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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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OIL SEEDS
Of the oil-seeds produced in the district linseed and sesamum are the most important and cover a larger proportion of the total
and area under oil-seeds in the district. The other minor oil-seeds
grown in the district are castor and groundnut. All the oil-seeds together occupied 12.35 per cent of the gross cropped area of the district as against 8.18 per cent for the State between 1957-58 and 1959-60. Of the area under oil-seeds, viz., 12.35 per cent, groundnut occupied only 0.03 per cent of the gross cropped area. The remaining of the gross cropped area, with the exception of small percentage of castor, was covered by linseed and sesamum. Linseed and sesamum are cultivated all over the district. The cultivation of sesamum and linseed is concentrated in Warora, Chandrapur and Rajura tahsils. The tables given below give the acreage under these oil-seels and their outturn in the district between 1956-57 and 1961-62.
TABLE No. 17
TAHSIL-WISE AREA UNDER OIL-SEEDS IN CHANDRAPUR DISTRICT FROM 1956-57 TO 1961-62
(Area in hectares*)
Tahsil |
Year |
Groundnut |
Sesamum |
Linseed |
Castor |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
Warora |
1956-57 |
19.830 (49) |
16,478.004 (40,718) |
21,763.204 (53,778) |
149.735 (370) |
1957-58 |
84.579 (209) |
21,314.002
(52,663) |
17,828.037 (44,054) |
125.048 (309) |
1958-59 |
31.161 (77) |
26,654.239 (65,864) |
12,431.549 (30,719) |
112.098 (277) |
1959-60 |
20.639 (61) |
19,299.880 (47,691) |
17,281.306 (42,703) |
151.757 (375) |
1960-61 |
4.047
(10) | 23,352.406 (57,705) |
12,762.178 (31,536) |
124.288 (307) |
1961-62 |
15.783 (39) |
17,891.977 (44,212) |
14,116.257 (34,882) |
97.125 (240) |
Chandrapur |
1956-57 |
103.195 (255) |
8,366.883 (20,675) |
9,698.705 (23,966) |
56.656 (140) |
1957-58 |
140.021 (346) |
7,914.039 (19,556) |
9,189.610 (22,708) |
74.057 (183) |
1958-59 |
139.617 (345) |
10,405.286 (25,712) |
6,552.271 (16,191) |
49.372 (122) |
1959-60 |
22.258 (55) |
5,915.700 (14,618) |
7,516.638 (18,574) |
57.061 (141) |
1960-61 |
40.873 (101) |
10,041.474 (24,813) |
4,939.59 (12,206) |
51.395 (127) |
1961-62 |
8.094
(20) | 7,710.482 (19,053) |
6,739.236 (16,653) |
50.990 (126) |
* Figures In brackets indicate area in acres.
TABLE No. 17-contd.
(Area in hectares*)
Tahsil |
Year |
Groundnut |
Sesamum |
Linseed |
Castor |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
Brahmapuri |
1956-57 |
19.425 (48) |
116.954 (289) |
5,000.705 (12,357) |
118.168 (292) |
1957-58 |
19.830 (49) |
74.057 (183) |
3,764.389 (9,302) |
56.656 (140) |
1958-59 |
11.331 (28) |
137.998 (341) |
3,222.110 (7,962) |
49.776 (123) |
1959-60 |
4.451
(11) |
66.368 (164) |
3,557.595 (8,791) |
148.924 (368) |
1960-61 |
1.214
(3) |
57.465 (142) |
3,233.036 (7,989) |
138.807 (343) |
1961-62 |
1.214
(3) |
87.412 (216) |
3,494.464 (8,635) |
38.040 (94) |
Gadhchiroli |
1956-57 |
0.405 (1) |
624.835 (1,544) |
4,895.082 (12,096) |
60.703 (150) |
1957-58 |
