AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

CO-OPERATIVE FARMING

For stepping up agricultural production and for ensuring eco- nomic cultivation, an increase in 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. The first co-operative farming society in the district was organized in 1943 and by 1957-58 the number of such societies rose to 17.

There are four kinds of co-operative farming societies, which are separately described in the following paragraphs: —

(i) Co-operative Collective Farming.—The society itself cultivates the land which it owns or takes on lease. No dividend is paid on the share capital. Members get wages

for their work and a bonus is paid in proportion to their wages. Members have the option to withdraw from such a. society, in which case they get back their capital. There was only one such society in the district.

(ii) Co-operative Tenant Farming.—The co-operative tenant farming society owns land or gets it on lease, but [aiming is not carried on 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. There were nine societies of this type in the district.

(iii) Co-operative Better Farming.—The ownership and management of land rest with the individual The society provides better seeds, manures and facilities for irrigation, storage and marketing. There were four better farming societies.

(iv) Co-operative Joint Farming.—To enjoy the advantages of large-scale farming and to solve the problem of sub-division and fragmentation of holdings, this kind of fanning is most suited. The land of small owners is pooled into one unit, though proprietorship rests with individual members. There were three joint farming societies.

The following statement gives particulars in respect of farming societies in Jalgaon district in 1957-58: —

TABLE No. 17.

DETAILS OF FARMING SOCIETIES IN JALGAON DISTRICT, 1957-58.

Most of these societies have been organised by and for the members of Backward Classes. In addition to loan from the Government towards share capital, a society gets financial assistance on a prescribed scale in the form of (i) subsidy for seeds and manures, (ii) managerial subsidy and (iii) loan and subsidy for land development. Further, if selected for intensive development, a society may be granted loans for such purposes as digging wells, bunding and levelling, installation of pumping sets, purchase of implements and accessories and construction of cattle sheds and godowns. Two societies were selected for intensive development.

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