Dynamics of Land Use Pattern and Cropping Pattern in Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu

This study aims to assess the structural changes of land use pattern and cropping pattern in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. We used panel data of land use pattern and area under different crops inclusion of irrigated and unirrigated area from 1960-61 to 2012-13. The collected data was estimated by using Markov chain analysis. The land put forward non-agricultural purposes and current fallow lands accounted for a higher share of retention probabilities while permanent pastures and other grazing lands had lower retentions in 1960-90 and 1991-2012, respectively. Retention probabilities of net sown area also had the same percentage in the same period implies that the district is an agrarian one. The share of retention in rice, oilseeds and fruit crops were high, and the area under sugarcane retains a moderate share and that of maintaining between 1960-90 and 1991-2012. The area under rice, however, was gradually relocated its share to sugarcane. Similar results were also found in field survey conducted in 2001 and 2011 where the share of area under rice was shifted to sugarcane, maize, cotton, fruits and vegetables.