A Geographical Analysis of the Relationship between Demographic Changes and Agricultural Status in the Tamluk Subdivision of Purba Medinipur District, West Bengal, India

This study conducts a comprehensive geographical analysis of the demographic changes spanning from 1991 to 2011 and their interrelation with the evolving agricultural landscape, focusing on the Tamluk subdivision of Purba Medinipur district in West Bengal. Utilizing primarily secondary data, including decadal census records, information on cultivators, agriculture workers, cropping areas, patterns, and crop production was analyzed. To discern the relationship between the agricultural population, encompassing cultivators and labourers, and the shifting total population, correlation analysis was undertaken. Graphical representations of decadal demographic changes, cropping patterns, and crop production were generated using MS Excel and ArcGIS software. Findings reveal notable shifts in both demographic characteristics and agricultural practices over the three decades under study. Notably, a significant proportion of cultivators transitioned into agricultural labourers in pursuit of greater profits. While an initial positive correlation between total population and agricultural population was observed, this correlation gradually diminished over recent years, reflecting a trend towards alternative, more secure, and profitable livelihoods.