Changes in Land Use Pattern in Sample Village, Ambedkarnagar District

Dr. Alok Pandey¹, Dr. Chandra Shekhar Dwivedi²

¹Department of Geography, Mohd. Yusuf Mahavidyalaya, Sandkhera, Sandila, Hardoi, U.P.

²Assistant Professor (on Contract), Center For Environmental Science, Central University of Jharkhand, Brambe, Ranchi, Jharkhand

ABSTRACT:

Changing Pattern of land use is not a new phenomenon; rather this is a constant process which has been continuously taking place over time and space. The socio-economic and technical organizational factors are interacting with one another over time and again for maintaining the continuity of such process and the result of which is reflected on the land use pattern.

The land use pattern of a region at a particular time is determined by the combined interactions among the physio-climatic, socio-economic and institutional frame work taken together. The locational advantage of the region in relation to other aspects of economic development e.g. those relating to transport as well as to industry and trade are the few important aspects which govern the land use pattern of an area. In present paper an attempt has been made to analyze that whether the present pattern is in some sort of static harmony or adjustment with the other main characteristics of the economy of the region.

The sample village is predominately rural and agrarian. It has an area of 37.65 sq.km. with a total population of 45757(2011). The climate on the whole is monsoonal. Physio-graphically it is divided into two parts. The study region is a part of middle Ganga plain. The analysis has been made at sample village to show the changes in general categories of land use i.e. (i) forest area (ii) land not available for cultivation (iii) culturable waste land (iv) fallow land (v) net sown area.

KEYWORDS: Physio-climatic land use, forest land, land not available for cultivation, culturable waste land, fallow land, change in net sown area.

INTRODUCTION:

Land resource are the most important natural wealth of any region and their proper utilization is a matter of utmost concern to its people. Changing pattern of land use is not a new phenomenon rather this is a constant process which has been continuously taking place over time and space.

The socio-economic and technical organizational factors are interacting the one another over time and again for maintaining the continuity of such process and the result of which is reflected on the land use pattern. The classification of land is “a process which assigns each body or tract of land in an area to its proper class in a system of classes, i.e. its qualities or characteristics. In the present study the following five categories of land use have been identified: (i) Forest area (ii) Area not available or cultivation (iii) Culturable waste land (iv) Fallow land (v) Net sown area. The pattern of land use in time and space, directly or indirectly irrigated area is also associated with other aspects like double cropped area.

OBJECTIVE:

The main objective are

(i) To find out the change in land use pattern.

(ii) To find out the inter-sample villages variations in land use pattern.

METHODOLOGY:

Ambedkarnagar District administratively has been divided into nine block. In this process effort has been made to ensure that at least two to three villages are selected from each block to have the wider representation of the study region, 21 villages were selected as sample villages for the present study. In the present study, the data are obtained through primary and secondary sources.

STUDY AREA:

In the study area Ambedkarnagar District is the most important sector of economy. About 76.16 percent of the area is under cultivation and it employs nearly 79.57 percent of worker as cultivators and agricultural labourers. The area receives an annual rainfall of 105 mm mainly in four months from July to October. Some important weather conditions like fog, frost and storms etc. are also experienced from time to time which cause occasional disturbances in the agricultural activities. Table 1 reveals that there have been minor positive or negative changes almost in all the categories of land use during 1991 to 2011. About 76.16 percent of the total area is under net sown area while 6.14 percent under culturable waste land which can be ploughed after reclamation. There has been minor change in area not available for cultivation from 12.24 in 1991 to 13.93 percent in 2011 attributing to many developmental activities in the form of built up area like buildings, roads, canals etc. Forest area has decreased and come to about 2.04 percent. There has been significant and proportionate change in net sown area.

Fig. 1

Table -1 : Changing Land use Pattern During 1991-2011

Land use categories	1991		2011		Change (in hectare) 1991-2011	Change (in percent) 1991-2011
	Area (in hectare)	Area (in percent)	Area (in hectare)	Area (in percent)
Forest	118.9	3.13	77.53	2.04	-41.37	-1.09
Land not available for cultivation	464.57	12.24	528.38	13.93	63.81	1.69
Culturable waste land	280.79	7.40	232.80	6.14	-47.99	-1.26
Fallow land	108.62	2.86	65.64	1.73	-42.98	-1.13
Net sown area	2819.74	74.32	2789.44	76.16	30.30	1.84
Double Cropped Area	2114.14	55.72	2467.97	65.05	353.83	9.33
Gross Cropped Area	4934.84	103.07	5359.41	141.26	424.57	11.19
Total	10841.60	258.74	11521.17	306.31	872.51	24.05

Source: District Census Handbook and Village Questionnaire

Changes in Area under Forest Land:

Forestry plays an important role in the economic development of a region. Forest provides timber, fuel and other products which are essential both for domestic and industrial uses. The most beneficial effect of ecosystem on human environment consists of moderating the climate, maintaining the soil, regulating water supplies, purifying the air and helping noise abatement.

