population pressure and responses in...
TRANSCRIPT
1
POPULATION PRESSURE AND RESPONSES
IN RELATION TO AGRICULTURAL POTENTIALS:
A STUDY IN ALMORA DISTRICT
THESIS
Submitted to
KUMAON UNIVERSITY, NAINITAL
For the Degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
In
GEOGRAPHY
Supervisor Submitted by Prof. S.K. Singh Arpana Kashyap Department of Geography Department of Geography Kumaon University Kumaon University S.S.J. Campus, Almora S.S.J. Campus, Almora
2011
Estelar
2
Estelar
3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I wish to express my thanks and gratitude to the people, who helped
and guided me in the process and completion of this research work.
My gratitude is most especially extended to Prof. S. K. Singh,
Department of Geography, Kumaon University, S. S. J. Campus, Almora,
under whose scholarly and able guidance, it became possible for me to
present this research work. I feel highly obliged to him for his extraordinary
and timely guidance and supervision. My thanks and regards are also due to
Mrs Pushpa Singh for her loving and intellectual cooperation.
I am also obliged to Prof. D. C. Pandey, Head of the Department of
Geography, Kumaon University and Prof. A. K. Singh, Campus Head of the
Department of Geography, Kumaon University, S. S. J. Campus, Almora for
their valuable cooperation and instructions. My thanks and regards are due
to all the respected teachers of the Geography Department, Kumaon
University, Nainital.
I also express my sincere thanks to the government administrative and
revenue departments, offices and officials for their valuable support in
providing me with the necessary data and records and permitting me to visit
and survey the villages under their jurisdiction. I owe my obligations to all
Estelar
4
Estelar
5
Preface
Many Years ago Malthus made some very astute and penetrating
observations about the relationship between food production and population.
The basic doctrine which he advanced was that population increases in a
geometrical progression, while food production increases arithmetically or at
a much slower rate. It must be recognized that this is only a part of Malthus’
theory and it is an injustice to state it in this restricted form. But this is the
basic consideration on which the following comments are based.
The theory was stated on the basis of observed conditions in a given
area at a given time. Given the situation existing at the time and certain
assumptions about limited land area and the technology of agriculture, the
basic theory leads to a logical conclusion of dire consequences. Since,
population will increase at a much more rapid rate than food production, a
balance can be established only by some drastic events like any calamity or
epidemic or a serious step taken on a large scale to restrict the increasing
population and increase the productivity of land. Present area studies of
India and other countries’ situations can be cited as examples of this
doctrine. The tremendous population increase and the meager increase in
food production seem to prove at least in part, the theory.
Thus, the relationship between population and agricultural land within
a region can be readily separated into three successive stages as the
Estelar
6
population grows. In the first stage, agricultural land is plentiful and much
good land awaits settlement and a farmer can expand the cultivated areas
through individual effort. In the second stage, marginal land is brought under
cultivation principally to cater to the growing needs of a growing population.
The third stage is reached when generally it is not economically possible to
expand the cultivated area and the acreage under cultivation begins to
decline. The soil becomes less fertile or exhausted; the settlements begin to
encroach upon the farmlands. The present study area, like most parts of the
country, is rapidly passing on from the second to the third stage.
With the increasing pressure of population on the land and the
growing need for food and raw materials, there has been a growing desire in
the recent years for the rationalization of our agriculture so that every piece
of ground could be properly utilized. This desire calls for the scientific study
of the utilization of the cultivated lands. In any plan, which aims at the use
of the land resources of a region in the most scientific, rational and
economic manner, the importance of land-use surveys cannot be overlooked.
The value of such a survey lies in the detailed information it provides
regarding the existing use and misuse of land, and this information, when
analysed, leads to a full appreciation of the rationality or irrationality of the
present use and of possibilities of its further improvement.
Estelar
7
At this juncture, although it is very much needed to appreciate some
of the notable works, but it would prove to be much space-occupying to
enlist all of them. Yet some exponents of the ideas in this area may be
mentioned here: Malthus, Boserup, Trewartha, Webb, Clark (Colin), Clark
(J I), Valdia, Seddon, Pande etc have contributed much in the field. Other
works have, however, been appreciated as and when relevant in the research
work.
The study region of Almora district possesses unique geographical
and cultural aspects, which has shaped its land-use patterns and agricultural
set up in particular. It is located in Kumaon Himalaya in the state of
Uttarakhand. Its unique physiographic characteristics, the hilly topography
covered by forests, patches of valley lands and water-divides make it an
interesting region to be studied.
