Gujarat: Cropping pattern | Gujarat State PSC (GPSC) Preparation: All subjects - GPSC (Gujarat) PDF Download

Cropping Pattern in Gujarat

Agro and Sub Agro-Climatic Zones

• Gujarat is located in the Agro Climatic Zone-XIII, known as the "Gujarat Plains and Hills region." Traditionally, Gujarat was divided into three regions: (i) the mainland plains extending from the Rann of Kutch and the Aravalli hills in the north to Damanganga in the south, (ii) the hilly peninsular region of Saurashtra and the rocky areas of Kutch, and (iii) the northeastern hill tract. 
• Today, it is divided into seven sub-agro climatic zones: Southern Hills (Dangs, Valsad), Southern Gujarat, Middle Gujarat, North Gujarat, North-West Arid, North Saurashtra, and South Saurashtra. Most of Gujarat falls under the mega thermic category, with mean soil temperatures exceeding 28°C. Air temperatures in January typically remain above 10°C, while in May, the maximum temperature can exceed 40°C in North and Northwest Gujarat, with more moderate temperatures along the coastal areas of Saurashtra and South Gujarat.

Rainfall and Its Impact

• Rainfall is the most dominant climatic factor in Gujarat, with an average of 828 mm received over 35 days, primarily from June to September. The coefficient of variation (CV) for rainfall is 50%, and it varies spatially from 300 mm in the Northwest to 2,000 mm in the Southeast. 
• Twelve out of the 26 districts in Gujarat are drought-prone. In years of poor rainfall, yields of rainfed crops like groundnut can decline by 70% or more.

Cropping Pattern

• The main crops grown during the Kharif season include Great Millet, Bajra, Maize, Paddy, and Groundnut. In the Rabi season, the major crops are Cotton, Wheat, Mustard, Cumin, and Vegetables. 
• Sugarcane is also cultivated in some districts. While the performance of rice, wheat, pulses, and cotton in Gujarat is below the national average, the state performs above the national average for coarse cereals, oilseeds, and onions. Although potato is not a major crop in Gujarat, its yield is relatively high. 
• The state ranks among the top three in terms of productivity for bajra, groundnut, sesame, rapeseed and mustard, castor, onion, banana, chikoo, guava, cauliflower, and tobacco.

Agricultural Holdings and Cropping Intensity

• The net cropped area in Gujarat has varied from 9.60 million hectares to 9.67 million hectares over the last decade, accounting for just over 49% of the state's total area. Cropping intensity, which varies according to rainfall, has been around 105% in recent years. 
• The number of agricultural holdings increased from 35.32 lakh in 1990-91 to 37.81 lakh in 1995-96, with the average size of operational holdings decreasing from 2.93 ha to 2.62 ha during the same period. About 55% of holdings were in the marginal and small size group in 1995-96, compared to 78% at the national level. The average size of holdings in Gujarat is 86% larger than the national average.

Mechanization and Power Availability

• There has been a gradual shift from animal power to electro-mechanical sources of power in Gujarat, although the rate of change has been slower compared to leading agricultural states. The availability of power is estimated at 1.20 kW/ha, which is below the national average. 
• About 90% of the power comes from tractors, engines, and motors. Tractor sales have been on the rise, with about 24,291 tractors sold in Gujarat in 2009-10. Additionally, manufacturers in Gujarat produce high-quality farm implements, such as rotavators, with one manufacturer selling more than 1,000 rotavators per month. There is significant potential for introducing improved equipment for the cultivation of rice, wheat, pulses, and cotton in Gujarat.

Shift in Cropping Pattern

• Gujarat has experienced a significant shift from single cropping in the Rabi season to double or triple cropping, facilitated by the availability of irrigation. The highest increase in multi-cropping area has been observed in the Saurashtra region, followed by the Northern and Central regions. 
• Over the five years leading up to 2010-11, there has been a shift in cropping patterns favoring commercial crops. This transformation has been driven by technology, infrastructure improvements (such as roads, market accessibility, and power supply), higher productivity of commercial crops, better market prices, and favorable farm economics. 
• The Saurashtra region leads in the cultivation of oilseeds, commercial crops, spices, and vegetables, while the Southern region excels in fruit and flower cultivation. The Northern region dominates cereal crop cultivation, and the Central region has the highest area under pulse cultivation.