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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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MANURES
Among the concentrated efforts which comprise multifarious
programmes to augment the food production, appliance of manures
and fertilisers is of prime importance. Two kinds of
manures—chemical fertilisers and rural and town compost, can be
applied.
The agriculturists in the district are still following their own
traditional methods of cultivation. The improved methods of
agriculture are still to cross the boundaries of the farm-yard of
the big agriculturists. However, the experts and the extension
workers of the department of agriculture with strenuous efforts on
their part are propagating the importance and the necessity of
applying the fertilisers by organising village leaders' training
camps and live demonstrations. In order to enable the average
farmer to purchase fertilisers, the government has made a
provision to advance tagai loans to the cultivators. Similarly,
for popularising the use of fertiliser mixtures, a subsidy of Rs.
20 per metric ton is given to the cultivator. The cultivators in
the district mostly prefer ammonium sulphate among nitrogenous
fertilisers. However, efforts are being made to persuade the
farmers to use phosphatic and potassic fertilisers in sufficient
quantities. Usually, the fertilisers are distributed through the
co operative societies under the directions of the Zilla Parishad.
The government allots the quota of fertilisers as per targets. As
the co-operative societies are limited in number and not in a
position to open distributing centres in the interior parts and as
some of them are in an unsound financial condition, the government
has given some facilities and concessions to sub-agents and
wholesalers to supply fertilisers in the rural areas.
Compost is prepared by conserving cattle urine, dung and litter in
a pit of 10'x6'x3'.
The government has proposed an experimental scheme with a view to
utilising night soil and refuse for manurial purpose. Under the
scheme latrines at concessional rates are to be constructed in the
rural areas and would be given a subsidy up to Rs. 75. Apart from
organic and inorganic manures, due importance is given to the
green manuring which provides nutrients to the soil at a little
cost. The tag seeds are sown and buried when they grow to a height
of 0.305 m. (one foot) in the field by means of a hoe. This
infuses nitrogen in the soil. In order to encourage green manuring
a subsidy of 25 per cent is admissible on the cost of tag seeds.
Under the compost scheme, one assistant compost development
officer at the divisional level, who is assisted by one compost
inspector in the district, looks after the development of local
manurial resources.
Usually, manure is carted to the field, and small heaps
(especially of compost) are put in rows at a convenient distance.
After the first showers, the heaps of compost are spread with a
spade and then mixed in the field by harrowing the land. The
chemical fertilisers on the other hand are broadcast before sowing
and then mixed with soil by harrowing the field. Sometimes manures
are given in two instalments. The quantity of manure to be applied
varies from field to field and from crop to crop. The heavy doses
of manure require abundant watersupply.
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