AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

FRUITS

The common fruits grown in the district are mango, banana, orange, sweet lime, guava etc. The total area under fruits in 1961-62 was 685 hectares as compared to 1,152 hectares in 1967-68. The following table gives area under fruits in the district for 1961-62, 1965-66 and 1967-68.

TABLE No. 21

Area under Fruits [Only important fruits are given.] in Akola District in 1961-62, 1965-66 and 1967-68

(Area in hectares)

Mango: Mango is mainly produced in the Akot and Washim tahsils of the district. in 1961-62 an area of 287 hectares was under this fruit crop. It increased to 324 hectares in 1967-68.

Seedlings are planted in pits filled with good soil and manure on bunds along the border of the fields. The tree bears fruit alter a period of 5 to 6 years and continues to bear so for well over 40 to 50 years. Cloudy weather and strong winds cause florescence to shed and reduce the yield. Ripe mangoes are used to prepare juice, while raw mangoes are used for preparing pickles.

Banana: The banana crop is grown on a large scale in the district. In 1961-62 an area of 211 hectares was under banana cultivation as against 243 hectares in 1967-68.

The crop grows well in soft spongy soils and medium light soils having good drainage. As it is purely an irrigated crop, it requires 90" to 100" of rainfall. The seedlings are planted in June and two harrowings are given to remove weeds. Flowering starts after about nine months. It generally takes 10 to 20 months after planting for the whole crop to come to maturity. An acre of banana orchard contains about 2,000 plants.

Sweet-lime : If requires more or less dry and hot climate and loose and loamy very well drained but not sticky soil. The plan's are planted in nursery beds and then transplanted in permanent beds. The plants are watered regularly till harvesting. The. trees start bearing fruits in about a year and a half after planting.

In 1961-62 an area of 42 hectares was under this crop as compared to 133 hectares out of a total area of 1,018 hectares under fruit crops in 1965-66.

Guava: The guava (peru) grows on different types of soils. In the field pits are dug out and filled with farm yard manure and seedlings are planted. The plants are irrigated regularly. The plant starts blossoming after a period of three years. There are two seasons of this fruit, the first in August-September and the second in November-December.

The area under the crop in 1961-62 was 51 hectares as against 81 hectares during 1967-68.

Orange: Medium black soil is most suitable for orange cultivation. The seedlings grown in the nursery are planted in rainy season and manured. The plants are irrigated at intervals of 10 to 15 days during winter season. The tree requires manuring at heavy rates of about 40 to 50 lbs. The tree begins to bear fruit from the. 5th year and are in full bearing from the 7th year. There are also two seasons-one between October and December and the second between February and April.

The Yield rate of oranges ranges from about 500 to 1,000 fruits per tree. In 1961-62, 18 hectares were under this crop as against 40 hectares in 1967-68.

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