Land Use and Change in Cropping Pattern of District Pilibhit Uttar Pradesh: A Decadal Analysis

Land use and cropping pattern is an important aspect of any economy studies particularly relevant to terai region. Given the fixed amount of land available on the earth and the simultaneous increases in population and the pressure on land has been increasing extremely that’s why the leads to change in land use and cropping pattern. In the last few decades, changing market conditions as well as policy environments and climate variability has reshaped land use patterns in Pilibhit. However, there has been a transition from traditional subsistence to more market-dependent and diversified cropping systems due to these changes. The analysis finds principal forces of change behind these trends, such as cash crop subsidies from government, and enhanced irrigation systems, as well as the increasing power of mechanization and agricultural innovation. At the same time, these changes have also presented opportunities as well as problems for small and marginal farmers, who are normally disadvantaged in switching to other crop options by their limited resources and fragmented landholdings. These changes have significant socio-economic effects, including income variability, employment and food security. It also reports the environmental implications of increased farming practices, including soil degradation and water depletion. Based on interviews, and secondary data, the study analyses the implications of these changes on the sustainability of agricultural practices in Pilibhit.