
Three main approaches to the geographical study of agriculture can be suggested namely, an ecological
approach, the land utilization approach and a statistical approach. (Mc Master, 1962) [7]. The present context is
based on a combination of the second and third approach. The present context of study is used for certain
percentile changes of cropping pattern during 1970-71 to 2000-01, mainly because the Green Revolution though
started in mid 1960’s in the country, and its wave comes to the study area in the early seventies and during the
post-green revolution period (Particularly after 1970). District level data has been utilized to interrogate the
changing cropping pattern. Data analysis has been done both with the help of statistical tabulation and
cartographic methods. This analysis is based on secondary data, which have been collected from published and
unpublished sources of various offices. The data in the study has been collected from District Statistical Office,
Offices of Kanongroo of Sonipat, Ganaur, Kharkhoda and Gohana Tahsil and Office of Deputy Director
Agriculture Sonipat.
Changes in the cropping pattern
Table 1 and Fig 2 expedite the comparative study of different crops in the study area during 1970-71 and 2000-
01. Green revolution and adequately available irrigation facilities brought the tremendous changes in the
cropping pattern of the study area. The total food grains (Cereals and pulses) dominate the cropping pattern of
the area contributes 80.39% (2000-01). Among these crops wheat only comprises of 49.29% and second ranked
rice indicates 27.31% of total cropped area, fodder crops stand at third rank with 11.80% while sugar-cane
ranking as fourth occupying 3%. The other crops viz. barley, Bajara, maize, pulses, cotton, oilseeds and fruits
and vegetables share 0.14%, 2.69%, 0.07%, 0.78%, 0.28%, 1.41%, and 2.98% of the total cropped area
respectively. The area has a mixture of both food and commercial crops.
Since the dawn of civilization, everything is under change. Due to changing nature of needs and requirements,
which are to be fulfilled mostly from agricultural sector, have also affected the crops dominancy in any area. To
know this change and dominancy of crops, the study has been made 1970-71 to 2000-01. Table 1 exhibits that in
1970-71 the area under total food grains was 66.78% of T.C.A. but showing a steady increase in preceding years,
it reached up to 80.39% which is higher than India (65.52%). Cereals as a whole show 38.52% positive change.
Table 1: General cropping pattern in the area
1970-71 2000-01 % Change 1970-71 to
Crops
Total Hectarge % of harvested Total Hectarge % of harvested 2000-01
A) Cereals 137700 57.47 225300 79.16 +38.52
Wheat 90500 37.77 139500 49.29 +30.50
Barley 6800 2.84 400 0.14 -95.07
Rice 6800 2.84 77300 27.31 +861.6
Bajra 23000 9.60 7600 2.69 -71.98
Maize 7900 3.30 200 0.07 -78.79
Other Cereals 2700 1.12 300 0.11 -90.10
B) Pulses 22300 9.31 2200 0.78 -91.62
Gram 19300 8.06 200 0.07 -99.13
Other Pulses 3000 1.25 2000 0.71 -43.2
Total Food grain 160000 66.78 227500 80.39 +20.38
C) Fodder Crops 46800 19.53 33400 11.80 -39.58
Jawar 23600 9.85 12300 4.35 -55.84
Other Food crops 23200 9.68 21100 7.45 -23.04
D) Cash Crops 31600 13.19 21700 7.67 -41.85
Sugar Cane 22900 9.56 8500 3.00 -68.62
Cotton 3400 1.42 800 0.28 -80.28
Oilseeds 2200 0.92 4000 1.41 +53.26
Fruits & Vegetables 3100 1.29 8400 2.98 +131.00
Other M. Crops 1200 0.50 400 0.14 -72.00
Total 239600 100.00 283000 100.00
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Fig 1: General cropping pattern in the area
The tremendous positive change (861.6%) is noted under rice crops, which, increased from 2.84% of T.C.A. in
1970-71 to 27.31% in 2000-01. This change is noted due to increase of irrigational facilities in the study area.
Wheat also indicates the positive change of 30.50%. The area under oilseeds, fruits and vegetables registered the
positive change i.e. + 53.26% and 131.01% respectively. Besides this all the other crops show negative change in
the area during last decades. Maximum decrease 99.13% is noted against gram followed by 95.07% in barley,
78.79% in maize and 71.98% in bajra. These crops have also been replaced by other needful or usable crops.
Fodder also decreased from19.53% to 11.80% of T.C.A. registering 39.58% negative change. Area under pulses
other than gram also exhibits negative change of 43.20% because pulses are now grown with other crops in zaid
and kharif season. The area under sugarcane too marked negative change as it was 9.56% in 1970-71 and in
2000-01 the area declined to 3.00% registering 68.62% negative change. The other crops, which indicate the
negative change, are cotton (80.28%). On the basis of the above analysis, it may be safely concluded that the
cultivator changed their behaviour towards fruits and vegetables due to the increasing limit of urban periphery.
Irrigational facilities are responsible for the increase of area under rice.
Conclusion
Agriculture occupies the most vital part in the economy of an area. Agricultural landscape had undergone
considerable transformation during and after green revolution. The most tangible expression of this
transformation is found in the shift of the cropping pattern. Cropping pattern in the study area has changed in
favour of high remuneration crops at the cost of the lower value crops.
This analysis of the cropping pattern in the study area indicates a definite direction of quantitative as well as
qualitative change during 1970-71 and [Link] remarkable feature of the cropping pattern of the study
area is a dominant share of food crops and fodder in the cropped area. Keeping all the discussion in the mind it
can be suggested here that geographical and economic conditions should prevail to adopt the commercial
farming in place of substantial farming.
References
1. Census of India. District Census Handbook, Sonipat. Directorate of Census Operations, Haryana; c2001.
2. District Agricultural Profile-cum-Action Plan. D.D.A., Sonipat, Haryana; c2003-04.
3. District Statistical Abstract Sonipat. D. S. O., Sonipat, Haryana; c2003-04.
4. Gazetteer of the Sonipat District. Gazetteers Organisation Revenue Department, Haryana; c1998.
5. Gupta KC. Cropping Pattern in Haryana. Publication No. 40. Govt. of Haryana; c1970.
6. Majumdar AG. Inter State Differences In Agricultural Incomes, 1960-61. Economic Weekly; c1964 Jan.
7. Mc’Master DN. A Subsistence Crop Geography of Uganda. The World Land Survey Occasional Paper No.
2. Geographical Publications; c1962.
8. Singh BB. Genomic Study of Baraut Block. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis. B. H. U. Varanasi; c1970.
9. Singh J, Dhillon SS. Agricultural Geography. 2 nd ed. Tata McGraw-Hill Publication, New Delhi; c1994.
10. Singh J. An Agricultural Geography of Haryana. Vishal Publications, Kurukshetra; c1976.
11. Statistical Abstract of Haryana. Economic and Statistical Organisation Planning Department, Haryana;
1975-76, 2003-04.
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