A spatio-temporal analysis of land use pattern and land use changes in Rajasthan.

Abstract

Land use planning is a strategic planning exercise to enhance the future potentialof the agricultural sector andachieve augmented growth through judicious management of land. The present paper expresses the Spatio-temporal pattern of land-use in Rajasthan during 1960-61 to 2017-18 periods. The objective of the present paper is to find out the land use in different categories and the trend of variations so that the characteristics of land utilization may be analyzed for future planning. The study examines trends of variations in land use patterns in districts of Rajasthan and provides policy implications for future planning. The proportion of net sown area in the state has increased significantly from 38.7 percent in 1960-61 to 52.21 percent in 2017-18. Forest acreage has increased considerably from 2.4 percent in 1960-61 to 8.03 percent of the reporting area in 2017-18 while barren and un-cultivable land declined from 15.2 percent to 6.95 percent over the period of time. Current Fallows and Fallow Land other than Current Fallow have significantly decreased in the same time period.