Landholdings and Cropping Patterns Practised for Sustainable Agriculture in Vellore District, Tamil Nadu: An Analysis

Background: India is essentially an agrarian economy in which agriculture plays an indispensable role in all aspects of life. A wide variety of crops is ‎cultivated across the country, depending on soil characteristics and other influencing factors. The present study focuses on the Vellore District of Tamil Nadu, aiming to understand the prevailing land-use patterns and agricultural practices. The primary objective is to analyse ‎cropping patterns in relation to the size of landholdings among different categories of farmers.‎ Methods: Primary data were collected from 360 respondents in the study area using a structured questionnaire. A stratified random sampling method ‎was adopted to ensure adequate representation across the region. The collected data were tabulated and analysed using statistical and econometric tools such as percentages, Student’s t-test and ANOVA. Results: Small and marginal farmers constitute the majority of respondents. Most cultivable land is owned by the farmers themselves, with paddy ‎and groundnut being the predominant crops, along with several other varieties.‎ Conclusion: Analysing cropping patterns in relation to landholding size is crucial for understanding the relationship between crop selection and the fac-‎tors that influence it. This study examines that relationship within the context of Vellore District. There is significant scope to extend the ‎research by incorporating additional variables and expanding the study area‎.