AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

FRUITS

Jalgaon is an important fruit-producing centre in the State, the talukas of Raver, Yawal, Pachora and Jamner being of particular importance. The important fruits of this region are banana, sweet orange, guava and papaya. The following table gives area under fruits in 1956-57: —

TABLE No. 32

AREA IN ACRES UNDER FRUITS (FRESH AND DRY) IN EACH TALUKA OF JALGAON DISTRICT IN 1956-57.

TABLE No. 32 - continued.

Kele .

Kele (banana) is an extensively grown fruit of the district which held a leading position in the old Bombay State in respect of the cultivation of this crop. It occupied about 85 per cent of the total area under fruits in the district, the talukas of Raver, Yawal, jamner and Pachora being the biggest producers. Bananas arc taken in the deep retentive clayey soils having good drainage. After a thorough preparation of the land, the field is manured at the rate of about 50 cart-loads of farm-yard manure per acre. No pits are dug but shallow furrows crossing each other are prepared. Suckers are planted at each crossing of the furrows in loose surface soil. Usually, the suckers are planted during June— August, though some cultivators plant them in October also. During rainy season, no watering is necessary. Irrigation is given from September onwards and continues up to beginning of the next monsoon, as large quantities of water that are discharged from the broad leaves have to be made good in time. As windy situation is harmful for the banana plant, strong wind-breaks are provided on the windward side.

Spacing of the crop depends on the varieties grown. In the case of Basarai (which is the main variety grown here), it is 5'x 5'. About 2,000 suckers are planted over an area of an acre. After planting, two harrowings are given to remove weeds. Irrigation beds are repaired. Top-dressing of oil-cake is also given in the third and the fourth months, when earthing up is also done. Flowering starts after about nine months and continues for three to four months; it takes about nine months and continues for three to four months; it takes about 18—20 months after planting, for the whole crop to come to maturity. Banana is harvested when the fruits get rounded and the dry petals drop down from the end of fruits. Where bananas are exported, they are harvested green and, on reaching the destination, they are artificially ripened. An average plantation of banana yields about 40.000 lbs. per acre. An average bunch contains about 100 to 150 fruits.

Banana can be allowed to multiply in the same field, though certain varieties like basarai degenerate if allowed to multiply in the same field and are hence grown on a fresh piece of land which has been fallow or cultivated under dry crops. In the case of other varieties, sometimes even more than 2-3 crops can be taken one after another from succeeding sucker generations.

Banana is a highly nutritious fruit. The flower spike (kelful) or plantain flower is used as a vegetable and the juice of the inner part of the stem which comes out as soon as the fruit is harvested is used in preparing papads. The green leaves are used as plates for meals and dry leaves and ashes make an excellent manure. The unripe fruit is used as a vegetable while leaves are used in making bidis. The stem fibres are useful to gardeners in budding and grafting". They are also used in paper-making.

Mosambi.

Mosambi (sweet orange) is an important fruit crop of Jalgaon which is one of the few districts in the State growing this fruit. This crop requires a dry and hot climate, loose and loamy soil well-drained, neither limy nor sticky. The seedlings of jamburi are raised for about a year in the nursery beds and budded in the fair weather after transplanting in rows in the nursery. After the buds have successfully established themselves, the saplings are planted, in their permanent places. Pits of size 2' x 2' each are taken 20' apart (in poor soils, 15'—18' apart) and filled with soil mixed with farm-yard manure, bone-meal, etc. The plants are usually manured every year for five years. Inter-crops /not those requiring heavy irrigation) like vegetable are also taken during early years till fruiting commences. After the harvest of these crops, land is properly ploughed, harrowed and weeded. Trees start bearing when about 5 to 7 years old. Mosambi flowers during ambe-bahar (i.e., January or February) and fruits are ready for harvest by August-September. The plantation yields the maximum when the trees are about 10—20 years old. On an average, each tree yields about 300—1,000 fruits per year.

The use of mosambi especially for the sick is well-known. It is also relished as a dessert and table fruit. Its juice is very refreshing and highly nutritious.

Santra.

Santra (orange) is an equally important crop and cultivated in more or less the same way as mosambi. Good plantations are noticed and a large number of the fruit are exported to other districts every year. Oranges are in universal use both as a dessert and as a table fruit. Its juice is also very delicious. The fruit is also used on a large scale for preparation of jams and marmalades.

Peru.

