URBANIZATION AND LOSS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AND PRODUCTIVITY ( A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED VILLAGES FROM PESHAWAR AND NOWSHERA)

The objective of the present study was to analyze the impact of urban expansion on the agricultural lands and productivity of these lands. The study was conducted from 1st to 31st July, 2009 in six villages’ located along the G.T road as we travel from Peshawar to Pabbi. 42 individuals were interviewed selected through random sampling. A mixed type of questionnaire was used to collect the relevant data. Results were interpreted in percentage form to interpret the results at a glance. The study showed that the decreased productivity of agricultural lands was due to various housing schemes (30.95%), industrial build up in the area (33.33%) and because of the land pollution caused by these industries (35.71%). Although urbanization is important and is need of the day but it should not be at the expense of our fertile agricultural land and precious agricultural income should not be sacrificed for unplanned and unauthorized urban expansion.