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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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CONDIMENTS AND SPICES
Of this category, the important crops grown are betel-nut and
chillies. Ginger, cardamom and pepper are grown on a negligible
scale. Production of turmeric is mainly undertaken in Malvan
taluka.
TABLE No. 19
AREA UNDER CONDIMENTS AND SPICES (TALUKA-WISE) IN RATNAGIRI
DISTRICT, 1955-56.
(Area in acres). |
Taluka. |
Betel-nut. |
Cardamom. |
Chillies. |
Ginger. |
Pepper. |
Turmeric. |
Total. | |
Dapoli |
1,390 |
-- |
27 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1,417 | |
Mandangad |
155 |
-- |
37 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
192 | |
Khed |
14 |
-- |
108 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
122 | |
Chiplun |
7 |
-- |
80 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
87 | |
Guhagar |
341 |
-- |
15 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
356 | |
Sangameshwar |
73 |
8 |
41 |
6 |
-- |
-- |
128 | |
Ratnagiri |
290 |
-- |
163 |
5 |
-- |
3 |
461 | |
Lanje |
94 |
-- |
65 |
5 |
-- |
2 |
166 | |
Rajapur |
296 |
-- |
153 |
7 |
-- |
5 |
461 | |
Deogad |
100 |
-- |
162 |
-- |
-- |
2 |
264 | |
Kankavli |
4 |
-- |
105 |
3 |
6 |
-- |
118 | |
Malvan |
131 |
-- |
443 |
10 |
-- |
35 |
619 | |
Vengurla |
265 |
-- |
227 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
492 | |
Kudal |
73 |
-- |
402 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
475 | |
Sawantwadi |
562 |
-- |
577 |
-- |
-- |
4 |
1,143 | |
District-Total |
3,795 |
8 |
2,605 |
36 |
6 |
51 |
6,501 |
Supari (betelnut) is an important garden crop in Ratnagiri district and stands second in importance in the State. Most of these gardens date back to a considerable period and occupy a major portion of the area suitable for arecanut cultivation. There is, therefore, little scope for new gardens, though some attempts have been made to establish new ones which will receive lift irrigation water. Broadly, the principles involved in the upkeep of arecanut gardens are similar to those for cocoanut gardens. But as these gardens are situated on varkas lands, more care as regards watering, manuring, control of pests and diseases is necessary.
This palm requires ample supply of moisture in the soil and grows well in regions having plenty of rain. A cool, somewhat shady and moist atmosphere is favourable. As it is very sensitive to draught, an assured supply of irrigation water is necessary. Therefore, as soon as the rains are over, watering is commenced. If watering is delayed during October heat, the nuts begin to drop. Varkas lands require to be terraced well so that water can be spread throughout the garden by means of water channels. It is also necessary, at times, to propagate colonies of earth-worms to make the soil more deep and airy. These palms also require protection from western and southern winds. Arecanut palms generally begin to yield fruit from the fifth or sixth year and live for about 50 years.
Manuring generally consists of leaf-mould and earth and is done before the onset of monsoon. The yield per tree ranges between 200 to 400 nuts. Ripe nuts are harvested, semi-dehusked, dried and sold to Bombay merchants. Koleroga is a serious disease of the arecanut in Dapoli and Guhagar talukas. Spraying of 5: 5: 50 Bordeaux mixture is recommended to control this disease.
Mirchi.
Next in importance are chillies (mirchi) which occupied more than one third of the area under condiments and spices in 1955-56. Chillies are sown after the heavy rains of July. Seedlings are prepared on raised ground and transplanting is done in August in flat beds or on ridges and furrows. These beds are manured at the rate of 10-15 cart loads of farm yard manure per acre. Top-dressing of Ammonium sulphate at the rate of 80 lbs. per acre is also given. After the monsoon, water is supplied at intervals of six days. Picking starts from October and is over in about a month. Annual yield per acre comes to around 1,000 lbs. Chillies are also grown as a rabi crop.
FIBRES.
[Cotton is not grown in Ratnagiri district. During the period 1818-1846, however, several experiments were made to introduce cotton cultivation. But they bore no fruit.] Fibers occupied a small area. The following table shows area
under fibres in 1955-56
TABLE No. 20.
AREA UNDER FIBRES (TALUKAWISE) IN RATNAGIRI DISTRICT, 1955-56.
|
Taluka. |
Jute. |
Sann-Hemp (Bombay Hemp.) |
Ambadi (Decoan Hemp). |
Total Fibre. |
Dapoli |
-- |
25 |
-- |
25 |
Mandangad |
-- |
7 |
-- |
7 |
Khed |
-- |
6 |
5 |
11 |
Chiplun |
14 |
-- |
-- |
14 |
Guhagar |
-- |
33 |
-- |
33 |
Sangameshwar |
-- |
15 |
10 |
25 |
Ratnagiri |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Lanja |
-- |
20 |
-- |
20 |
Rajapur |
-- |
865 |
11 |
876 |
Beogad |
-- |
476 |
2 |
478 |
Kankavli |
-- |
53 |
-- |
53 |
Malvan |
-- |
101 |
-- |
101 |
Vengurla |
-- |
14 |
-- |
14 |
Kudal |
-- |
22 |
-- |
22 |
Sawantwadi |
-- |
83 |
-- |
83 |
|
District, Total |
14 |
1,720 |
28 |
1,762 |
Sann.
Sann (Bombay-Hemp) is an important fibre crop of this district
which occupied nearly seven per cent of the area under this crop in Bombay State in 1955-56. Its cultivation is particularly concentrated in Deogad, Bajapur and Malvan talukas. It is also taken on varkas lands. It is a kharif crop sown in August. It is also taken in rabi season after harvesting of paddy and matures in about four and half months. The stalks are cut close to the ground and are left in the field for two or three days for drying and shedding of leaves. Small bundles of the stalks are then prepared and carried to their retting place, where they are kept in a vertical position in water for three or four days, which facilitates loosening of the bark at the butt-end. The bundles are then horizontally submerged in water with heavy stone slabs on them for eight to ten days. By this time the fibre gets separated from the woody stem and comes of easily when stripped by hand. The stripped material is beaten on stone or wood and then washed in water in a manner in which a washerman handles clothes while washing.
Sann fibre is used for making fishing nets, ropes, strings, etc.
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