Peru (guava) is grown on a large scale in Chalisgaon, Bhadgaon and Raver talukas. It is grown on black soils. Guava can be propagated from seeds. However, for quality fruits, grafts of selected trees are used. After a thorough tillage, pits (2'x 2'x 2') are prepared. They are then filled up with soil well-mixed with farm yard manure. Planting is done about 25' apart. The field is then laid out for irrigation. For a couple of years, intercrops such as vegetables are taken till the trees begin to bear. Guava starts blossoming after about three years. Fruit-bearing trees are given heavy doses of manure. If left to itself and watered throughout the year. it gives three crops. Well-established plantations are not watered after the rains. Naturally, they get rest throughout cold and hot weather. In February-March, the soil is dug up and the roofs laid bare for a fortnight. Before the plants shed all their leaves, manure is put in and beds are formed in the beginning of April. About the middle of April, the orchard is irrigated. The after-treatment consists of keeping it free from weeds, loosening the surface soil around the stems and watching the plantation after the fruit is set. Tall branches are bent down and tied to one another so that the side shoots may have room for their growth and for the proper development of the fruits they bear. Fruit is plucked when it is about to ripen. A tree yields about 500 to 2,000 fruits annually according to the size of the tree. A guava plantation lasts for 12 to 20 years, depending upon the nature of the soil and care bestowed upon it.

Guava is a very popular fruit with all classes of people and eaten both raw and in several kinds of preservations and jellies. The bark is astringent and the wood hard, strong and lasting.

Limbu.

Limbu, kagadi limbu (lime) is grown on a large scale in Erandol taluka. Its cultivation does not, as a rule, require any special type of soil or climate. It is propagated usually by budding on Jamburi and the method of cultivation of the crop is more or less similar to that of mosambi (and other citrus crops). Universal useof lime juice is quite well-known.

Papai.

The district is an important papai (popaya)-producing center in the State. This fruit is grown almost all over the district. The field is first ploughed thoroughly (lengthwise and crosswise) and pulverised nicely. The field is then heavily manured. Seedlings are raised on seed-beds. The seed can he directly plained in the fields, but there is a danger of their rolling in this case, as it is not possible to take proper care. At the time of transplanting, farm-yard manure is again applied to each pit. Usually two seedlings are planted in each pit because nearly 50 per cent of the plants turn out males which are of little use except as pollens. Hence only 5—10 male plants are kept on the borders of the orchard per every 100 plants. The rest are removed as soon as sex is ascertained.

Planting is usually done (eight feet apart) in the rainy season. It can also be done in September or February, but these are dwarf and hear fruit on the stem within two feet from the ground surface. Monsoon plants are tall and fruits are borne high up. Season of planting may be chosen according to period in which harvest is required. Regular watering following planting is necessary due to the herbaceous nature of the plant. Its drainage is defective and roots begin to decay. The plant starts hearing flowers in about 4 to 5 months and fruiting is complete in nine months. The fruits mature within a year and are harvested when they get a yellowish tinge and ripen within 4-5 days. A papaya plantation can last only for about three years. For the first two years good harvest is obtained, but the yield, quality and size of fruit deteriorate during the third year and hence the plants are removed after the third year.

Papaya fruit is pale yellow, when ripe. It has a sweet taste and peculiar fine flavour. It is eaten with great relish. The fruit is said to possess digestive properties.

Draksha.

Draksha (grapes) are grown mainly in Pachora, Erandol and Jamner talukas on a small scale, as climatic conditions are suitable for their cultivation. For successful cultivation of grapes, dry climate and rainfall of about 30 inches are necessary. Crape-vine is propagated from selected cuttings which are planted in well-shaded nursery. Cuttings are watered every day, till they are established, whereafter the frequency may be changed. Sprouting takes place in about a fortnight. It should be noted that cultivation of grapes is expensive and requires considerable care as well; but if successful, the crop is very paying. They are served as a table fruit and form an excellent dessert.

Kharbuj

Kharbuj (musk melon) is cultivated to a large extent on the sandy stretches in river-beds. As soon as the river recedes and the sand banks are exposed, small plots are fenced off. A plentiful stock of manure is then carried to the spot and large holes arc dug at regular intervals throughout the plot into which the manure is distributed. The melon-seeds are sown over the manure in the holes. The fruit ripens in about 3 to 4 months after planting. Usually, the melon beds commence fruiting in April and continue yielding, until they are covered by the swelling of river beds at the commencement of monsoon in June. The fruit which is green or yellowish, is generally used as a dessert.

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