GIS and multi-criteria decision-making assessment of sites suitability for agriculture in an anabranching site of sooin river, India

Abstract

In the study region, agriculture is the prime source of income, so it is very essential to make optimal use of existing agricultural land. To identify suitable sites for agricultural practices in the study area, the AHP model has been used. Due to the agricultural illiteracy, lack of irrigation and transportation facilities, human encroachment towards the agricultural land, and frequent flooding hampering agricultural productivity. A total of 16 parameters were taken into consideration and their weights are assigned according to their relative importance for identifying land suitability. The final suitability map of the study area has been generated using ‘Weighted Overlay’ method on GIS environment and classified into five categories as Very high suitable zone (4.11 per cent), High suitable zone (28.65 per cent), Moderate suitable zone (49.67 per cent), Low suitable zone (14.33 per cent) and Unsuitable zone (3.24 per cent). The Northern and Eastern parts of the study area are partially not suitable for agriculture. As the region is a flood plain fertile area, if the governments and other organizations take initiatives of improving transportation, soil management, flood control, then the area is highly promising of agricultural productivity. As the GIS-based AHP model is a simplified and suitable method for site suitability analysis, this paper will help the policymakers implement different plans for the development of the region.