Land use changes and crop production systems in selected rural communities in Hozaribagh district, Bihar, India

The study found that there was declining trend in the cropped area under certain crops during 1990-91 compared with 1980-81, but there was increase in area under wheat, bajra, gram and cultivation. The sample blocks had a declining trend in land utilization under forest due to illegal cutting of the forest vegetation (1 percent), fallow and current fallow land (18 percent), land put to non-agricultural usage (6 percent), and area under barren and uncultivable land (24 percent) because of drastic decreased in net sown area during 1991-92 and 1993-94. In the farm level, irrigation has a significant effect on wheat and vegetable crops during rabi season. But summer crops were grown only in the most secured places where water level is high especially in the area with wells. Fifty-nine rice varieties were found to be cultivated in the study villages. Of these varieties, 14 traditional varieties were popular, covering 57 percent of total rice area. The modern varieties (MVs) had a very low impact on the region. Only 27 percent of arable land was planted to MVs because of the lack of irrigation facilities to compensate for the inadequate rainfall on the area. About 58 percent of the farmers thought that the fertility of their farm is deteriorating. They believed that with sufficient water, labor capital and other inputs any soil can be made fertile. Majority (97 percent) of the farmers thought soil erosion is a problem. Farmers use indigenous as well as recommended methods of soil and water conservation. Only 47 percent of the farmers practiced the indigenous pest/disease control measures. Most labors were hired instead of exchanged. Increasing population pressure on the land has created the following problems in the family and in the village: 1) small and fragmented landholdings, 2) increase in number of dependent members, 3) no space for house construction, 4) increasing price of land, and 5) deforestation. Crop diversification was higher (74 percent) in the irrigated villages than in the other two categories of villages. Irrigation, market, road/transport facilities, soil fertility improvement measures applied, insecticides/pesticides and weedicides used were significantly related to crop and rice yield. Income from non-farm and off-farm jobs, land use, irrigation, market and soil fertility improvement measures were significantly related to food security