AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

SUGARCANE

Sugarcane (Oos), an important cash crop, is now being increasingly taken in the district. The total area under sugarcane has showed an increase from 974.484 hectares (2.408 acres) in 1952-53 to 2,643.004 hectares (6,531 acres) in 1961-62. It is mainly produced in Sakri taluka. In 1952-53. the total acreage under sugarcane in Sakri taluka was 657.210 hectares (1,624 acres). It increased to 1,038.829 hectares (2,567 acres) in 1961-62. Thus about 68 per cent of the total cultivation of the crop in 1952-53 was in Sakri taluka alone. In 1961-62, however, the percentage went down to 40 even though the area under sugarcane crop was the highest in the district. The fall in the percentage could be explained by the comparative increasing scale on which the crop is being raised in other talukas also. The government has recently sanctioned a sugarcane factory on a co-operative basis at Sakri.

The following tables show the taluka-wise distribution of the area under sugarcane and its outturn in the district from 1952-53 to 1961-62:-

TABLE No. 22.

AREA UNDER SUGARCANE, DHULIA DISTRICT.

(Figures in .00 acres except for 1969-70)

TABLE No. 23.

OUTTURN OF SUGARCANE, DHULIA DISTRICT.

(Figures in .00 Tons except for 1969-70)

The sugarcane crop is essentially a tropical crop and for high outturns moist hot climate and ample supply of water arc necessary, ft is entirely an irrigated crop. The crops in the district is grown on heavy black and well drained soils. The preseasonal planting of the crop is done in October and November. The usual seasonal planting on the other hand is carried out in December and January. The crop takes about a year for harvesting.

The soil is ploughed well in time about out: and a half months prior to planting. Two deep ploughings and in addition about three harrowings are given. The earthing up of soil which is done twice or thrice is completed before the advent of rains. The land is first put into ridges and furrows and the required channels are prepared for irrigation before planting. Water is first let into the furrows and when the soil is wet. selected sets are put in and pressed. The distance between the furrows, however, depends upon the quality of cane and the soil. In the district the distance between the two furrows, generally in the black soil, is between 0.914 and 1.219 metres (3 and 4 feet). About 12,000 to 15000 sets are planted in an acre. CO/419 and CO/740 are the improved varieties of cane which have been recommended by the Agriculture department of the State. The rotation crops grown in the district include cotton, jowar and groundnut.

The timely application of manures Jand fertilisers in sufficient quantitv helps increase the yield. The average yield of the crop per acre in the district comes to about 40.64 metric tonnes (40 tons). A basal dose of 20 to 40 cart loads of farm yard manure or compost is given to an acre. Half of the dose is applied before planting. Fertilisers are also applied. The following table shows the different closes of fertilisers given to the crop in different seasons:-

TABLE No. 24

DOSES OF FERTILIZERS GIVEN TO SUGARCANE

(IN KILOGRAMS)

[Figures in brackets indicate the doses of fertilisers in pounds.]

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