1.619 (4) |
380.000 (939) |
3,162.621 (7,815) |
48.562 (120) |
1958-59 |
-- |
1,105.197 (2,731) |
3,303.452 (8,163) |
17.401 (43) |
1959-60 |
0.405
(1) | 475.911 (1,176) |
4,156.934 (10,272) |
68.392 (169) |
1960-61 |
0.405
(1) | 1,673.781 (4,136) |
2,629.650 (6,498) |
51.800 (128) |
1961-62 |
0.405
(1) | 1,036.401 (2,561) |
3,098.276 (7,656) |
57.465 (142) |
Sironcha |
1956-57 |
9.308 (23) |
1,628.456 (4,024) |
333.056 (823) |
10.926 (27) |
1957-58 |
4.856 (12) |
1,547.924 (3,825) |
333.056 (823) |
1 1.331
(28) |
1958-59 |
4.451 (11) |
1,609.841 (3,978) |
186.965 (462) |
23.876 (59) |
1959-60 |
4.856 (12) |
847.817 (2,095) |
233.099 (576) |
50.586 (125) |
1960-61 |
1.214 (3) |
2,026.667 (5,008) |
135.570 (335) |
37.231 (92) |
1961-62 |
0.405 (1) |
1,435.421 (3,547) |
276.400 (683) |
26.305 (65) |
Rajura |
1959-60 |
17.806 (44) |
5,090.545 (12,579) |
8,301.239 (21,007) |
37.636 (93) |
1960-61 |
14.164 (35) |
7,996.191 (19,759) |
6,568.054 (16,230) |
162.279 (401) |
1961-62 |
2.428 (6) |
5,224.901 (12,911) |
6,154.465 (15,208) |
37.636 (93) |
District Total |
1956-57 |
152.162 (376) |
27,215.133 (67,250) |
41,690.752 (103,020) |
396.997 (981) |
1957-58 |
250.905 (620) |
31,230.023 (77,171) |
34,277.713 (84,702) |
315.655 (780) |
1958-59 |
186.560 (461) |
39,912.561 (98,626) |
25,696.347 (63,497) |
252.524 (624) |
1959-60 |
70.415 (174) |
31,696.221 (78,323) |
41,246.811 (101,923) |
514.356 (1,271) |
1960-61 |
61.917 (153) |
45,147.984 (111,563) |
30,268.085 (74,794) |
565.751 (1,398) |
1961-62 |
28.328 (70) |
33,386.595 (82,500) |
33,879.098 (83,717) |
307.561 (760) |
* Figures in brackets indicate area in acres.
TABLE No. 18
TAHSIL-WISE OUTTURN OF OIL-SEEDS IN CHANDRAPUR DISTRICT FROM 1956-57 TO 1963-64
(Figures in metric tonnes*)
Tahsil |
Year |
Groundnut |
Sesamum |
Linseed |
Castor |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
Warora | 1956-57 |
13.208 (13) |
3,048.000 (3,000) |
4,591.304 (4,519) |
60.960 (60) |
1957-58 |
40.640 (40) |
3,989.832 (3,927) |
4,156.456 (4,091) |
46.736 (46) |
1958-59 |
19.304 (19) |
4,988.560 (4,910) |
2,619.248 (2,578) |
41.656 (41) |
1959-60 |
12.192 (12) |
3,625.088 (3,568) |
4,451.096 (4,381) |
56.896 (56) |
1960-61 |
3.048 (3) |
4,370.832 (4,302) |
27,762.200 (27,325) |
41.656 (41) |
1961-62 |
6.096 (6) |
2,729.992 (2,687) |
3,000.248 (2,953) |
40.640 (40) |
1962-63 |
4.064 (4) |
3,950.208 (3,888) |
2,527.808 (2,488) |
38.608 (38) |
1963-64 |
19.304 (19) |
3,965.448 (3,903) |
2,378.456 (2,341) |
35.560 (35) |
Chandrapur |
1956-57 |
54.864 (54) |
1,407.160 (1,385) |
2,044.192 (2,012) |
21.336 (21) |
1957-58 |
68.072 (67) |
1,028.192 (1,012) |
1,936.496 (1,906) |
27.432 (27) |
1958-59 |
84.328 (83) |
1,947.672 (1,917) |
1,681.480 (1,655) |
18.288 (18) |
1959-60 |
13.208 (13) |
1,111.504 (1,094) |
1,936.496 (1,906) |
19.304 (19) |
1960-61 |
24.384
(24) |
1,879.600 (1,850) |
10,748.264 (10,579) |
19.304 (19) |
1961-62 |
3.048 (3) |
1,018.032 (1,002) |
1,596.136 (1,571) |
21.336 (21) |
1962-63 |
5.080
(5) |
2,427.224 (2,389) |
1,191.448 (1,153) |
14.224 (14) |
1963-64 |
-- |
1,640.840 (1,615) |
