A Geographical Study of Growth of Agricultural Production and Population

Abstract "A Geographical Study of Growth of Agricultural Production and Population," examines the critical relationship between agricultural development and demographic changes within the Solapur District, India, from 1971 to 2011. Agriculture, defined as the cultivation of soil, growing and harvesting of crops, and domestication of animals, is highlighted as the primary sector that provides essential human needs. This research addresses the acute problem of rapid population increase outpacing agricultural production, which is a significant challenge for planners given limited land resources. Through data collection, processing, tabulation, and cartographic techniques, this study determined the percentage change in population and food production. Key findings revealed a stark disparity: the population of Solapur District increased by over 64% during the four decades, while food production rose by only 38.2%. This leads to an alarming nearly 30% deficit in food supply. Although per capita cereal availability has increased due to agricultural modernization and irrigation, per capita pulse availability has declined, compounded by high population growth and land conversion to cash crops. The abstract also underscores the impact of income disparities on food consumption, significant iron deficiency, and child malnutrition within the district, attributing these issues to low per capita income, inadequate food production, and faulty distribution patterns.