Land use pattern in the State has witnessed significant changes over the years.
The net area sown which stood at 62.59 lakh ha. and accounted for about 48 percent of
the total geographical area during Triennium Ending (T.E.) 1979-80 declined to 42.8
per cent in TE 1999-2000 and further to 38.5 per cent in TE 2005-06. The decline in the
net area sown may be attributed to the increase in other fallow lands and conversion of
agricultural land into non-agricultural purposes including housing sites. The proportion
of land put to non-agricultural uses rose from 12.9 per cent to 16.3 per cent during the
reference period. The share of forest area in the total geographical area had increased
from 15.6 per cent in TE 1979-80 to 16.5 per cent in TE 1999-2000 and marginally
declined to 16.3 per cent in TE 2005-06. The share of current fallows had declined from
7.8 per cent in TE1999-00 to 6.2 per cent in TE 2005-06.
