OTHER DEPARTMENTS

AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT

Organisation.— Activities pertaining to Agriculture in the district are under the dual control of the State Government and Zilla Parishad, respectively. The activities regarding plant protection scheme, cotton extension scheme, integrated oilseed development scheme, mechanical cultivation scheme, blasting and boring scheme and seed multiplication farm scheme as also the management of the Agricultural Engineering Workshop are entrusted to the department of Agriculture in the State sector. All other works are looked after by the Zilla Parishad and are thus in the district sector.

The department at the State level is headed by the Secretary of the Agriculture and Co-operation Department who is the administrative head of the department. At the Directorate level it is headed by the Director of Agriculture with his headquarters at Pune. He is assisted by four Joint Directors each in charge of establishment, extension, agricultural engineering and agricultural research and education, respectively.

Superintending Agricultural Officer..—The Superintending Agricultural Officer being responsible to the Director of Agriculture, Maharashtra State, Pune, is the technical and administrative head of the Division. Even though he is the officer in the State sector, he guides the District Agricultural Officer who heads the Agriculture department of the Zilla Parishad in the district sector in technical matters. He is assisted in his work by class I officers like Deputy Directors of Agriculture, one each for Research and Education. Soil Conservation and Engineering and Class II officers like Plant Protection Officer, Seed Development Officer. Assistant Horticultural Development Officer, Assistant Vegetable Development Officer. Hybrid Seed Production Officer, Assistant Oilseed Extension Officer. Assistant Compost Development Officer, Assistant Statistician. Divisional Supervisor (F.V.T.) and Agricultural Engineer in implementing the State sector schemes at Regional or Divisional level. He gives technical guidance to local sector schemes at Zilla Parishad level. Besides these officers, the State level specialists who are specialised in different aspects of crop production also give technical guidance for State and local sector schemes.

Agricultural Development Officer.— The Agricultural Development Officer of the Zilla Parishad who is a class I officer at district level on deputation to the Zilla Parishad. works under the administrative control of the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad of the district. The Agricultural Development Officer. Zilla Parishad, Bhandara implements the Agricultural Schemes in local sector of the district. He is assisted by District Agricultural Officer, Campaign Officer and Hybrid Seed Production Officer, the last of whom is deputed by the State Government for supervising and implementing Hybrid Seed Production Programme. A unit under the Agricultural Development Officer prints pamphlets and booklets giving the latest recommendations for cultivation of crops, as approved by the Director and the specialists, to be distributed to the cultivators through the touring officers of the Department and Block Development Officers. The unit gives press notes from time to time pertaining to agricultural operations, pest control measures and research findings. Besides documentary film shows it participates in rural broadcasting programmes and various agricultural exhibitions.

Schemes under State Sector.—The following schemes were undertaken by the State sector in Bhandara and are in progress: —

(i) Establishment of taluka seed multiplication farms,

(ii) Scheme for development of local manurial resources, subsidy for town compost and Dhaincha seed,

(iii) Construction works under Bhandara package programme,

(iv) Establishment of agricultural implement workshop under package programme, Bhandara,

(v) Construction of new wells,

(vi) Installation of pumping sets and

(vii) Scheme for terracing of land.

Schemes under Local Sector.— The following activities were undertaken by the Zilla Parishad in the district; —

(i) Construction of buildings for agricultural schools,

(ii) Scheme for distribution of Sann seed for green manuring.

(iii) Loans under horticultural development schemes,

(iv) Intensive cultivation of food crops,

(v) Multi crop demonstration scheme.

(vi) Development of land belonging to backward class cultivators, and

(vii) Irrigation wells for backward class cultivators.

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