AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

CEREALS

The following two tables (Nos. 18 and 19) give classification of acreage and production of some important commodities in Jalgaon district during 1938-39 to 1954-55.

TABLE No. 18.

ACREAGE UNDER CROPS IN JALGAON DISTRICT (1938-39 to 1954-55)

TABLE No. 18—contd.

Table No. 18 reveals that acreage under 'cropped area' and 'forests' was more or less constant, barring of course small variations from time to time; and was around twenty lakh acres and four lakh acres, respectively, during the period under review. The 'area irrigated' represented a tendency towards a constant, though gradual, increase which clearly brings out the growing realisation among the cultivators, of the need to enlarge the scope of irrigation. Acreage under 'cereais and pulses' was below 10 lakh acres up to 1941-42, whereafter it increased by about 4.5 lakh acres during the following four years and was 14.5 lakh acres in 1945-46. Thereafter, it showed signs of a gradual decline and was below 13 lakh acres between 1952-53 and 1954-55. Acreage under rice showed marked variations. Up to 1942-43 it was around 500 acres. It rose sharply to 1,208 acres in 1943-44 and further to 8,264 acres in 1944-45, and the trend persisted right up to 1950-51 when it amounted to 26,600 acres, the highest during the period under review. Area under rice in 1952-53 at 13,500 acres represented a sharp decline and was about 50 per cent of the acreage in 1950-51. Acreage under wheat was around 60,000 acres up to 1943-44. ft increased remarkably and was around one lakh acres between 1944-45 and 1951-52, the highest acreage recorded being 1.3 lakh acres in 1946-47. However, acreage under wheat during the period 1952-53 to 1954-55 indicates a sudden decrease as compared to the preceding septennium. (1944-45 to 1950-51.)

Acreage under jowar was below four lakh acres up to 1941-42 and thereafter it continued to be over four lakh acres, except in 1954-55 when it was 3.7 lakh acres. Acreage under bajra was fairly steady being in the neighbourhood of 2.5 lakh acres throughout the period under review except in 1944-45 and in 1945-46 when it was about 3.2 lakh acres. The acreage under condiments and spices showed variations both ways (positive and negative) throughout the period under review and varied between 12,834 acres (1944-45) and 34,600 acres (1951-52) representing the lowest limit and the highest limit, respectively. As for acreage under fruits and vegetables, it increased gradually from 14,936 acres in 1938-39 to 33,625 acres in 1948-49. It showed a decline in the subsequent years and was 24,300 acres in 1954-55. Acreage under sugars was below 1,000 acres till 1944-45 and, in 1945-46, it amounted to 1,351 acres and in 1947-48 it increased magnificently to 3,709 acres representing the highest acreage recorded during the period under review. It decreased in the following years and was very low at 800 acres in 1953-54. In respect of acreage under fibres variations of a large magnitude were noticed. Between 1938-39 and 1942-43, it was around six lakh acres and it registered a significant decline particularly during 1944-45 and 1949-50 when it was in the neighbourhood of 1.5 lakh acres; except in 1948-49 when it was over two lakh acres. From 1950-51 onwards, the acreage increased gradually and was 6.3 lakh acres in 1954-55. Acreage under oilseeds was around 3.5 lakh acres between 1938-39 and 1950-51 (except in 1942-43 when it was little less than three lakh acres) whereafter iv registered a decline during the subsequent years and reached its lowest at 1.6 lakh acres in 1953-54. Similar trend is noticed in respect of acreage under ground-nut, the second important crop of the district and an important constituent of the oil-seeds group. It was around 3.5 lakh acres up to 1949-50 whereafter it recorded a decline during the subsequent years and reached its lowest at 1.4 lakh acres in 1953-54. As regards acreage under fodder crops, barring 1938-39 and 1939-40 when it amounted to 2,274 and 1,782 acres, respectively, it varied between 3,000 acres and 6,000 acres, the highest area recorded being 6,409 acres in 1948-49. Acreage under drugs and narcotics was below 1,000 acres up to 1946-47 (except in 1943-44 and in 1944-45). It declined by 46 per cent from 1.210 acres in 1946-47 to 650 acres in the next year. It was 600 acres during the last two vears of the period under review.

