Land use and cropping pattern dynamics under the climate change regime

Climate change poses profound challenges to agricultural landscapes, disrupting farming regions through unpredictable rainfall patterns, extreme temperatures and other adverse environmental conditions. Climatic and institutional factors critically influence land use and cropping patterns, necessitating comprehensive studies to understand agricultural transformations. The study examines changes in land use patterns and cropping systems in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, from 2008-09 to 2022-23, employing a multi-dimensional analytical framework to assess the rationality of land use classifications and agricultural dynamics. Key findings reveal that net sown area declined by -0.67%, while traditional food crops experienced negative growth rates namely: cereals (-1.91%) and pulses (-4.10%). Oilseeds emerged as the most dominant crop group, displaying a positive growth rate of 0.58% with low instability. Permanent fallows increased by 3.37%, coinciding with decreased rainfall. The analysis showed a modest increase in non-agricultural land (0.26%) and a distinguishable trend towards tree-based agriculture (0.63%), indicating changes in land use practices. Land use transitions revealed that forest lands and permanent pastures have complete retention due to the combination of legal protections and natural constraints that limit land-use conversion. An expected 13.17% loss of net sown area to permanent fallow raises concerns about agricultural land degradation, posing a potential threat to food security. Green manure crops exhibited 54.41% retention with 20.86% growth rate reflects farmers’ adaptive strategies towards climate change. The findings underscore the intricate relationship between land use, cropping patterns and climate adaptation, calling for integrated policies that support climate-smart agriculture by providing targeted incentives while balancing urban development.