The Gazetteers Department

Apart from the importance of rainfall as a controlling factor in tropical climates, the paramount influence of precipitation on plant life and economic development can hardly be exaggerated. The following table gives the number of rainy days and average rainfall recorded at raingauge stations in the district:—

TABLE No. 7

JALGAON RAINFALL RETURNS

[Average of 21 years from 1934-35 to 1954-55.]

Stations		Pre-monsoon		Monsoon		Post-monsoon		Winter		Total
		1st April to 31st May		1st June to 30th September		1st October to 30th November		1 st December to 21 st March		Total
		Number of rainy days	Rainfall	Number of rainy days	Rainfall	Number of rainy days	Rainfall	Number of rainy days	Rainfall	Number of rainy days	Rainfall
(1)		(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)	(8)	(9)	(10)	(11)
1.	Amalner	0.6	0.3	35.2	24.3	3.8	2.3	1.1	0.4	40.7	27.3
2.	Parola	0.4	0.2	35.7	23.9	3.2	2.2	1.2	0.6	40.5	26.9
3.	Chalisgaon	0.8	0.4	36.5	25.7	3.6	3.0	1.6	0.5	42.5	29.6
4.	Pachora	1.0	0.5	41.8	27.8	3.5	3.0	1.2	0.6	47.5	31.9
5.	Bhadgaon	1.2	0.8	37.1	24.5	3.6	2.6	1.8	0.5	43.7	28.4
6.	Chopda	0.4	0.6	40.2	25.0	2.8	2.0	0.9	0.4	44.3	28.0
7.	Erandol	0.9	0.3	37.0	24.4	3.0	2.3	1.3	0.5	42.2	27.5
8.	Jamner	1.1	0.6	43.1	27.9	3.2	2.9	1.7	0.7	49.1	32.1
9.	Bhusawal	0.7	0.3	40.7	28.0	3.7	2.6	1.2	0.5	46.3	31.4
10.	Edlabad	0.8	0.3	39.7	27.7	3.1	2.3	1.9	0.7	45.5	31.0
11.	Yawal	0.5	0.3	41.4	29.9	3.2	2.5	1.0	0.4	46.1	33.1
12.	Raver	0.8	0.4	39.2	26.9	3.9	2.6	1.5	0.7	45.4	30.6

The district enjoys a moderate rainfall and the range between the maximum and the minimum is not large. Winter precipita-tion is almost negligible. The seasonal distribution of rainfall is significant inasmuch as it determines the crop pattern and the duration of kharip and rabi seasons. The district receives its rainfall almost entirely from the south-west monsoon which is very powerful during June-September.

The amount of annual rainfall (average 30") determines the distribution of crops. The length of the rainy season influences agricultural practices and rotation of crops. Being a region of moderate rainfall, the district has evolved a complex pattern of crop production and an agricultural economy based primarily on millets, groundnut and cotton. Factors like soil and irrigation also account for the same. The regional distribution of rainfall is mainly explained by the relief of the land and the direction of rain-bearing winds. The rainfall is uniformly distributed over all the talukas. Three broad divisions, based on the quantity of rainfall received, may be noted. The central talukas of Yawal, Jalgaon and Pachora get the maximum rain, followed by the talukas to the east and the west of this central division.

Variability of the monsoon is probably the greatest factor affecting the economic condition of the local people. Wide range which is its peculiarity is illustrated by the following table [The data refers to years 1901 to 1956.]: —

TABLE No. 8.

MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM AMOUNT OF RAINFALL RECORDED AT DIFFERENT PLACES IN JALGAON DISTRICT.

Serial No.	Place	Maximum		Minimum
Serial No.	Place	Year	Amount of Rainfall in Inches	Year	Amount of Rainfall in Inches
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)
1	Amalner	1949	54.96	1911	9.81
2	Parola	1916	42.81	1950	12.60
3	Chalisgaon	1911	51.81	1918	12.46
4	Pachora	1951	51.05	1950	15.72
5	Bhadgaon	1955	48.22	1952	13.19
6	Chopda	1931	51.65	1952	13.19
7	Erandol	1914	49.52	1952	14.28
8	Jalgaon	1931	53.22	1918	15.14
9	Jamner	1914	48.51	1952	16.67
10	Bhusawal	1931	52.95	1918	16.81
11	Edlabad	1944	46.68	1952	12.68
12	Yawal	1944	51.92	1952	14.86
13	Raver	1931	43.80	1952	13.36

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