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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EDUCATION, ETC.
A permanent agricultural research station of the Government is located at Karjat where agronomic research and botanical work are undertaken in respect of the paddy crop. Besides, there exist two sub-stations, one at Khopoli and the other at Panvel. Both of them
are engaged in paddy research. The research stations, besides "conducting
research on the paddy crop, produce nucleus seed and distribute the same to the
registered seed growers so as to enable them to multiply it at their taluka seed
farms. Similarly, the district has nine agricultural demonstration centres
conducted under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture. These are
worked on the fields of the cultivators and the owner cultivators are asked to
adopt improved agricultural practices under expert guidance of the Government.
This provides practical education to the cultivators in the area. Further,
various "grow-more-food campaigns" are organised in order to increase food
production and include:
(a) scheme for subsidised distribution of sann seed.
(b) scheme for composting forest leaves.
(c) scheme for composting of town refuse.
(d) scheme for distribution of manures and fertilisers.
(e) scheme for the grant of financial assistance to katkaris for
reclamation of Dalhi plots.
(f) pilot scheme for intensive cultivation of paddy.
(g) crop competitions.
(h) scheme for the development of horticultural crops.
Moreover, the district has one agricultural school situated on the Bombay-Konkan-Goa road about four miles away from Roha. The school was established in 1958-59. The school owns a farm with an area of seventy-five acres and grows paddy, gram and vol in it. It can provide accommodation to fifty students every year who are given a stipend of twenty rupees per month and provided with two sets of school uniforms free of cost. Thus, with the help of agricultural education and research, the district is trying to exploit land to the best economical advantage to its tillers.
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