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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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SUGARCANE
Sugarcane (Ocs) is mainly grown as a garden crop in the district. The local varieties are "pondha", a whitish green soft cane considered excellent for chewing, and hatha, kala and banglia with harder and thinner cane, grown for gur. Sugar cane occupies an area of 2,992 acres in 1961-62 and 1,797 hectares in 1971-72. Mehkar and Chikhli, the major sugarcane growing tahsils, accounted for 1,620 hectares or 90.15 per cent of the total area under sugarcane cultivation in 1971-72 in the district. The table No. 15 gives tahsilwise area and outturn of sugarcane for some years from 1956-57 to 1971-72.
TABLE No. 15
TAHSILWISE AREA AND OUT-TURN OF SUGARCANE IN BULDHANA
DISTRICT.
|
Tahsil |
Year |
Area
under Sugarcane
(In Acres*) |
Out-turn of Sugarcane
(In Tons†) | |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) | |
Chikhli |
1956-57 |
905 |
724 |
1960-61 |
1,595 |
1,176 |
1964-65 |
1,633 |
-- |
1968-69 |
563 |
-- |
1971-72 |
888 |
-- |
Mehkar |
1956-57 |
546 |
541 |
1960-61 |
1,317 |
1,300 |
1964-65 |
1,626 |
-- |
1968-69 |
826 |
-- |
1971-72 |
732 |
-- |
Khamgaon |
1956-57 |
46 |
56 |
1960-61 |
56 |
54 |
1964-65 |
82 |
-- |
1968-69 |
74 |
-- |
1971-72 |
117 |
-- |
Malkapur |
1956-57 |
61 |
66 |
1960-61 |
63 |
60 |
1964-65 |
67 |
-- |
1968-69 |
61 |
-- |
1971-72 |
37 |
-- |
Jalgaon |
1956-57 |
27 |
30 |
1960-61 |
32 |
32 |
1964-65 |
62 |
-- |
1968-69 |
48 |
-- |
1971-72 |
23 |
-- |
District Total |
1956-57 |
1,585 |
1,417 |
1960-61 |
3,063 |
2,622 |
1964-65 |
3,470 |
-- |
1968-69 |
1,572 |
11,900 |
1971-72 |
1,797 |
11,700 |
*Figures for 1968-69 and 1971-72 are in hectares.
†Figures for 1968-69 and 1971-72 are in terms of gur. District figures are available only.
Sugarcane is usually grown as an irrigated crop in rich black soil, though highly manured, light soils are also favourable to its growth. The crop requires intensive cultivation, ample manurial treatment and plenty of irrigation water. Deep ploughing, harrowing and clod crushing are essential. Before planting, farmyard manure is spread and ridges and furrows are prepared Necessary channels are also prepared for irrigation. The selected choppings or sets (seed cane cut into pieces) are then planted in January. Frequent waterings are done after planting. Interculturing and weeding are essential till the plants are young. Top dressing in the form of groundnut cake and sulphate of ammonia result in good growth of the crop. Harvesting of sugarcane starts from December and lasts up to March.
An improved variety of sugarcane Co-419, has recently been introduced in the district. The variety gives a better yield. A Sugarcane Development Scheme has recently been implemented in the district with a view to increasing its production, by adoption of improved agronomic practices.
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