Farmland Suitability Assessment of Cash Crops in Khatav Tahsil: A Geographical Approach

Agriculture is the key of human development which rise of sedentary human civilization. It may include cultivating the soil, growing and harvesting crops and raising livestock. The distribution of agriculture is determined by the some suitable factors. Generally, suitability is the quality of having the properties that are right for a specific purpose. These are essential for informed strategic decision- making (Steiner et al., 2000). The farmland suitability concept is indicated to that area which is suitable for farming activities. It comprises availability of irrigation facilities, soil fertility, market centre, industries, farming practices and techniques etc.  Khatav tahsil is the cereal tahsil of Satara district, where are seen the mostly problems for agriculture especially for cash crops. Due to water scarcity and the low rainfall, wells and tube wells are the basic source of fresh water. Just 7-8 percent farmland sows the cash crop. Economically, the cash crops are mostly beneficial than traditional crops- cereal crops. Hence, there is need to study the agricultural development indicators for growth in cash crop production.

Present paper is an attempt to assessment of suitability of cash crop in Khatav tahsil. The crops, irrigation facilities, soil fertility, market centre, industries etc. data have been collected from the village records as well as ZP office. All data have been showed in the form of tables and using GIS technique maps. The analysis reveals that Pusegaon and Vaduj circle seen high suitability for cash crop. Besides, traditional crops like, Jawar, Wheat, Bajara, Onion, Pottato etc. crops have majorly sown in the tahsil.