Research Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences ______________________________ ____ ISSN 2320 - 6063 Vol. 1 ( 5 ), 9 - 12 , June (201 3 ) Res. J. Agriculture and Forestry Sci. International Science Congress Association 9 Regional Disparities in Levels of Agricultural Development in Dhule and Nandurbar Districts , India Patil B.D. R.C. Patel ACS College, Shirpur, Dist - Dhule, MS, INDIA Available online at: www.isca.in Received 20 th May 201 3 , revised 5 th June 201 3 , accepted 7 th June 201 3 Abstract The Regional approach plays a vital role in the analysis of regional disparities in farming practices and for interpretation of the changing pattern of agricultural regions. A widely accepted def inition of region is an area that is differentiated from other areas according to the specified criteria. In the process of agricultural development various variables has play major role. Agricultural region is a device for identification of weaker and pro sperous zones of agriculture development. Shahada tahsil has reveal higher level of agricultural development carrying composite index of development about 157.95 followed by Taloda and Shirpur while poorer level of development shown in Shindkheda tahsil. T he principal objective of this paper is to determine the levels of agricultural development at tahsil stage during the period of triennial 2001 - 2003. Keywords: Region, variables, disparity, composite index, levels, correlation matrix. Introduction In the context of agricultural pattern; regions on earth surface reflect weaker and prosperous zones of agriculture. Region means a large indefinite location on the surface of the earth. A region may be defined as a part of planet’s surface having certain cha racteristics which enable it to be recognised as a unit, distinguishable from other units which surround it, and which may themselves be identified by similar or different characteristic features. A region may be defined in physical terms, e.g. a tropical volcanic plateau, a river valley; in climatic terms, e.g. a tropical monsoon region by economic and social criteria, such as a textile - manufacturing region, or a nomadic herding region 1 . A widely accepted definition of region is an area that is differentia ted from other areas according to the specified criteria. The regional approach is fundamental in the study of agricultural geography. Whittlesy 2 (1954) is the first geographer who studied the patterns of agriculture of the whole world. Hartshorne 2 (1959), Bunge 2 (1962), Grigg 2 (1965) and Symons 2 (1967) had stated the importance to study of regions. Agricultural regions must be define in terms of agricultural elements that is by crop, livestock or enterprise data or by measurement of farming process or of f arming organization of areas of dominance by particular enterprise, association of enterprise or farming types, to the recognition of such areas as distinctive region. 2 Geographers identify regions based on characteristics of landform features; it is an un interrupted area having some kind of homogeneity with specifically defined outer limit. The development of any region may be assessed by several ways. One of the approaches might be to assess the annual rate of growth of national income in relation to grow th rates of other economies 3 . Sharma 4 has selected seventeen indicators and grouped them into three classes is as follows i. Agricultural Resources Base such as rainfall, soil, fertility, per capita net area sown, percentage irrigated area, double cropped area, area under cash crops, ii. Adoption of New Technology such as high yielding varieties, fertilizer, plant protection equipment, tractors and tractor operated equipment’s iii. Agricultural Infrastructure such as credit societies, communication, marketi ng, storage capacity, rural electrification and social setting 1 . Waliullah Khan 5 has considered twelve variables with respect to technological determinate for assessment of agricultural development. Pawar C.T has considered ten variables for assessment 6 . Objectives : The principal objective of this research paper is to determine the levels of agricultural development and thereby knowing the weaker and prosperous patches in the study region. Methodology The research paper is based on primary and secondary d ata which has obtained from the Socio - economic abstract, government