A STUDY MARKET CENTERS AND RURAL HOUSEHOLD IN A SOLAPUR DISTRICT: A GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Market centers and rural households form the backbone of the rural economy, shaping both livelihood opportunities and socio-economic linkages. In Solapur district, located in the semi-arid region of Maharashtra, weekly markets act as vital nodes connecting agricultural producers, traders, and consumers, while rural households reflect the demographic and settlement strength of the agrarian population. The present study”, investigates the spatial distribution of 142 weekly market centers and 5.93 lakh rural households across eleven tehsils.

Data from the 2011 Census and district handbooks were analyzed using Spearman’s Rank Correlation method to evaluate their relationship. The result (r = 0.17) indicates a weak positive correlation, suggesting that tehsils with larger rural households generally support more weekly markets, but geographical, economic, and historical factors create significant variations. For instance, Mangalwedha shows a high number of markets despite fewer households, while Malshiras records the highest rural households but comparatively fewer markets.

The study concludes that the distribution of rural markets in Solapur is influenced not merely by population size but also by cropping patterns, irrigation facilities, transport connectivity, urban dominance, and trade traditions. These findings underscore the need for a geographical perspective in understanding rural market dynamics and planning regional development.