The Gazetteers Department

In stepping up the yield of various crops the quality of seeds counts considerably. The cultivators generally reserve a part of their produce till the next sowing season so as to utilise it as seed. Only the small and poor cultivators who cannot afford to do so depend on the outside supply for meeting their seed requirements. Besides, those cultivators who want to replace their old seed for the new promising varieties and those who want to undertake cultivation afresh, also depend upon the outside supply. The cultivator is very careful about the selection of good quality seed. If no particular care is taken in preserving the seeds, it often deteriorates in quality and brings about a reduction in the yield. Cultivators who have realised the importance of quality seed collected from the healthy and vigorous plants in their field keep it for the next sowing. The common practice is to obtain seed either from local merchants or from big cultivators. Several improved varieties suitable to the soil and climate of the district are obtained by the Department of Agriculture either by selection or by hybridisation at its research stations in the State or imported from other States. The taluka seed-farms in Buldhana district are the main sources of supplying seeds of improved variety to the registered seed growers who further multiply them. The distribution of quality seeds throughout the district is done; by co-operative societies and the Zilla Parishad.

There are nine taluka seed-farms in Buldhana district. These were established during second five-year, plan period. Foundation seed is produced on these taluka seed multiplication farms. The foundation seed of the taluka seed-farms is distributed in the selected villages. The multiplied seed thus obtained is further distributed to the cultivators of 4 to 6 villages in the proximity of the villages. The following statement gives the details about nine taluka seed multiplication farms in the district:—

Taluka Seed Multiplication Farms	Tahsil	Total area (in acres)	Area under cultivation, (in acres)
Malkapur	Malkapur	35.19	33.07
Nandura	Malkapur	53.12	47.15
Shegaon	Khamgaon	80.15	76.35
Pimpalgaon Raja	Khamgaon	49.25	42.20
Asalgaon	Jalgaon-Jamod	79.04	72.10
Warwat Khanderao	Jalgaon-Jamod	42.35	38.00
Shelsoor	Chikhli	35.00	30.10
Deulgaon Mahi	Chikhli	35.00	29.00
Sindkhed Raja	Mehkar	35.38	41.20
	Total	466.28	410.37

The area under improved seeds of different crops during 1967 68 and 1968-69 is given below:—

Sl. No.	Crop and Variety	Area in acres 1967-68	Area in acres 1968-69
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
1	Cotton L-147	38.07	30.25
2	Cotton Ak-277	46.25	71.11
3	Cotton B-1007	29.15	15.00
4	Groundnut AK-12-24	73.08	67.03
5	JowarNJ-156	54.07	29.31
6	Hy.jowar CSH-1	2.00	26.15
7	Hybrid jowar CSH-1 (seed production)	33.00	11.00
8	Mug (Kopargaon)	37.12	35.10
9	Hybrid Deccan maize	8.00	3.00
10	Udid No. 55	18.23	32.30
11	Wheat N-59	26.12	44.32
12	Wheat hybrid-65	6.00	6.00
13	Wheat NI-146	8.00	--
14	Wheat 747-19	10.00	19.07
15	Wheat S-227	2.00	--
16	Gram chafa	29.00	15.26
17	Gram N-31	8.00	--

The total crop-wise yield from these nine farms obtained during the same period is given below:—

Name of crop and variety	1967-68 (In quintals)	1968-69 (In quintals)
(1)	(2)	(3)
Jowar NJ-156	136.34	222.80
Mug Kopargaon	71.38	41.52
Udid No. 55	24.83	13.28
Tur No. 148	4.50	47.32
Hybrid jowar CSH-I	127.02	60.57
Groundnut AK-12-24	108.77	129.48
Wheat	144.10	121.72
Gram	45.80	53.11
Hybrid Deccan maize	8.22	9.60

The following seeds were distributed to the cultivators during the year 1968-69: —

Type of seed	Quantity (Quintals)
Hybrid jowar	3,250
Hybrid bajra	270
Hybrid maize	55
Local jowar	104
Improved wheat	212

The seed of local jowar was received from the taluka seed farms. The wheat seed was purchased from registered seed growers and hybrid seeds were supplied through the apex marketing societies. To ensure the quality of seed and the ready supply at reasonable rates, various incentives in terms of premium and subsidy or loan to the co-operative societies, the Zilla Parishad or cultivators are offered. The seed is subsequently multiplied on a larger area in the same manner.

Under the cotton extension scheme the varieties recommended and distributed by the Department of Agriculture are buri 147 and virnar 197-3. This scheme is financed partially by the Indian Central Cotton Committee and includes the virnar cotton seed distribution and multiplication scheme introduced in the district from 1958-59 and financed fully by the State Government.

The improved varieties of jowar, tur, Kopargaon mug, wheat, groundnut, etc., are also propagated and distributed by the Department of Agriculture. Improved vegetable seed is collected by the bagwans (dealers in vegetables) who sell it to the needy cultivators.

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