Table-2 Changes in Forest Land Use

S. N.	Sample Village	1991		2011		Change (in percent) 1991-2011
		Area (in hectare)	Area (in percent)	Area (in hectare)	Area (in percent)
1.	Duhiya	5.25	5.19	2.39	2.36	-2.85
2.	Makhdoomnagar	2.14	2.43	-	-	-2.43
3.	Chandauli	17.37	10.15	13.8	8.07	-2.08
4.	Fariedpur	5.79	5.73	3.52	3.48	-2.25
5.	Motigarpur	4.75	2.78	-	-	-2.78
6.	Hathinalala	2.46	2.13	6.01	5.21	3.08
7.	Ourow	2.14	1.43	0.01	0.01	-1.42
8.	Bukia	10.75	3.58	7.05	2.35	-1.23
9.	Asrafpur	2.35	4.70	1.75	3.50	-1.20
10.	Balrampur	9.87	3.51	5.64	2.01	-1.50
11.	Devlar	5.27	2.99	2.35	1.33	-1.66
12.	Surjupur	2.45	5.44	1.60	3.56	-1.88
13.	Bairagal	4.89	1.69	2.14	0.74	-0.95
14.	Dulhupur	3.97	1.33	2.12	0.71	-0.62
15.	Pakooli	2.98	3.20	1.97	2.12	-1.08
16.	Aame	4.92	5.76	3.17	3.71	-2.05
17.	Itva	7.63	3.58	6.70	3.14	-0.44
18.	Sarangpur	8.71	2.38	7.50	2.05	-0.33
19.	Mansapur	4.17	1.12	2.38	0.63	-0.49
20.	Daiyadeh	4.92	3.37	3.25	2.23	-1.14
21.	Nale	6.12	3.38	4.18	2.31	-1.07
Total Region		118.9	3.13	77.53	2.04	-1.09

Source : District Census Handbook and Based on Village Questionnaire

According to the villagers and forest land records over the period of time the dense forests have been gradually transformed into sparse and systematically the forest land has been converted into agricultural land. This forest is a dry deciduous forest. The pattern and distribution of forest area in sample village is very uneven. In the year 1991, the total forest area was 118.9 hectare in 2011 showing a decrease of nearly 1.09 percent area under this category during said period. In Makhdoomnagar and Motigarpur there was 2.43 percent and 2.78 percent forest in 1991 but in 2011 it become nil.

Change in Forest Land Use

Fig. 2

Continuously increase in agricultural land, pasture land and frequent cutting down the trees may cause this. The highest area under forest is observed in Chandauli (17.71 hectare) i.e. 10.15 percent of total area which still higher in 2011 with 8.07 percent. In Bukia, area under forest was (10.75 hectare) 3.58 percent in 1991 which came to (7.05 hect.) 2.35 percent in 2011 Table-2.

On the whole the cause of negative change in forest coverage is due to construction of roads and expansion in settlements by cutting down the tree and also for the domestic purposes. Mahuwa, Jamun, Neem, Aam and other medicinal tree are found in this forest area.

Changes in Land not Available for Cultivation:

The land not available for cultivation includes all such lands which naturally or otherwise can not be brought under cultivation. It comprises the land occupied by water bodies, human settlements, roads and streets and otherwise barren lands etc. These lands dominantly show various cultural features and of no use from agricultural point of view. Due to growing population and development of various sectors of economy and expansion of settlements, roads, cannals and reservoirs, the land under not available for cultivation increased 12.24 percent in 1991 to 13.93 percent in 2011 as whole in sample village. Table 3 reveals i.e. less than 2 percent in sample villages namely Fariedpur(1.67) Bukia(1.52) Balrampur(1.95) Bairagal(1.43) Aame(1.29) Itva (1.27) Sarangpur(0.92) Mansapur(0.50) Daiyadeh (1.29) and Nale(1.32) While in Pakooli(2.50) Surjupur(4.12), Devlar(2.97) Asrafpur (3.80) Ourow (2.32) Motigarpur(2.31) Chandauli(6.01)