TABLE No. 19

PRODUCTION OF SELECTED COMMODITIES IN JALGAON DISTRICT
(1938-39 to 1954-55)

(In tons)

As can be seen from table No. 19 the production of cereals and pulses was not subject to wide variations, the average for the period being 2.23 lakh tons, as against the maximum of 2.9 lakh tons recorded in 1954-55. The sharp decline registered during 1952-53, which was not only confined to cereals and pulses but also to rice, wheat, jowar and bajri was mainly due to the drought conditions prevailing in the district. The production of wheat ranged between 11,700 tons (1953-54) and 26,005 tons (1945-46) except in 1946-47 and in 1952-53. The lowest production of wheat at 3.5 thousand tons in 1946-47 was due to unfavourable rains, particularly so for wheat. The average production of wheat for the period 1938-39 to 1954-55 worked out at 15.1 thousand tons. The production of jowar showed wide variations from the average (for the period) viz., 1.03 lakh tons, especially between 1938-39 and 1946-47. The highest production was recorded in 1954-55 at 1.8 lakh tons. The highest production of bajri was recorded in 1947-48 at 38.8 thousand tons which was higher than the average for the period under review (viz., 27.2 thousand tons) by 11.6 thousand tons. A remarkable fall in the production of bajri was noticed between 1949-50 and 1952-53, the lowest production recorded being 13 thousand tons, in 1952-53. The production of rice showed variations of a large magnitude. It was around 200 tons up to 1942-43. showed a marked rise particularly from 1944-45 onwards and reached its highest viz., 6,099 tons in 1947-48, the average for the period being 2,283 tons.

Cereals occupied nearly 35 per cent of the total cultivated area in 1956-57 as against 52 per cent in 1921-22. This amounted to about 60 per cent of the area under food crops in 1956-57. Chalisgaon taluka had the largest acreage under cereals. The decrease of area under cereals in recent years may be ascribed to the increasing importance of commercial crops like cotton and groundnut. The following table shows the area under the crops included in this group in 1956-57:—

TABLE No. 20

AREA UNDER PULSES (TALUKAWISE) IN JALGAON DISTRICT, 1956-57.

TABLE No. 20 - continued.

Jvari.

Jvari (jowar or great millet) is very extensively grown in the district and occupied 57 per cent of the area under cereals and 19 per cent of the gross cropped area in 1956-57.

There are several varieties of jowar, some being early ones and others late ones. Early varieties are very important in this region and are grown entirely as rain-fed crops. The varieties popular in this district are godgarya, aispuri, satpuri, aner and samber. Out of these, aispuri is popular with the farmers because of its higher yield. In a few places, the nilva variety is also taken as it makes a good fodder.

The crop is taken all over the district, however, more than one-third of its cultivation is concentrated in Amalner, Erandol and Jamncr talukas. Land is prepared by giving two or three harrow-ings in May. As compared to other crops, manuring is not very important, though some progressive cultivators do apply farm yard manure or ground-nut cake, if available.

The surface of the soil is levelled before the seed is drilled and covered with a plank. The crop is sown in June-July. It is a common practice to sow pulse crops like udid, along with jowar. When grown in isolation, the seed rate is ordinarily ten lbs. per acre, and six to eight lbs. when taken as a mixed crop. The normal distance between the rows varies between 14" and 16", though it is held that, by increasing this distance to about 18"—24", the average yield per acre can be increased considerably. In well-prepared soils, jowar generally requires only one hand weeding. Interculturings at intervals of 15 days are given to keep the weeds away and to loosen the soil. The crop is ready for harvest by November-December. It is cut close to the ground by sickle and exposed to sun for about three to four days when the earheads are cut off and carried to threshing floor.

Jowar is a staple food of the people of the district. Its grain is ground and breads are prepared out of the flour; the grain is also consumed as popped corn (lahis), which arc prepared by parching or roasting the grain in a popper. Special dishes are also made by mixing the parched grain with salt, gur, chillies, etc. (as flavouring ingredients). When in season, the parched unripe jowar heads form a popular preparation called "hurda".

Bajri.

Bajri (spiked millet) comes next in importance to jowar and occupied nearly 30 per cent of the area under cereals and 10 per cent of the gross cropped area in 1956-57. In 1947-48, these percentages stood at 34 and 13, respectively. Even though this indicates a slight increase in acreage under bajri vis-a-vis the gross cropped area, the importance of bajri seems to have dwindled recently, as it has yielded place to jowar. Chalisgaon is the biggest producer, while the next to it are Pachora, Amalner, Parola and Erandol.

