Gujarat has been divided into eight Agro Climatic Zones on the basis of agro-climatic condition, soil type, topography and cropping pattern. The Vadodara district falls under middle Gujarat of agro-climatic zone-III of the Gujarat State. Geographically, Vadodara district is lies between 21° 49’ to 22° 49’ North latitude and 72° 51’ to 74° 17’ East longitude. Total area of the district is 7,77,000 ha out of which 5,37,653 ha area cultivable. The district consists of 12 talukas. There are four Agro-Ecological Situations in the district.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF VADODARA DISTRICT

General Information

Vadodara District has 12 talukas with 1543 villages. Total population of the district is about 36.42 lakhs. Male population is 52per cent, while 48 per cent of the population consist of female. 6 per cent of the population belong to scheduled caste category. However, the percentage of scheduled tribe population is 27 percent.

Table 1. General information of the district

Sl No.Name of the block/Taluk/ MandalGeographical AreaNo. of Gramapanchayaths No. of revenue villages
1Savali 7968110324
2Vadodara669988310
3Vaghodia564426720
4Jetpur Pavi805199152
5Chhota Udepur768204232
6Kavant605014536
7Nasvadi534695944
8Sankheda722978851
9Dabhoi631508326
10Padara53460767
11Karjan60188848
12Shinor29251401
Total752776861311

Table 2 : Demographic Information for the Vadodara District

Land Utilization Statistics

Total geographical area of the district is about 36.41 lakhs hectares. It is noteworthy to find that about 68per cent of the geographical area is under cultivation in the district. 8 talukas out of 12 have about more than 70per cent of their geographical area under cultivation. However, the coverage of forest area is only 4per cent and hence, there is need to increase the coverage of forest. Pasture land forms 5.00per cent of geographical area.

Table 3: Information on Land use pattern in the Vadodara District.

Sl No.Name of the BlockGeographical  Area (Ha.)Cultivable Area (Ha.)Cultivated Area (Ha.)Cultivable wasteCurrent Fallow (Ha.)
1Savali79681559141396779621838
2Vadodara66998424551606669541523
3Vaghodia56442425311094314121556
4Jetpur Pavi8051951748239487204103
5Chhota Udepur76820349993380126965324
6Kavant60501339651829252692975
7Nasvadi53469297751890823162470
8Sankheda72297544301266210924113
9Dabhoi6315048023743851302559
10Padara5346041487884517641364
11Karjan601885004877922205143
12Shinor2925123769496048636

Sources of irrigation:
The main sources of irrigation for crop production are tube-well and Canal. The excess irrigation to the crop has badly affected to soil fertility and productivity.

Sr. No.Source of irrigationArea covered (ha)
1By Canal16200
2By Well or Tube well180226
3By Pond5137
4Other source11367

Agricultural marketing System

At present day it is well understood that a well developed marketing system is crucial for the growth of agricultural sectors. The principal marketing channels in the district are (1) specializes commodity marketing, (2) general purpose marketing, (3) Private traders and (4) Contractors.

The specialize commodity marketing viz; APMC at district level and sub yards at taluka level. Mainly groundnut, cotton, wheat, castor, sesamum, jowar/sorghum, bajari, garlic etc. are selling through APMC and block level co-operative. They also generally lead with fruit crops at the block level viz; Padara, Dabhoi, Savali and Karjan. Beside this, primary milk co-operatives linked with district milk co-operative society (NDDB).

Agro-Ecological situations

Based on important features of Agro-climatic zone and other important aspects like edaphic factors (soil texture, structure and depth); source of irrigation, climatic factors at micro level (rainfall, temperature variation, relative humidity) and existing farming system. The entire district is divided into four agro-ecological situations (AES).

Table 4: Agro-ecological situation of the district

Sl. No.Name of AESSituationCrop grownCropping patternTaluka/Mandal covered
1AES-ISandy Loam soil with high rainfallPredominately Maize, Cotton , Tur, Tobacco, Vegetables & Horticulture cropsCotton based Paddy-Wheat Pigeonpea based Tobacco-Bajra Vegetable based Sesamum-JowarVadodara, Savli, Padara, Vaghodia, Part of Dabhoi
2AES-VMedium Black soil with high rainfallPredominately Maize Pulses, Drilled Paddy, Hill milletsDrilled Paddy- Groundnut Maize –Pulse Hill millets- fallowPavi Jetpur, Naswadi, Part of Chhota Udaipur
3AES-IXDeep Black soil with high rainfallMajor Banana, Cotton, Vegetables, SugarcaneCotton based Banana based Sugarcane based Paddy-WheatKarjan, Part of Dabhoi, Sankheda, Shinor
4AES-XIIHilly Light soil with high rainfallDrilled Paddy, Maize, PulsesDrilled Paddy- -Groundnut Maize –Pulse Hill millets- -fallowPart of Chhota Udaipur & Kavant

3. Agriculture in Vadodara district SEASON WISE CROPS GROWN

Sr.KhanifRabiSummer
1PaddyWheatBajara
2TobaccoPotatoPaddy
3BajaraRustica TobaccoVegetables
4BananaMustardGreengram
5CastorVegetablesGroundnut
6VegetablesGram
7CottonForage
8Pigeonpea

Table 5: Agricultural statistics Crops, Area, Production and Productivity

Sr. NoCropArea (ha)Production (t/ha)Productivity (qt./ha)
AKharif :
1Cotton (irrigated)12000024000020.00
Unirrigated550049509.00
2Paddy (Irrigated)1700348520.50
Unirrigated38000323008.50
3Sorghum150001957513.05
4Maize520009360018.00
5Castor132003300025.00
6Pigeon Pea115000897007.80
7Bajara78001053013.50
BRabi :
1Wheat20000530002650
2Sorghum11800103848.80
3Gram210019959.50
4Maize118001711014.50
CSummer
1Groundnut191004402523.05
2Green gram100757.50
3Sugarcane59002065035.00
4Bajara49001149123.45

Horticulture in the district
Main horticulture crops in Vadodara district are vegetables (27581 ha), fruits (21447 ha) and spices (mainly chilli). Main vegetable crops are brinjal, Lady’s Finger and Tomato. Citrus, Ber, Guava and mangoes are the main fruits. There are medicinal crops, too, grown over an area of 90 ha.

Animal Husbandry in the district

Cows and buffalos are the main cattle in the district. Cow population stands at 444071. The number of buffaloes in the district is 385583. Poultry (336964 birds), too, has significant population in the district. The other domestic animals are goat and sheep. Looking at the number of cows and buffaloes in Vadodara district, there is potential for producing organic manures and promote organic farming in the district. However the task is not easy as the farmers will have to be convinced first regarding the advantages of using organic manures and practice organic farming. They need to understand it in long term perspective. Also, the need for integrating the animal husbandry with promotion of organic farming needs to be understood properly.

Production and productivity of livestock in the district

CategoryPopulationProduction (000 tonnes)
Cattle
Crossbred4860015.22
Indigenous677574.83
Buffalo13809213.62
Goats33012613.42