AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

co-OPERATIVE FARMING

Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economic lite. All efforts, therefore, should be made to make agriculture a surplus industry and to remove the causes of low production. For stepping up agricultural production and for ensuring economic cultivation, an increase in the size of the unit of cultivation is necessary. Here co-operative farming, which implies pooling of land and joint management, has direct relevance. Without undermining the sense of proprietorship and the incentive to industry that it gives, co-operative farming can produce all the advantages that a large farm possesses. Government have, therefore, sanctioned a special comprehensive scheme of co-operative farming, indicating therein the main types of co-operative farming societies which are envisaged and the scales on which financial assistance is available to farming societies. Assistance is to be provided in the form of (a) loans at a low rate of interest and subsidy for land improvement, (b) contribution to share capital of the society, (c) subsidies for meeting the cost of seeds and manures during the first three years, (d) subsidies for managerial expenses during the same period, and (e) concession in the form of remission in land revenue on private lands pooled for co-operative farming. The concession of grant of government waste lands available on long lease on permanent occupancy basis has also been extended to co-operative farming societies.

The following are the four main types in which co-operative societies may be organised under the scheme.

Co-operative Collective Farming Society

The society itself cultivates the land which it owns or takes of lease. No dividend is paid on the share capital. Members gave wages for their work and a bonus is paid in proportion to the wages. Members have the option to withdraw from such a society, in which case they get back their capital.

Co-operative Joint Farming Society

To secure the advantages of large-scale farming and to solve the problem of sub-division and fragmentation of holdings this kind of farming is most suited. The land of small owners is pooled into one unit, though proprietorship rests with individual members.

Co-operative Tenant Farming Society

The co-operative tenant farming society owns land or gets it on lease, but it does not undertake farming by itself. Land is divided into blocks and each block is given on rent to a cultivator who has to produce according to a plan laid down by the society.

The society gives its members all facilities regarding seed, finance and implements.

Co-operative Better Farming Society

The ownership and management of land rest with the individual. The society provides better seeds, manures and facilities for irrigation, storage and marketing.

Thus where large area of land is available on lease from landlords or from the government, co-operative collective farming societies can be organised. The co-operative collective farming society has all the features of a co-operative joint farming society except that in the former the land belongs to the society as freehold or lease-hold, whereas in the latter the land is held by the members as owners or tenants. The lands which are available to collective farming society may or may not be under cultivation. Where they are under cultivation and the society is in a position to command resources required for cultivation, the task of organisation would he easier than where the lands are fallow and uncultivated and considerable initial expenditure is necessary to develop the lands to make them culturable. The promoters are, therefore, required firstly to ascertain the conditions on which lands are available. They also have to prepare the scheme working out details about the initial cost of developing lands, the manner of raising funds to meet the cost, the contribution which the promoters expect to make in cash or in kind, the nature and extent of government assistance if any and submit the scheme to the Registrar of Co-operative Societies, in consultation with the local officers of agricultural department, for registration.

The idea of co-operative farming is rather new to the Bhir district. Although the literacy percentage of the district is the lowest in the state, the agricultural population is economically favourably placed and people are willing to undertake new methods of production and follow improved means of cultivation.

The following table gives information about Co-operative Farming in Bhir district as on 30th June 1963.

TABLE No. 10.

*Figures in brackets are in acres.

The members of these societies work on the pooled lands in accordance with the directions of the elected committee and the manager appointed by it. The managing committee has full authority to carry on the business of the society subject to the provisions of the bye-laws and directions conveyed in general body resolution. In case of collective farming societies all farm-work is done as far as possible, by the members only. Payment of wages is made according to the scales fixed by the annual general body meeting. The society makes arrangements for the supply of all requisites of cultivation.

All the seven co-operative farming societies in Bhir district are yet in an infant stage. In respect of some collective farming societies, the question of securing title to the land is also still not finalised However, the working of the joint co-operative farming society at Kalegaonghat deserves special mention. The society secured finance of Rs. 8,000 as a short-term loan from a bank and has developed ancillary activities such as poultry-farming, brick-making, tailoring, etc. The society has bought an engine worth Rs. 6,000 and has installed it on its well. The work of other societies is closely watched by the co-operative department and necessary guidance is provided from time to time for speeding up the work.

The Bhir tahsil has been selected by the Bhir district development board for initiating pilot schemes of co-operative farming during the Third Five Year Plan period. Efforts are in progress to organise co-operative farming societies in the following ten villages of this tahsil: (1) Limba Ganesh, (2) Sakshal Pimpari, (3) Limba Rui, (4) Belura, (5) Pali, (6) Bheral Pimpri, (7) Kapre Pangri, (8) Pimpalner, (9) Yellam, and (10) Neknur.

In conclusion, it can be said that the people have favourably responded to the principle of co-operative farming.