AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

CO-OPERATIVE FARMING

It may be pointed out that factors like increasing pressure of population on land, inequitable distribution of land, uneconomic size of holding, evil of acute fragmentation and sub-division of land, low productivity of the soil, traditional methods of cultivation, illiteracy of the farmers, meagre financial resources of the cultivators, etc., prove to be stumbling blocks in the implementation of plans for a progressive economy. In this context it may be noted that the 64th Session of the Indian National Congress held at Nagpur in 1958 pledged its overwhelming support to the adoption of co-operative farming. Co-operative farming implies pooling together of small plots of land and their joint management. When the cultivator becomes a member of the co-operative society, he can meet his credit requirement from the financial assistance extended by it. Besides, he is enabled to purchase and use modern machinery; to effect efficient division of labour, to provide irrigation, to undertake measures for permanent development of land and finally to sell his produce advantageously, all of which normally could be beyond the capacity of an individual farmer to achieve.

There are four main types of the co-operative farming societies, viz.,—(1) collective co-operative farming societies, (2) joint co-operative farming societies, (3) co-operative tenant farming societies and (4) co-operative better farming societies. Of these only the first two types of co-operative farming societies are in existence in the district. The first collective co-operative farming society was established at Amdapur in Chikhli tahsil on 16th June 1955 whereas the first joint co-operative farming society was established at Tapo-van in Malkapur tahsil on 31st December 1959.

There were in all 81 co-operative farming societies functioning in this district in the year 1968 of which 77 were collective cooperative farming societies and four were joint co-operative farming societies. These are spread throughout the district. The following table 'shows the tahsilwise distribution of the co-operative farming societies in the district: —

TABLE No. 6

DISTRIBUTION OF CO-OPERATIVE FARMING SOCIETIES IN BULDHANA DISTRICT.

The total membership of these societies was 1,079 as on 31st June 1968. Mehkar block has been selected as a pilot block by the Buldhana District Development Board for initiating the pilot scheme of co-operative farming societies.

There were 11 co-operative farming societies in this block, of which 9 were under the pilot scheme.

The following table gives information about co-operative farming societies in the district in 1968:—

TABLE No. 7

CO-OPERATIVE FARMING SOCIETIES IN BULDHANA DISTRICT.

The following statement gives the area under cultivation and the production in 1968 under the auspices of the co-operative farming societies in this district: —

Financial assistance is given by the Government to these societies in various forms so as to strengthen their financial structure and to help them to implement their schemes vigorously and effectively. The following table reveals the financial assistance made available to co-operative farming societies in the district till 1968:—

TABLE No. 8

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CO-OPERATIVE FARMING SOCIETIES IN THE DISTRICT.

Bank loans.—Besides the assistance rendered by the Government, the District Central Co-operative Bank also gives short-term and medium-term loans to the co-operative farming societies. The Bank also gives loans for hybrid crop cultivation to these societies. The categoriwise loan given by the Buldhana District Central Cooperative Bank to these societies till 31st March 1969, is as under: —

Technical Guidance.—The Government has appointed two Agri-cultural Extension Officers for giving technical guidance to cooperative farming societies in the district. Out of 81 co-operative farming societies 36 were under the charge of Agricultural Extension Officer whose headquarters is at Buldhana; while 45 were under the charge of Agricultural Extension Officer whose headquarters is at Mehkar.

Loans for new wells.—Out of 81 co-operative farming societies, 59 societies were granted loans to the tune of Rs. 1,95,750 for digging new welis in 1965-66.

Loans for building godozvns.—Government has also given loans and grants to these co-operative farming societies for building their own godowns for storing their produce. So far the Government has given loans of Rs. 2,21,250 and grants of Rs. 73,750 to 59 co-operative farming societies for the above purpose.

It may be noted that for providing guidance directed towards increasing the production capacity of the co-operative farming societies, the district organisation of co-operative farming societies has been established, having a membership of 59 co-operative farming societies.

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