Impact of Climate Variability on Crop Production in Marathwada Region of Maharashtra

Abstract

This study has been undertaken to examine the impact of climate variables on
agricultural production in Marathwada region of Maharashtra, one of the major agrarian
state which has adversely affected agriculture and nearly 82% area of state which fall under
rainfed sector, is under severe stress. Nearly 52% of state area is drought prone with districts
having a frequent unequal distribution of rainfall every 5 years and severe drought conditions
for once in every decade. Out of 36 districts in Maharashtra, 21 are facing drought according
to simulation studies. Variations in climatic variables affect the performance of crops and
induce shifts in cropping pattern. The present paper aims at understanding climatic variability
in Marathwada region of Maharashtra. The cropping pattern of Maharashtra has shifted
towards pulses and cash crops like cotton from the earlier cereal-centric system. Cotton and
soybean in the Marathwada shows high instability in yield. Impact of climatic variables on
crops like cotton, sorghum, soybean, and red gram has also been estimated and we found that
the variables like rainfall and square of rainfall have significant impact on yield of respective
crops. On the other hand, minimum temperature has significant impact on cotton
and sorghum yields and maximum temperature has significant impact on cotton, and red
gram yield.