Table-3 Changes in Land not Available for Cultivation

S. N.	Sample Village	1991		2011		Change (in percent) 1991-2011
		Area (in hectare)	Area (in percent)	Area (in hectare)	Area (in percent)
1.	Duhiya	21.78	21.56	26.95	26.68	5.12
2.	Makhdoomnagar	26.37	29.96	33.49	38.07	8.11
3.	Chandauli	27.47	16.06	37.74	22.07	6.01
4.	Fariedpur	5.89	5.83	7.58	7.50	1.67
5.	Motigarpur	37.84	22.13	41.80	24.44	2.31
6.	Hathinalala	38.36	33.27	27.75	24.07	-9.2
7.	Ourow	14.73	9.8	18.18	12.12	2.32
8.	Bukia	29.97	10.00	34.56	11.52	1.52
9.	Asrafpur	5.89	11.78	7.79	15.58	3.80
10.	Balrampur	24.37	8.78	29.83	10.62	1.95
11.	Devlar	27.47	15.61	32.71	18.58	2.97
12.	Surjupur	4.12	9.15	5.97	13.27	4.12
13.	Bairagal	24.37	8.43	28.01	9.69	1.26
14.	Dulhupur	27.89	9.33	32.18	10.76	1.43
15.	Pakooli	10.17	10.93	12.49	13.43	2.50
16.	Aame	16.99	19.89	18.09	21.18	1.29
17.	Itva	17.12	8.03	19.83	9.30	1.27
18.	Sarangpur	35.37	9.66	38.72	10.58	0.92
19.	Mansapur	17.30	4.65	19.16	5115	0.50
20.	Daiyadeh	26.14	17.90	28.02	19.19	1.29
21.	Nale	25.14	13.87	27.53	15.19	1.32
Total Region		464.57	12.24	528.38	13.93	1.69

Source : District Census Handbook and Based on Village Questionnaire

Makhdoomnagar (8.11) and Duhiya (5.12) sample villages an increase in land not available for cultivation has been observed of nearly more than 2 percent in 2011 in comparison to 1991. Only Hathinalala sample village is negative change. This change is observed due to construction of roads, canals, settlement and other developmental activities.

Change in Land not Available for Cultivation

Fig. 3

Culturable Waste Land:

The land which is not yielding the desired rate of production because of impedimental factors like soil erosion, salinity and alkalinity, water logging, shifting cultivation etc. In some cases the damage caused by said factors are a permanent feature.

However, increasing population pressure on land makes it imperative to launch a developmental programme for these lands to meet the end objectives of self-sufficiency in food, fodder, timber and ecological balance. The more is the percentage of cultivable waste, the more is the scope of extension of cultivation, though sometimes reclamation cost is prohibitive. The cultivable waste lands comprise the land actually not cultivated during current year and last five years or more in succession.

Table-4 Changes in Area under Culturable Waste Land

S. N.	Sample Village	1991		2011		Change (in percent) 1991-2011
		Area (in hectare)	Area (in percent)	Area (in hectare)	Area (in percent)
1.	Duhiya	40.69	40.28	38.31	37.94	-2.34
2.	Makhdoomnagar	5.47	6.24	4.73	5.37	-0.87
3.	Chandauli	6.67	3.90	3.09	1.81	-2.09
4.	Fariedpur	3.24	3.21	1.10	1.09	-2.12
5.	Motigarpur	9.24	5.40	7.00	4.09	-1.31
6.	Hathinalala	8.74	7.58	6.34	5.50	-2.08
7.	Ourow	17.74	11.83	14.47	9.65	-2.18
8.	Bukia	19.14	6.38	17.30	5.97	-0.41
9.	Asrafpur	2.79	5.58	1.12	2.24	-3.34
10.	Balrampur	8.21	2.92	6.85	2.44	-0.48
11.	Devlar	8.79	4.99	4.71	2.68	-2.31
12.	Surjupur	6.35	14.11	4.47	9.93	-4.18
13.	Bairagal	7.34	2.54	5.78	2.00	-0.54
14.	Dulhupur	35.14	11.75	28.75	9.61	-2.14
15.	Pakooli	3.97	4.28	2.36	2.54	-1.74
16.	Aame	6.98	8.17	5.65	6.61	-1.56
17.	Itva	31.24	14.66	28.88	13.55	-1.11
18.	Sarangpur	33.17	9.06	26.60	7.27	-1.79
19.	Mansapur	8.67	2.33	7.89	2.12	-0.21
20.	Daiyadeh	11.32	7.75	9.83	6.73	-1.02
21.	Nale	7.89	4.35	6.97	3.85	-0.50
Total Region		280.79	7.40	232.80	6.14	-1.26