Bajri is a finer grain than jowar but does not require same amount of care, as required by jowar. Moderately dry climate and light showers of rainfall with plenty of sunshine between the showers are sufficient: for its growth. It is generally taken on light types of soils where the growth is luxuriant. On soils of medium types, it is only moderate. The field is prepared by harrowing 2-3 times in April and May and again when the soil is sufficiently moistened by monsoon rain. The seed is drilled usually in June-July, when the seed-bed is ready. The seed is drilled in rows 10"—13" apart and the seed rate varies accordingly between six or eight lbs. per acre. Except in certain parts, where it is grown alone, bajri is usually taken as a mixed crop along with pulse mixtures. Two varieties of bajri are in use viz., local and Akola, the latter being popular either because of its superior quality or greater yield. The crop is given two hand-weedings and inter-culturing; in poor lands, however, these operations are not resorted to. The crop is ready for harvest in October-November when it is reaped close to the ground with a sickle. It is left in the field for some days, then tied into bundles and stacked. In some cases, the heads of grain are removed and carted to the threshing floor and the bundles of kadbi stacked. The threshing and winnowing processes of bajri and jowar are more or less similar.

The green ears of bajri arc parched and eaten. The ripe grain is sometimes parched and made into lahis. It is chiefly used as bread grain and its stalks are used as fodder.

Gahu.

Gahu (wheat) occupied 75.794 acres, i.e., about 11 per cent of the area under cereals, in 1956-57. The proportion has not varied much during past years. Nearly 30 per cent of the area was in Amalner and Raver talukas. Though wheat is grown all over the district, its yield is the best in deep black soils. It is a winter crop and is sown in September-October by drilling method with the help of a two-coultered drill (duse). The soil is ploughed about nine inches deep at the commencement of rains, followed by frequent harrowings which suppress the growth of weeds and allow thorough absorption of rain water and create mulch to prevent loss of water from the soil due to evaporation. This process is significant for a dry crop, as it has to depend entirely on the absorption of rain water by the soil.

Irrigated wheat is also taken in the district and it occupied an area of 30,603 acres in 1956-57. For the irrigated crop, ploughing is done in September-October. Manuring is done heavily (as compared to the non-irrigated wheat) in the form of well-decayed farm-yard manure, ground-nut cake and sulphate of ammonia. Sowing is done in October with the help of a duse with a distance of 12"—18" in between the rows. The main varieties taken are (i) Kenphad, (ii) Niphad and (iii) Bakshi or Gulab, of which the last one is taken as a dry crop and the first two as an irrigated crop. The number of irrigations varies from five to twelve and the interval between two irrigations from 10 days to 30 days. The crop is ready for harvest in February-March. Plants are cut close to the ground or uprooted and either tied into bundles or kept for about a week on bunds to dry in the sun. After the harvested crop gets completely dried, it is carried to the threshing' yard and threshed under the feet of bullocks. Later, it is winnowed usually against the wind.

The average yield of wheat per acre is about 600 lbs. in case of dry crop and 1,280 lbs. in case of irrigated crop. Wheat grains are used for preparing breads, chapaties, etc. The straw is used as fodder. Green earheads of wheat (ombya) are parched and eaten.

Rice.

Bhat (rice) is not a common crop in this district. In 1956-57, the area under this crop was 12,970 acres or about two per cent of the area under cereals. Paddy is sown by drilling method in June-July, the seed-rate being about 30 lbs. to 40 lbs. per acre. The varieties that are or can be grown in this tract are (i) Dodaki ; (ii) Kali Kusal; (iii) Krishnasal; (iv) Baramati and (v) Sukwell. The crop is harvested in November-December, and the yield per acre is about 1,000 lbs. Variations in the yield depend upon manurial treatment, nature of soil, etc.

Of late, some farmers have taken to Japanese method of paddy cultivation. The acreage under this method of cultivation was about 1,000 acres. The main features of this method are: —

(i) raised nurseries for seedlings;

(ii) low seed-rate for nurseries;

(iii) heavy manuring of the crop both in nurseries and field;

(iv) transplantation of fewer seedlings per bunch;

(v) transplanting in rows;

(vi) adequate interculturing and proper weeding.

Other Cereals.

The other cereals taken are vari. maize, Italian millets, ragi, kulthi, sava, bhadli. etc. They are of minor importance. Vari is usually taken as a bill millet. It is entirely a kharip crop and is rarely irrigated. It is consumed by the people when they observe fast. Ragi is a rainfed crop usually taken on hill slopes. Ripe grain is used for preparing breads. Maize (maha) is usually grown as a kharip crop.

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