All the research material has been organized into seven chapters. The
first chapter is of Conceptual Framework which includes the broad outline of
the concept, statement of the problem, relevance and objectives of the study,
methodology and review of literature as well as a brief study of the area. The
second chapter has a reference to the geographical settings of the Almora
district. It includes minute information about the location, topography,
geological structure, climate, natural vegetation, wildlife, drainage and soil
of the region. This chapter also refers to the socio-economic settings of the
Estelar
8
district, which covers the economic activities, mode of transportation and
communication, educational and health facilities as well as population
settlements in Almora district. The third chapter has got the assessment of
demographic structure of Almora district which includes different aspects of
population: growth, distribution and density, age and sex composition,
literacy, economic composition, fertility and mortality patterns, migration,
measures of family planning and language.
The fourth chapter deals with the aspect of measuring the population
pressure in terms of man-land ratio, carrying capacity of land, agricultural
holding and productivity etc. The fifth chapter studies the changing land-use
patterns. It also analyzes the constraints in terrace cultivation like slope,
altitude, climate and drainage and various aspects of terrace cultivation like
crop distribution, crop association, crop rotation, mode of cultivation etc.
The sixth chapter deals with the various responses towards population
pressure in terms of economic, socio-cultural, demographic and
environmental impacts. The seventh chapter discusses the role of terrace
culture in the development of the region and the problems and prospects of
terrace culture in the light of the population pressure. This chapter also refers
to some recommendations for development and further research and
experiments. At the end, summary and conclusions are drawn as concisely
and precisely as had been possible.
Estelar
9
To explain and further expand the factors, ideas and situations, some
maps and diagrams have been designed and prepared and exhibited at
respective places in the study.
Estelar
10
List of Tables Sr. No. Table No. Title Page
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
1.1
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
Block-wise Average Village Size acc. to
Population
Climatic Characteristics: Almora District
Block-wise Metalled Roads: Almora District
Block-wise Post Offices & Telephones:
Almora District
Health Care Facilities: Almora District
Block-wise Number of Commercial Banks:
Almora District
Population Growth: Almora Dist (1951-2011)
Growth & Distribution of Urban Population:
Almora District
Block-wise Population Density: Almora Dist.
Block-wise Sex-Ratio: Almora Dist. (2011)
Sex Ratio: Almora District (1951-2011)
Age & Sex Composition: Sample Population
% Distribution of Sample Population in Age
Groups
Sex Ratio of Sample Population
26
42
54
56
58
65
72
77
83
86
87
88
90
91
Estelar
11
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
3.9
3.10
3.11
3.12
3.13
3.14
3.15
3.16
3.17
3.18
3.19 (a)
3.19 (b)
3.20
Block-wise Literacy: Almora District (2011)
Workers & Non-Workers: Almora Dist (2011
Rural Occupational Structure (2010-11)
Number of Alive Children: Born btw 2009-10
Number of Deaths btw 2009-10
% of Child-Bearing Women by Age at
Marriage
Number of Birth & % of Child-Bearing
Women
Proportion of Births by Age of Mother during
Birth
Proportion of Births in btw Successive Birth
Orders by Length of Interval
Fertility & Mortality acc. to Age at Marriage
Fertility & Mortality acc. to Husbands’
Education
Fertility & Mortality acc. to Wives’
Education
Fertility & Mortality acc. to Women in
Different Landholdings Size Group
93
95
96
100
100
101
102
103
105
107
109
109
110
Estelar
12
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
3.21
3.22
3.23
3.24
3.25
3.26
3.27
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
Number & Percent of Migrants by Caste
Groups
% of Migrants by Duration of Staying
Outside
% of Migrants by Age Group
Educational Status of Migrants in %
Perceived Concepts regarding Population
Control
Response towards Measures of Birth Control
Religious Composition: Almora District
Block-wise Agricultural & Nutritional
Density
Block-wise Population Pressure
Per Capita Net Sown Area & Geographical
Area
Carrying Capacity of Land: Almora District
Size of Holding: Almora District, 2011
Level of Agricultural Productivity by Altitude
Level of Agricultural Productivity by Land
Coefficient
113
114
116
117
118
120
121
127
128
129
131
133
137
139
Estelar
13
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
4.8
4.9
4.10
4.11
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
6.1
6.2
6.3
Area & Per Hectare Production of Crops
Per hectare Production of Crops in Different
Countries
Distribution of Land-Use Efficiency: Almora
Livestock Resources: Almore District, 2011
Proportionate Change in Land-Use: Almora
District (2001-2011)
Types of Forests & Coverage: Almora Dist.
Block-wise Land-Use Pattern: Almora Dist.
