Land Suitability Analaysis Of Sesame Crop Using Gis Techniques

Land suitability analysis is a pre-requisite in achieving optimum utilization of the available land resources. This research aims to promote sustainable agriculture by guiding land planning, empowering local small- scale farmers through optimal sesame cultivation, and ultimately enhancing agricultural productivity in Bardaghat Municipality, furthering the goal of regional agricultural sustainability. The research utilized a comprehensive methodology, blending Pair- wise Comparison Matrix (PWCM) and Weighted Multi-Criteria Analysis with diverse biophysical criteria through Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Thematic maps were generated using Remote Sensing, Geostatistics, and Geographic Information Systems. Expert input guided the assignment of weights to 3 primary criteria and 11 sub-criterion parameters, facilitating the creation of a weighted overlay tool for visualizing results. This approach aimed to assess land suitability for sesame cultivation effectively. The research findings underscore the significance of climatological factors (55.8%), topography (31.96%), and soil attributes (12.196%) in determining sesame production suitability. The land suitability map revealed that 24.29% of the study area, equivalent to 39.375 km2, was moderately suitable for sesame cultivation, while a substantial land area encompassing 75.71% (122.675 km2) was categorized as marginally suitable. Remarkably, no land was identified as unsuitable for sesame cultivation. The research excluded built-up regions, rivers, and road networks from its scope.