Source: District Census Handbook and Based on Village Questionnaire

Change in Area Under Culturable Waste Land

Fig. 4

The area under this category was 280.79 hectare in 1991 which came to 232.80 hectare in 2011 in sample village due to conversion of this category of land into net sown area and land not available for cultivation. Observing individually the different sample village there is negligible change in Bukia(0.41) Balrampur (0.48) Bairagal (0.54) Nale (0.50) and Mansapur (0.21) (Table-4)

Changes in Area under Fallow Land:

Fallow land denotes all those lands which are generally used for cultivation but are temporarily not put to cultivation for a period of one to five years. The proportion of fallow land in the study region has rapidly decreased. In 1991 the total fallow land was 108.62 hectares with 2.86 percent and reduced to 65.64 hectares with 1.73 percent in 2011. The main region for the decline in the fallow land has been due to the fragmentation of agricultural land and adoption of modern agricultural inputs to enhance production.

The highest area under fallow land is observed in Bairagal (10.76 hectare) i.e. 3.72 percent of total area which still higher. Table no.-5 clearly explains that during the period 1991 to 2011 the maximum change in the proportion of fallow land is recorded in Asrafpur sample village with 5.22 percent and lowest change in Bukia sample village with 0.29 percent.

Table-5 Changes in Area under Fallow Land

S. N.	Sample Village	1991		2011		Change (in percent) 1991-2011
		Area (in hectare)	Area (in percent)	Area (in hectare)	Area (in percent)
1.	Duhiya	4.27	4.27	3.21	3.18	-1.09
2.	Makhdoomnagar	6.36	7.22	4.86	5.52	-1.70
3.	Chandauli	8.74	5.11	3.37	1.97	-3.15
4.	Fariedpur	7.47	7.40	5.62	5.56	-1.84
5.	Motigarpur	4.75	2.78	3.20	1.88	-0.90
6.	Hathinalala	6.37	5.52	4.95	4.29	-1.23
7.	Ourow	1.92	1.28	0.02	0.02	-1.26
8.	Bukia	2.14	0.71	1.25	0.42	-0.29
9.	Asrafpur	3.84	7.68	1.23	2.46	-5.22
10.	Balrampur	7.35	2.62	2.75	0.98	-1.64
11.	Devlar	4.27	2.43	1.35	0.77	-1.66
12.	Surjupur	1.78	3.95	0.28	0.62	-3.33
13.	Bairagal	10.76	3.72	7.75	2.68	-1.04
14.	Dulhupur	4.17	1.39	2.15	0.72	-0.67
15.	Pakooli	5.12	5.50	2.17	2.33	-3.17
16.	Aame	2.65	3.10	1.87	2.19	-0.91
17.	Itva	5.79	2.72	4.50	2.11	-0.61
18.	Sarangpur	8.19	2.24	6.35	1.73	-0.51
19.	Mansapur	4.87	1.30	3.65	0.98	-0.32
20.	Daiyadeh	4.17	2.86	2.37	1.62	-1.24
21.	Nale	3.64	2.00	1.74	0.96	-1.04
Total Region		108.62	2.86	65.64	1.73	-1.13

Source: District Census Handbook and Based on Village Questionnaire

Change in Area Under Fallow Land

Fig. 5

Changes in Area under Net Area Sown:

According to Stamp (1948) the cultivated or arable land, may be defined as land fit for ploughing or land able to be ploughed, but it is commonly used to indicate land which is actually ploughed and cropped. The limits of cultivation or its physical productivity are mainly determined by four factors- temperature, moisture, topography and soils, which are often called ‘four frontiers of agriculture’ (Ranne, 1947).

The bounteous nature of land and climate along with intrinsic richness of the soil has always attracted farmers for more and more exploitation of land. On the other hand a continuous growth of population and absence of alternative means of livelihood led to the increased pressure on cultivated land.