1,250.696 (1,231) |
13.208 (13) |
Brahmapuri |
1956-57 |
44.704 (44) |
21.336 (21) |
1,266.952
(1,247) |
47.752 (47) |
1957-58 |
9.144 (9) |
14.224 (14) |
793.496 (781) |
21.336 (21) |
1958-59 |
7.112 (7) |
28.448 (28) |
827.024 (814) |
18.288 (18) |
1959-60 |
3.048 (3) |
13.208 (13) |
916.432 (902) |
55.880 (55) |
1960-61 |
1.016 (1) |
4.064 (4) |
7,034.784 (6,924) |
56.896 (56) |
1961-62 |
-- |
12.192 (12) |
828.040 (815) |
14.224 (14) |
1962-63 |
-- |
13.208 (13) |
768.096 (756) |
12.192 (12) |
1963-64 |
2.032 (2) |
14.224 (14) |
663.448 (653) |
10.160 (10) |
Gadhchiroli |
1956-57 |
-- |
93.472 (92) |
1,030.224 (1,014) |
20.320 (20) |
1957-58 |
1.016 (1) |
60.960 (60) |
639.064 (629) |
18.288 (18) |
1958-59 |
-- |
247.904 (244) |
691.896 (681) |
17.272 (17) |
1959-60 |
-- |
161.544 (159) |
1,070.864 (1,054) |
15.240 (15) |
1960-61 |
-- |
312.928 (308) |
5,722.112 (5,632) |
19.304 (19) |
1961-62 |
-- |
157.480 (155) |
733.552 (722) |
21.336 (21) |
1962-63 |
-- |
227.584 (224) |
780.288 (768) |
21.336 (21) |
1963-64 |
1.016 (1) |
196.088 (193) |
353.568 (348) |
24.384 (24) |
*Figures in brackets indicate outturn in tonnes
TABLE No. 18-contd.
(Figures in metric tonnes")
Tahsil |
Year |
Groundnut |
Sesamum |
Linseed |
Castor |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
Sironcha |
1956-57 |
4.064
(4) |
274.320 (270) |
70.104 (69) |
4.064 (4) |
1957-58 |
2.032
(2) |
230.632 (227) |
67.056
(66) |
4.064 (4) |
1958-59 |
1.016
(1) |
301.752 (297) |
45.720
(45) |
9.144 (9) |
1959-60 |
1.016
(1) |
158.496 (156) |
59.944
(59) |
22.352 (22) |
1960-61 |
1.016
(1) |
378.968 (373) |
294.640 (290) |
14.224
(14) | 1961-62 |
-- |
218.440 (215) |
58.928
(58) |
11.176 (11) |
1962-63 |
-- |
334.264 (329) |
51.816
(51) |
9.144 (9) |
1963-64 |
-- |
204.216 (201) |
46.736
(46) |
10.160 (10) |
Rajura |
1956-57 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1957-58 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1958-59 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1959-60 |
10.160 (10) |
959.104 (944) |
2,148.840 (2,115) |
14.224
(14) | 1960-61 |
8.128
(8) | 1,496.568 (1,473) |
14,296.136
(1 4,071) |
60.960 (60) |
1961-62 |
1.016
(1) |
684.784 (674) |
1,456.944 (1,434) |
15.240
(15) |
1962-63 |
3.048 (3) |
1,132.840 (1,115) |
1,150.112 (1,132) |
14.224
(14) |
1963-64 |
2.032 (2) |
935.736 (921) |
1,120.648 (1,103) |
12.192 (12) |
District Total |
1956-57 |
116.340 (115) |
4,844.288 (4,768) |
9,002.776 (8,861) |
154.432 (152) |
1957-58 |
120.904 (119) |
5,323.840 (5,240) |
7,592.568 (7,473) |
117.856 (116) |
1958-59 |
111.760 (110) |
7,514.336 (7,396) |
5,865.368 (5,773) |
104.648 (103) |
1959-60 |
39.624 (39) |
6,028.944 (5,934) |
10,583.672 (10 417) |
183.896 (181) |
1960-61 |
37.592 (37) |
8,442.960 (8,310) |
65,858.136 (64,821) |
212.344 (209) |
1961-62 |
10.160 (10) |
4,820.920 (4,745) |
7,673.848 (7,553) |
123.952 (122) |
1962-63 |
12.192 (12) |
8,085.328 (7,958) |
6,449.568 (6,348) |
109.728 (108) |
1963-64 |
24.384 (24) |
6,956.552 (6,847) |
5,813.552 (5,722) |
105.664 (104) |
*Figures in brackets indicate outturn in tonnes.
