Vol. 12, Issue 1 (2023)

Author(s):
Trupti Khabale, Dr. SS Bhosale and Munde PV

Abstract:
Agriculture plays vital role in the process of economic development of less developed countries like, India. Besides providing food for the nation, agriculture absorbs labor, provides saving, contributes to the market of industrial goods and earn overseas exchange. The present study attempted to estimate the growth in different sectors of agriculture and allied activities in Ratnagiri district. The information in this regard was obtained from different published records of State Government of Maharashtra for the period from 2006-07 to 2020-21. For knowing the growth in different sectors of agriculture and allied activities in Ratnagiri district use the linear growth rate and compound growth rate model. Study findings reveal that, growth in area under forest, barren and uncultivable land, culturable waste land, land under miscellaneous trees and grooves, current fallow and area sown more than once was significantly decreased, while the net sown area and other fallow area was increased significantly in Ratnagiri district. Growth rates of area under total cereals, total pulses, total spices, total vegetables and total oilseeds was significantly decreased, whereas area under Mango and other fruits (i.e. Cashew, Coconut, arecanut etc.) was significantly increased over the period in Ratnagiri district. In Ratnagiri district, the production of coconut, mango and cashew was significantly increased over the period, while the production of rice, other cereals and total food grains showed non-significant result. The productivity of rice, other cereals, total food grains, total oilseeds, Coconut, Mango and Cashew was significantly increased, while the productivity of total pulses showed non-significant result over the period in Ratnagiri district. Area irrigated by surface irrigation was significantly increased, while the area irrigated by well irrigation was significantly decreased over the period. Fertilizer consumption of Ratnagiri district over the period it was significantly decreased. In Ratnagiri district, daily wages paid to agricultural labour at current as well as at constant, it was significantly increased over the period.