Table-6 Changes in Area under Net Sown

S. N.	Sample Village	1991		2011		Change (in percent) 1991-2011
		Area (in hectare)	Area (in percent)	Area (in hectare)	Area (in percent)
1.	Duhiya	29.01	28.70	30.14	29.84	1.14
2.	Makhdoomnagar	47.66	54.15	44.92	51.04	3.11
3.	Chandauli	110.75	64.76	113.00	66.08	1.32
4.	Fariedpur	78.61	77.83	82.18	81.37	3.54
5.	Motigarpur	114.42	66.91	119.00	69.59	2.68
6.	Hathinalala	59.38	51.50	70.25	60.93	9.43
7.	Ourow	113.47	75.65	117.31	78.20	2.55
8.	Bukia	238.00	79.33	239.41	79.75	0.42
9.	Asrafpur	35.13	70.26	38.11	76.22	5.96
10.	Balrampur	231.20	82.28	235.93	83.96	1.68
11.	Devlar	1330.20	73.98	134.88	76.64	2.66
12.	Surjupur	31.10	69.11	32.68	72.62	3.51
13.	Bairagal	241.64	83.61	245.32	84.88	1.27
14.	Dulhupur	227.83	76.20	233.80	78.19	1.99
15.	Pakooli	70.76	76.09	74.01	79.58	3.49
16.	Aame	53.86	63.07	56.62	66.30	3.23
17.	Itva	151.32	71.01	153.19	71.89	0.88
18.	Sarangpur	280.56	76.65	286.83	78.37	1.72
19.	Mansapur	336.99	90.59	338.92	91.11	0.52
20.	Daiyadeh	99.45	68.12	102.53	70.22	2.10
21.	Nale	138.41	76.38	140.78	77.69	1.31
Total Region		2819.74	74.32	2889.44	76.16	1.84

Source: District Census Handbook and Based on Village Questionnaire

The proportion of net sown area in study region has rapidly increased. In 1991 the total net sown area was 2819.74 hectares with 74.32 percent and increased to 2889.44 hectares with 76.16 percent in 2011. Not very surprisingly but of course, in some extent the net sown area is increased. In Hathinalala (9.43 percent) Asrafpur (5.96 percent) Fariedpur(3.54 percent), Surjupur(3.51 percent), Pakooli (3.49 percent), Aame (3.23 percent),

Change in Area Under Net Sown

Fig. 6

Motigarpur (2.68 percent) and Devlar (266 percent) there has been increase in net sown area. These all are along the side of Ghaghara River and they easily get the irrigation facility through canal and tubewell with good quality of river alluvial deposits.

The cultivated area is intensively distributed all over the block excepting Bukia and Mansapur through minor differences are found here and there due to varied physical and cultural features.

CONCLUSION:

The study concludes that marginal changes have occurred in agricultural land use pattern during past decades in the sample village study region. The proportion of net sown area has sharply increased from 74.32 percent in 1991 to 76.16 percent in 2011.

The increase in the net sown area in the region has been supported by the development of the irrigational facilities and the adoption of technological advancement in agricultural. The proportion of area under non-agricultural uses has increased sharply from 12.24 percent in 1991 to 13.93 percent in 2011. This ought to be because of urbanization, conclusion and developmental works. Marginal changes have been found in all remaining categories in study region.

REFERENCE:

Chandel, R.S.(1991), Agricultural change in Bundelkhand Region; Star Distributors, Varanasi.

Chandel, R.S. and V.R. Singh (1986), Change in Land Use Efficiency: A case study, Rural System, Vol.-IV(4), PP.229-234

Mohammad, A.(1978), Studies in Agricultural Geography, Rajesh Publication, New Delhi.

Mohammad, A.(1986), Statistical Methods in Geographical, Studies, Rajesh Publication, New Delhi, PP. 153-163

Shafi, M.(1960), Measurement of Agricultural Efficiency in Uttar Pradesh; Economic Geography, 36, PP. 296-305

Singh, Jasbir (1972), A New Technique for Measuring Agricultural Efficiency in Haryana, India; The Geographer, Vol. 19, No. 1, PP. 14-27

Singh, Jasbir and Dhillon, S.S. (1984), Agricultural Geography; Tata Mc-Graw-Hill Publishing Company Ltd.

Received on 17.03.2016

Modified on 12.04.2016

Accepted on 10.05.2016

© A&V Publications all right reserved

Research J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 7(2): April - June, 2016, 136-144

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5828.2016.00022.X