Yadav, D.B.Ganvir Balakdas N.2017-03-292017-03-292012http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810006353Maharashtra State is unique State in Indian Union as far as the varying agro-climatic conditions are concerned. The variabilities in topography of soil and climatic factors have colosal impact on crop and land use patterns, use of inputs and adoption of technological innovations in crop production inclusive of area and productivity, among the regions, states, countries and continents. In the light of the variabilities in natural resource endowments, infrastructural development and other developmental efforts of the past, it may be pointed out that at present, there exist a wide disparity in the level of agricultural development both at the national and regional levels. An unchecked and uncontrolled process of growth leading to regional disparities, results in numerous economic, social and cultural problems. Keeping these aspects in view the proposed study viz; “Assessment of Regional Disparities in Agricultural Development of Maharashtra” was undertaken with the objectives to examine the performance of agricultural development amongst the regions, to quantity the regionwise disparities in agricultural development, to identify the factors contributing to the regional variations in the development of agricultural and to identify the problems and suggest measures for agricultural development. Maharashtra State has been divided into four regions viz; Konkan, Western Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha region. The entire period of 45 years from 1960-61 to 2004-05 were divided into four sub- period i.e. period I : 1960-61-1969-70, period II :1970-71-1979-80, period III : 1980-81-1989-90 and period IV : 1990-91-2004-05. The exponential function, Y= abt, Factor Analysis and Principal Component Analysis, Cobb-Douglas production function, Gini ratio and Lorenz curve were employed. Total geographical area of Konkan, Western Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha region is 29.78, 116.28, 64.29 and 97.23 lakh hectares, respectively, while total population (2001) of the four regions was 248.83, 357.34, 156.29 and 206.30 lakhs, respectively. As per the census 2001, the percentage of total workers were the highest 44.62 per cent (69.74 lakhs) in Marathwada, Vidarbha 35.07 per cent (72.36 lakhs), Konkan 33.99 per cent (84.59 lakhs) and Western Maharashtra 33.79 per cent (120.77 lakhs). As per the census 2001, the percentage of total agricultural labours to the total populations were the highest 14.64 per cent (22.89 lakhs) in Marathwada followed by Vidarbha 12.75 per cent (26.32 lakhs).ennullThesis