Spatio-Temporal Change in Rice Production in the Malwa Region of Punjab, India: A GIS-Based Comparison of 2014 and 2024

Abstract

This study examines spatial and temporal changes in rice production in the Malwa Region of Punjab, India, for 2014 and 2024 using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). The objective of the study is to analyse district-wise changes in rice production and to examine the spatial distribution of rice production and percentage growth over the decade from 2014 to 2024. The analysis was conducted using secondary data on rice production, which were processed and mapped using the choropleth mapping technique in QGIS software. The analysis uses the district-level administrative boundaries that existed in 2024 as the base map; because Malerkotla district was formed in 2021, its rice production value for 2014 was estimated. The percentage change in production was calculated to identify districts experiencing expansion or decline and to highlight spatial differences in production growth. The findings show considerable variation among districts, with Mansa recording the highest growth (115.41%), followed by Bathinda at 85.38% and Sri Muktsar Sahib at 63.67%, whereas Moga showed the lowest growth rate of 6.98%. These changes indicate a continued concentration of rice cultivation in parts of the region, with potential implications for groundwater depletion and the long-term sustainability of agriculture.