publications and field work. Investigation is carried out for the periods of 2001 - 03. Selected variables are chosen for investigation and for avoiding seasonal fluctuation triennial averag e has calculated for 2001 - 2003. The basic unit for investigation is tahsil and district as a whole. The collected data is processed with the help of statistical methods. In this study have includes different indicators for analysing the levels of agricultu ral development. In order to determine levels of agricultural development following variables are considered. X1 - % of net irrigated area to gross cropped area. X2 - % of diesel and electric engines to gross cropped area. X3 - % of area sown more than once to gross cropped area. X4 - % of tractors to gross cropped area. X5 - % of tractor operated implements to gross cropped area. X6 - % of ploughs to gross cropped area. X7 - % of plant protection equipment’s to gross cropped area. X8 - Research Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences ___ ______________________________ ______________ ISSN 232 0 - 6063 Vol. 1 ( 5 ), 9 - 12 , June (201 3 ) Res. J. Agriculture and Forestry Sci. International Science Congress Association 10 % of area under HYV seeds t o gross cropped area. X9 - % of fertilizer application in tons to gross cropped area. X10 - % of rural literacy to gross cropped area. In order to determine agricultural development above considered variables has calculated by using following equation. Pi CDi = ---- PI Where, CDi = the coefficient of development for variable ‘i’ , Pi = percentage of variable ‘i’ , PI = mean percentage of variable ‘i’ in the whole region Where, CID = Composite index of development. N = Number of Var iable Study area : Dhule and Nandurbar district of Maharashtra state in India lies between 20 0 38’ to 22 0 03’ N and 73 0 47’ to 75 0 11 ’E, spreading over an area of 13,150 sq. Km, which is 4.3% to the state of Maharashtra. For administrative purpose Dhule and N andurbar district comprise ten tahsil namely Sakri, Shindkheda, Shirpur, Nandurbar, Nawapur, Taloda, Shahada, Akkalkuwa and Akrani. For the fast development of tribal patches bifurcate of Dhule district and then separated Nandurbar as district with five ta hsil in July 1997. The relief of the region has been grouped into four zones based on the basis of regional characteristics. The Satpura region, the Tapi valley, the Region of dykes and residual hills, the Sahara scarps. Tapi is the main river traversing t hrough the central part of the study area. Tapi is the main river traversing through the central part of this region within the study area. Fig ure - 1 Location map of study area Research Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences ___ ______________________________ ______________ ISSN 232 0 - 6063 Vol. 1 ( 5 ), 9 - 12 , June (201 3 ) Res. J. Agriculture and Forestry Sci. International Science Congress Association 11 The Tapi and its tributaries may be broadly divided into three group’s name ly northern tributaries, southern tributaries, the other southern tributaries. The highest temperature goes up to 45°c in summer whereas minimum temperature is observed up to16°C in winter season. The average annual rainfall of the study area is 780 mm. Th e soils of this region is deep fertile soil to coarse shallow to stony soils away from the river either northwards towards the Satpura or southwards towards the residual hills and dykes. As per the census of 2001, total population of the region was 30, 19, 656 and as per 2011 were 3019656 people lives in this region. Results and Discussion After calculating CID for all tahsils following results were obtained. For sake of interpretation value of index grouped into three categories. High Level of Developmen t : Above 150 composite index of development has occurred only in Shahada. In this tahsil farming is generally carried out with commercial attitude and by adopting new form technology it helps for the development of agriculture. Also has an irrigation facil ity such as canal irrigation, well irrigation and tube well irrigation. Thereby large area falls under irrigation. This high development is due to high fertility of deep black soils, intensive cultivation and assured water supply. Agro based industries wor king in this tahsils. Table - 1 Composite Index of Development and levels of Development Tahsil CID (%) Level of Development