Linseed.
Linseed or alshi, gives best result if sown in black soil having
high clay and lime contents. It is also grown on light alluvial
soil. Usually the crop is produced in rain season. The sowing
is done in October and harvesting in February-March. Linseed occupies the highest acreage in the district. This crop has been cultivated since long. The old gazetteer of the district has the following to say about it: " Linseed is a troublesome and precarious crop, but popular, since, if successful, it is a very paying investment. Like wheat, it is usually sown after jwari or cotton, but unlike wheat, it is very exhausting to the soil, and it is said that no good crop, except perhaps cotton, can
be obtained for two or three years from land where it has been sown. Two hundred and fifty pounds is a normal outturn."
The cultivation of the crop requires ploughing and harrowings. The land is kept ready for sowing by the end of September. The sowing is done in the month of October when the rains have almost ceased. One or two hand-weedings are done. The crop gets ready for harvesting by February. As the seeds have a tendency to shed easily, the plants are uprooted when the capsules are just ripe and begin to open. Sometimes the harvesting is done by cutting the plants close to the ground. The seeds are separated by the usual method of trampling under the feet of bullocks.
Sesamum.
Next to linseed, til is the most important oilseed in the district.
It is grown in both the kharif as well as the rabi season. Rabi sesamum is sown in the month of September as such it can be called either late kharif or early rabi sesamum. Though it is a rain-fed crop, heavy rains ruin it especially at the time when the flowers are fertilized. It is grown either in sandy light or black soil. A description in respect of the cultivation of the crop as given in the old gazetteer of the district, is as under: -
" Til is sown chiefly as a spring crop; the seed is so small that it is mixed with powdered cow-dung previous to sowing to prevent an excessive quantity passing through the coulter at one time. Only one and a half or two pounds of seed are required to the acre, and the outturn is about 200 lbs. for the kharif and 300 lbs. for the rabi crop. When dry the seeds run out of the pods by the mere force of gravitation when the plant is held head downwards, so all the labour of threshing is obviated. "
The method of til cultivation except for some improved strains, has remained more or less the same. The field is got ready by ploughing and repeated harrowings. The crop is either drilled or sown broadcast. It takes about four and a half months to ripen. Kharif sesamum is often followed by rabi gram or jowar, udid, etc. However, as the crop is supposed to exhaust the soil the crops that are grown after sesamum have to be well manured so as to keep the fields in good condition. White, red and black
are the three varieties of til grown in the district. The average
yield of til crop when grown pure amounts to about 300-400 lbs.
per acre.
Castor.
The other oil-seeds grown in the district are groundnut and castor. These are, however, minor crops and occupy very small area as compared to these described above. Amongst these two minor crops, castor is produced on a larger scale than groundnut. Its cultivation is concentrated in Warora, Brahmapuri and Chandrapur tahsils.
Castor is grown both in kharif as well, as rabi season on a variety of soils such as sandy, clayey, light alluvial loams, rough gravelly uplands, etc. There are two types of castor plants grown in the district: the annual and the perennial. The annual crop is smaller than the perennial one. it is generally grown along the irrigation water channels, on the borders of sugarcane fields, in garden lands and also bordering the chilli fields. The kharif castor is usually sown in June-July and gets ready for harvesting in December-January. When sown as pure crop, the castor seeds are dibbled and the distance kept between the plants is about three feet each way. The first fruits are harvested some time in December-January. The plants keep bearing for several months afterwards. The fruits are even gathered till the end of February of the next year. The fruits are then heaped up. This results in the skin of the fruit getting black. Afterwards these fruits are spread out in the sun to dry. The seeds are then beaten with
sticks, winnowed and screened to remove from them husks, dry skins, etc.
The oil extracted from the castor seeds has great demand in the soap industry. It is also used for lighting purposes and for lubrication.
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