Land use pattern and changes in cropping pattern in Coimbatore district Tamil Nadu

A study was conducted to know about the land use pattern and changes in cropping pattern in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu over a period of ten years from 2002–03 to 2011–12. The results provided information about the distribution of land under different categories of land use classification and the actual land put to use for agricultural purpose, the change in cropping pattern and the reasons for changes. It was found that the net area sown had declined from 2005–06 to 2011–12 gradually in the district. The cropping pattern had changed due to changes in rainfall pattern over the years, depletion of groundwater, scarcity of labour and hike in wages, farmers facing very low profit in agriculture due to no fixed minimum support price, uncertainty in weather and climate, fragmentation of land etc.