Block-wise Area under Main Crops: Almora
District, 2011
Crop Combination Regions: Almora District
Block-wise Details of Irrigated Land: Almora
District, 2011
Perceived Events of Degradation in Agro-
Environment in General
Proportion of Farmers Adopting Prevention
Measures in Agro-Environment
Proportion of Farmers Undertaking Measures
to Maintain Soil Fertility
142
143
145
149
154
158
160
189
192
194
213
215
216
Estelar
14
List of Figures
Sr. No. Fig No. Title Page/After Page
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
1.1
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.10
2.11
2.12
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
4.1
Almora District: Sample Villages
Almora District: Location Map
Almora District: Geology
Almora District: Relief
Almora District: Physiographic Units
Almora District: Drainage Pattern
Almora District: Climatic Zones
Almora District: Climatic Characteristics
Almora District: Natural Vegetation
Almora District: Soil
Almora Dist: Roads & Communications
Length & Density of Roads (Bar Dgram)
% Electrified Villages (Block Diagram)
Population Growth (Bar Diagram)
Almora Dist: Population Distribution
Almora District: Population Density
Almora Dist: Occupational Structure
Almora Dist: Carrying Capacity of Land
26
32
34
36
36
38
40
42
44
46
52
54
64
73
78
82
96
130
Estelar
15
19
20
21
22
23
24
4.2
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
Almora District: Land-use Efficiency
Land-Use Pattern (Pie Diagram)
Almora District: General Land-Use
Almora District: Cropping Pattern
Major Crops (Pie Diagram)
Almora Dist: Crop Association Regions
146
154
160
166
168
192
Estelar
16
CONTENT Page No.
Preface i-v List of Tables vii-x List of Figures xi-xii Chapter I: Conceptual Framework 1-30
Introduction; Statement of the Problem; Relevance of the Study; Concept of Population Pressure and Agriculture; Process of Environmental Degradation; Socio-Cultural Heritage of the People; Communication of Technological Innovations; Objectives of the Study; Assumptions; Review of Literature; Methodology: Nature and Sources of Data, Sample Size, Collection of Data, Methods and Techniques of Analysis.
Chapter II: Geographical Settings 31-68
Physical Setting: Location and Extent; Geology; Physiography; Drainage; Climate; Natural Vegetation; Soil Socio-Economic Setting: Economic Activities; Transportation and Communication; Education and Health; Settlement; Organization; Institutional Intervention
Chapter III: General Demographic Structure 69-124
Introduction Growth and Distribution of Population: Rural and Urban Density of Population Age and Sex Composition Educational Status and Literacy Economic Composition: occupational structures Fertility and Mortality Pattern: Crude Birth and Death Rates; Age of Mother at Birth; Birth Spacing; Infant and Child Mortality; Differential Fertility and Mortality Patterns Migration: Volume; Duration & Purpose of Migration; Selective Migration Measures of Birth Control / Family Planning: Use of Contraceptives; Practice of Preventive Measures Language and Religion
Chapter IV: Population Pressure And Its Measurements 125-151
Man-Land Ratio; Carrying Capacity of Land.
Estelar
17
Agricultural Holding; Agricultural Productivity; Land-use Efficiency; Development of Agricultural Resource
Chapter V: Changing Land-Use Pattern And Cultivation Typology 152-196
Introduction Changing Land-Use Pattern: Agricultural Land; Forests; Pasture Land; Causes of Land-Use Change; Effects of Land-Use Change in Fragile Hill-slopes Specific Nature of Agriculture in Hills: Terrace Cultivation Constraints in Terrace Cultivation: Slope; Altitude; Drainage; Climate Terrace Cultivation: Distribution of Crops; Crop Association Regions; Mode of Cultivation; Rotation of Crops; Irrigation
Chapter VI: Population Pressure and Responses 197-219
Introduction Economic Responses to Population Pressure: Expansion of Cultivated Land; Intensification and Modernization of Agriculture; Marketing Socio-Cultural Responses to Population Pressure: Changes in Work Schedule; Emergence of Social Deprivation Demographic Responses to Population Pressure: Changes in Fertility Pattern; Migration Environmental Impact: Origin of Events of Environmental Deterioration; Perception towards Events of Environmental Deterioration; Prevention and Conservation of Resources; Maintenance of Terraces
Chapter VII: Agricultural Potentials And Population Pressure 220-252
The Issue of Experiences Problems in Agricultural Development in the Hills Prospects of Agricultural Development: Improvement in Field Crop Cultivation; Adoption of Alternatives Prerequisites for the Development The Role of Terrace Culture for Sustained Development Recommendations for Development
Summary and Conclusions 253-266 Appendix 267-278 Bibliography 279-287
Estelar