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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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DRUGS AND NARCOTICS
Drugs and narcotics occupy a very small area in the district. Tobacco and betel leaves (nagvel pan) are the only varieties grown in the district. The area under them was 25 hectares in 1971-72.
The following table gives the tahsilwise area under drugs and narcotics in Buldhana district for some years from 1956-57 to 1971-72. Table No. 14 gives the tahsilwise outturn of tobacco in the district for the same years.
TABLE No. 13
AREA UNDER DRUGS AND NARCOTICS (TAHSILWISE) IN BULDHANA
DISTRICT
(In Acres*) |
Tahsil |
Year |
Tobacco |
Betel Leaves |
Total Drugs and Narcotics | |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
Chikhli |
1956-57 |
51 |
-- |
51 |
1960-61 |
37 |
66 |
103 |
1964-65 |
2 |
-- |
2 |
1968-69 |
1 |
N.A. |
1 |
1971-72 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Mehkar |
1956-57 |
22 |
-- |
22 |
1960-61 |
3 |
-- |
3 |
1964-65 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1968-69 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1971-72 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Khamgaon |
1956-57 |
43 |
-- |
43 |
1960-61 |
83 |
-- |
83 |
1964-65 |
4 |
-- |
4 |
1968-69 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1971-72 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Malkapur |
1956-57 |
102 |
-- |
102 |
1960-61 |
77 |
-- |
77 |
1964-65 |
11 |
-- |
11 |
1968-69 |
1 |
-- |
1 |
1971-72 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Jalgaon |
1956-57 |
3 |
-- |
3 |
1960-61 |
3 |
69 |
72 |
1964-65 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1968-69 |
-- |
-- |
30 |
1971-72 |
-- |
-- |
25 |
|
District Total |
1956-57 |
221 |
-- |
221 |
1960-61 |
203 |
135 |
338 |
1964-65 |
17 |
-- |
17 |
1968-69 |
2 |
-- |
32 |
1971-72 |
-- |
-- |
25 |
*Figures for 1968-69 and 1971-72 are in hectares.
TABLE No. 14
TAHSILWISE OUT-TURN OF TOBACCO IN BULDHANA DISTRICT.
(In Tons) |
Name of the Tahsil |
(Year) | |
1956-57 |
1960-61 |
1964-65 |
1968-69 |
1971-72 | |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) | |
Chikhli |
8 |
5 |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. | |
Mehkar |
3 |
1 |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. | |
Khamgaon |
7 |
5 |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. | |
Malkapur |
16 |
13 |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. | |
Jalgaon |
-- |
1 |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. | |
District Total |
34 |
25 |
N.A. |
-- |
-- |
Tobacco.—Tobacco (tambakhu) occupied an area of 188 acres in 1961-62 and 2 hectares in 1968-69. Tobacco crop thrives well in red, sandy loams and rich alluvial soils. Dry climate and low rainfall are suitable for the good growth of tobacco leaves. The seed is sown in specially prepared seed beds by the end of June and the seedlings are transplanted in August-September. The transplantation is done only when the seedlings have four leaves and are about four inches in height. They have to be protected from animals as also from heat by covering them with thorned sticks and straws. They also have to be carefully protected from caterpillars. The crop requires liberal manuring. The crop matures within five months. Only well grown leaves are maintained and the others are nipped off. Harvesting is done in February and March, as the leaves are ripe by that time. After harvesting, the leaves are dried in the sun for about a week. A decoction of hot spices like lavang, ale etc., is spread on the leaves which are kept under a heap of soil for some days to be ready for marketing. Tobacco is usually purchased by the wholesale merchants of tobacco in the district.
Betel-leaf.— Betel-leaf (vidyachi pane, nagvel pan) is one of the garden crops in this district and occupied a very small area. It is grown only in Jalgaon and Chikhli tahsils. The varieties grown are the kapuri and ban gala. The crop requires abundant supply of water. In order to support the betel vines, numerous trees and plants such as shevri, pangara, hadga and shevga are planted. The vines are planted in October with cuttings obtained from the best shoots of older plants. The leaves are ripe for picking after two years. The vines continue to bear for twenty to thirty years if they are properly maintained. The cultivation of betel-vines is very costly and hence requires adequate financial resources. The vines have to be protected from the hot winds in the summer.
Besides medicinal uses, betel leaves are chewed with betel nut, lime, catechu and sometimes with tobacco and aromatics like cloves, cardamom and nutmeg.
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