AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

CONDIMENTS AND SPICES

Condiments and spices are important cash crops of the district. Chillis (mirchi), coriander (kothimbir), garlic (lasun), methi, turmeric, etc., are the important condiments and spices. They together occupied an area of 3,030 hectares in 1971-72. Chillis, however, accounted for major area under condiments and spices.

The following table gives the tahsilwise area under condiments and spices in the district for some years from 1956-57 to 1971-72:—

TABLE No. 18

AREA UNDER CONDIMENTS AND SPICES IN BULDHANA DISTRICT.

[In Acres*]

*Figures for 1968-69 and 1971-72 (district totals) are in hectares.

Chillis.—Chilli is mainly grown as an irrigated crop as well as a rain-fed crop. The area of the crop under irrigation was 4,540 acres in 1961-62 and 1,548 hectares in 1971-72. Malkapur tahsil occupied a major portion of the area under irrigation, i.e., 737 hectares in 1971-72, while Jalgaon and Mehkar tahsils had a negligible area i.e.. 119 and 117 hectares in the same year.

The following table gives the total outturn of chillis in each tahsil of the district for some years from 1956-57 to 1971-72.

TABLE No. 19

OUTTURN OF CHILLIS IN BULDHANA DISTRICT.

[In Tons*]

*Figures for 1971-72 are in metric tonnes.

The seedlings are first grown on separate well prepared and raised seed-beds in June and are transplanted in the field after about one and a half months. Inter-culturing is done regularly.

Chillis thrive well on deep black as well as medium black soils. Heavy doses of green manure, viz., 15 to 20 cart-loads are given for an acre. The crop however could be taken on a wide range of soils and under different climatic conditions.

Green chillis are ready for plucking from September onwards. The green as well as ripe chillis are picked. The picking of chillis goes on for three to five months. Red chillis are plucked and dried in sun in the months of December and January.

The local variety is short, yellowish and red. Lawangi, Delhi and Gaoran are the varieties grown in the district.

Coriander.—Coriander (kothimbir; dhane) is grown in the district for seed (dhane) as well as for green vegetable. It covered an area of 149 acres in 1964-65 in the district. It is grown throughout the district. Its seeds are locally known as "dhane" which possess medicinal properties. Coriander is practically grown throughout the year. The crop is harvested by uprooting the plants after about three months from its sowing. Generally threshing is done by beating with sticks.

Garlic.—Garlic (lasun) is grown on a very small scale in the district. It covered an area of 75 acres in 1964-65. It is taken as an irrigated crop usually on black soils. It is planted in October-November and harvested after three months. The bulbs are uprooted either by hand or with light pick-axe.

Turmeric.—Turmeric (halad) grown as an irrigated crop, covered a very small area of about 5 hectares in 1971-72 in the district. It was mostly grown in Chikhli and Mehkar tahsils. The crop can be taken in medium types of soils. Intensive ploughing pulverising and manuring are of prime importance for turmeric. It is mainly an irrigated crop. The rhizomes are planted in early June and harvested in January-February.

All these condiments and spices find a ready market in the district itself. Chillis are sometimes exported to other States.

The area occupied by all condiments and spices was 3,030 hectares in 1971-72. Malkapur tahsil accounted for the major portion of the area under condiments and spices in the district in 1971-72.

TOP