Tahsil Dhule 111.59 Higher Level of Development (1) Shahada Sakri 82.41 Navapur 66.78 Moderately High Level of Developme nt (1) Taloda (2) Shirpur (3) Dhule Nandurbar 92.57 Taloda 134.81 Akkalkuwa 54.83 Lower Level of Development (1) Sakri (2) Nandurbar (3) Akrani (4) Shindkheda (5) Nawapur (6) Akkalkuwa Akrani 85.98 Shahada 157.95 Shirpur 116.25 Shind kheda 96.73 Source: Computed by Researcher . Moderate level of Development : Taloda, Shirpur and Dhule tahsils are fall in this category with 134.81%, 116.25% and 111.59% composite index of development respectively. Shirpur tahsil has less area in ter ms of net sown area but rich by underground water and canal irrigation. Fig ure - 2 Tahsil wise levels of agricultural development Research Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences ___ ______________________________ ______________ ISSN 232 0 - 6063 Vol. 1 ( 5 ), 9 - 12 , June (201 3 ) Res. J. Agriculture and Forestry Sci. International Science Congress Association 12 Dhule is the district place and has few pockets were the agricultural development took place. Low level of development : In this category, six tahsil has been reported namely Nandurbar (92.57), Akrani (85.98), Sakri (82.41) Nawapur (66.78) and Akkalkuwa (54.83) tahsil. It is happened due rugged topography, less irrigation facilities, coarse soil and less use of new form tec hnology and use of fertilizers. In theses tahsil have poorer irrigation facilities thereby requirements of other inputs in agricultural practices were less. In future these tahsil may attain faster development when water made available by on - going irrigati on projects. Discussion : After Calculated composite index of ten tahsil out of which Taloda, Shahada, Shirpur and Dhule tahsil has shown progress in agriculture were few effective factors play major role in the development such as deep black soils, intens ive cultivation and assured water supply and sugar and textile factory. Sakri, Nandurbar, Navapur, Akrani, Shindkheda and Akkalkuwa have shown slower growth of agricultural development. It is due to use of agricultural implements are poor. Conclusion It i s observed after calculating correlation of variables near about 1/3 variables has negative relationship with each other. Net irrigated area has negative correlation with the electric and diesel engine pump, plant protection equipment and area under high yielding seeds and rural literacy. However, net irrigated area has positive correlation with area sown more than once, tractor and tractor operated implements, plough and application of fertilizer. Also high correlation shows between tractors with tractor operated implements. In this study region net irrigated area, tractor, tractor operated implements, plough and fertilizer might be play a key role in the development of agriculture during investigated period. References 1. Symons L.J. , Agricultural Geograp hy, Bell & Hayman Limited, London, (197 8 ) 2. Morgan W.B. and Muntun R.J.C. , Agricultural Geography , London, Methuen (1971) 3. Shinde S.D. , Agriculture is an Under Developed region: A Geographical Survey. Himalaya publishing House, Bombay (1980) 4. Sharma P.S., Agri cultural Regionalization in India, New Heights, Delhi (1973) 5. Waliullah Khan , The Indian Geographical Journal , 72 , 146 - 149 (1997) 6. Pawar C.T. , Impact of Irrigation: A regional perspective, Himalaya Publishing house, Bombay (1989) 7. Patil B.D . and Patil Y.V. , Agricultural Modernization in Dhule & Nandurbar District, National Geographic Journal of India , Varanasi , 53 , 57 - 64 (2007) 8. Jasbir Singh and Dhillon , Agriculture Geography, Tata McGraw Hill (2004) 9. Socio - economic review , (1991 to 1993 & 2001 to 2003) 10. Wilcoxo n F. and Wilcoxon R.A. , Statistical Techniques - A Basic Approach to Geography, by S.K. Pal, Tata - McGraw Hill Publication Co. Ltd., New Delhi (1982) 11. Monkhouse F.J. and Wilkinson E.R. , Maps and Diagrams, Methuen and Company Ltd. London (1971) Table - 2 Matr ix of Correlation Variables X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 X6 X7 X8 X9 X10 X1 1 X2 - 0.25 1 X3 0.57 0.07 1 X4 0.79 0.007 0.50 1 X5 0.81 0.01 0.48 0.98 1 X6 0.45 - 0.00 0.50 0.53 0.60 1 X7 - 0.23 - 0.35 - 0.28 - 0.30 - 0.28 0.35 1 X8 - 0.75 0.07 - 0.70 - 0.63 - 0.62 - 0.59 - 0.10 1 X9 0.44 0.40 0.30 0.75 0.71 0.20 - 0.39 - 0.48 1 X10 - 0.08 0.79 0.46 0.13 0.15 0.44 - 0.13 - 0.17 0.32 1