Sugarcane is one of the important cash crops of the district. The area under this crop has been on the increase since 1951. It increased from 5,275.891 hectares in 1953-54 to 13,223 hectares in 1971-72. During the same period the production also increased from 36,139 metric tones in 1953-54 to 1,07,900 metric tones in 1971-72. It is mainly produced in Malegaon, Baglan and Niphad talukas. Of these, Malegaon and Niphad account for 27 and 29 per cent respectively of the total sugarcane produce of the district , followed by Baglan,22 per cent in 1971-72.

TABLE No. 14 – TALUKA-WISE AREA UNDER CONDIMENTS AND

SPICES IN NASIK DISTRICT IN 1953-54, 1958-59 AND 1963-64

(In hectares)

Taluka	Year	Chillis	Coriander	Garlic
Surgana	1953-54	35	….	….
	1958-59	23	....	....
	1963-64	38	….	0.405
Peint	1953-54	9	....	….
	1958-59	20	….	….
	1963-64	58	....	....
Baglan	1953-54	170	31	10
	1958-59	178	24	15
	1963-64	292	24	10
Yeola	1953-54	199	1	12
	1958-59	211	4	5
	1963-64	275	0.405	....
Kalvan	1953-54	135	0.809	63
	1958-59	235	1	65
	1963-64	281	2	54
Malegaon	1953-54	300	4	121
	1958-59	313	0.809	180
	1963-64	519	1	372
Igatpuri	1953-54	11	....	11
	1958-59	19	....	….
	1963-64	31	....	20
Chandor	1953-54	281	,...	20
	1958-59	477	7	11
	1963-64	597	2	15
Nasik	1953-54	127	6	13
	1958-59	170	8	13
	1963-64	149	16	15
Sinnar	1953-54	344	2	137
	1958-59	360	1	166
	1963-64	446	2	168
Niphad	1953-54	469	18	20
	1958-59	643	0.405	25
	1963-64	661	2	13
Nandgaon	1953-54	71	1	1
	1958-59	85	1	2
	1963-64	136	1	4
Dindori	1953-54	353	1	6
	1958-59	506	3	5
	1963-64	476	0.405	16
District Total	1953-54	2,506	65	416
	1958-59	3,241	49	478
	1963-64	3,954	52	673
	1971-72	3,400	N.A.	N.A.

* Tahsil-wise figures for 1971-72 are not available.

TABLE No. 15 – TALUKA-WISE OUTTURN OF CHILLIS IN NASIK

DISTRICT IN 1953-54, 1958-59 AND 1963-64

(In metric tones)

Taluka	Year	Chillis	Taluka	Year	Chillis
Surgana	1953-54	12	Chandor	1953-54	186
	1958-59	12		1958-59	264
	1963-64	17		1963-64	267
Peint	1953-54	5	Nasik	1953-54	68
	1958-59	8		1958-59	76
	1963-64	24		1963-64	60
Baglan	1953-54	84	Sinnar	1953-54	154
	1958-59	89		1958-59	160
	1963-64	147		1963-64	201
Yeola	1953-54	89	Niphad	1953-54	290
	1958-59	105		1958-59	360
	1963-64	92		1963-64	370
Kalvan	1953-54	52	Nandgaon	1953-54	19
	1958-59	104		1958-59	46
	1963-64	128		1963-64	77
Malegaon	1953-54	117	Dindori	1953-54	158
	1958-59	140		1958-59	226
	1963-64	232		1963-64	239
Igatpuri	1953-54	5	District Total	1953-54	1,243
	1958-59	8		1958-59	1,603
	1963-64	8		1963-64	1,867
				1971-72*	2,800

* Taluka-wise figures for 1971-72 are not available.

The sugarcane crop is essentially a tropical crop and for high outturns moist hot climate and ample supply of water are necessary. It is entirely an irrigated crop. The crop is grown on heavy black and well-drained soils. The planting is done either in January, July or in October. The planting done in January takes about 12 months for harvesting and generally yields low returns. The July planting ripens only after 18 months and yields highest returns though it takes longer time to mature. The planting in October is pre-seasonal and generally takes about 15 months for harvesting. The most prevalent and popular method in the district is July planting locally known as adsali lagan.

The soil is ploughed well in time about one and a half months prior to planting. Two deep ploughings and about three harrowings are given. The earthing up of soil which is done twice or thrice is completed before the advent of rains. The land is first put into ridges and furrows and the required channels are prepared for irrigation before planting. Water is first let into the furrows and when the soil is wet, selected sets are put in and pressed. The distance between the furrows, however, depends upon the quality of the cane and the soil. In the black soil, it is generally between 3 and, 4 feet. About 12,000 to 15,000 sets are planted in an acre. The Agriculture department has recommended Co/419 and Co/740 as improved varieties. The rotation crops grown in the district include cotton, jowar and groundnut.

The proper application of manures and fertilisers in time and in sufficient quantity helps in increasing the production. The average yield per acre, in the district, comes to about 50 to 60 tones. A basal dose of 20 to 40 cart-loads of farm-yard manure or compost is given to an acre. Half of the dose is applied before planting.

Table No. 16 gives the taluka-wise area and outturn of sugarcane in the district in 1953-54, 1958-59, 1963-64 and 1971-72.