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Part VII :
Agriculture
National Dairy Development Board
Dairying in MAHARASHTRA
A Statistical Profile
2015
VII.1. Agro-Climatic Zones
Table VII.1.2: Details of Agro-Climatic Zones
Parameters
Scarcity Zone/
Western
Maharashtra
Scarcity Zone
Assured Rainfall
Zone/ Central
Maharashtra
Plateau Zone
Moderate Rainfall
Zone/ Central
Vidarbha
Eastern Vidarbha
Zone
Districts
Drought prone
talukas of Nasik,
Dhule, Ahmadnagar,
Pune, Satara, Sangli,
Solapur, Aurangabad,
Bid, Osmanabad
districts
Comprises parts of
Aurangabad, Jalna
Bid, Osmanabad,
Akola, Amravati,
Yavatmal, Jalgaon,
Dhule & Solapur
districts. Major
parts of Parbhani &
Nanded districts and
complete Latur and
Buldana districts
Entire Wardha, major
parts of Nagpur,
Yavatmal 2 tehsils of
Chandrapur & parts
of Aurangabad, Jalna
Parbhani & Nanded
districts.
Entire Bhandara &
Gadchiroli and parts
of Chandrapur and
Nagpur districts.
Almost 50% area is
under forest.
Geographical Area
(000ha)
7,323
7,500
4,988
3,270
Gross Cropped Area
(000ha)
5,842
6,780
3,573*
1,080
Rainfall (mm)
500-700
700-900
900-1,250
1,250-1,700
Soil
Soils have
Montmorilonite clay.
Poor in nitrogen,
low to medium in
phosphate & well
supplied in potash.
Soil colour ranges
from black to red.
Black soils derived
from basalt rock.
Medium to heavy in
texture alkaline in
reaction. Low lying
areas are rich and
fertile.
Soils derive from
parent rock granite,
gneisses, and schists.
Brown to Red in
colour. PH 6 to 7
Crops
Bajra, Jowar,
Groundnut, Safflower,
Pulses,
Jowar, Cotton,
Oilseeds, Pulses,
Cotton, Jowar, Tur,
Wheat, Oilseeds
Paddy, Pulses, Jowar,
Oilseeds
Source: Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Maharashtra, and Report of the high level committee on balanced regional development issues in Maharashtra
(2013), Planning Department, Govt. of Maharashtra
* Net sown area